A recent endeavor will provide educators at the MIT School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (SHASS) the chance to engage in a semester-long internal fellows program.
The SHASS Faculty Fellows initiative, managed by the MIT Human Insight Collaborative (MITHIC), aims to give faculty members time to concentrate on their research, writing, or artistic endeavors, while also receiving peer support; to cultivate a social and intellectual community within SHASS, fostering interactions among faculty and students beyond the classroom; and to create informal avenues for establishing intergenerational professional mentorships.
“SHASS faculty have long desired a nurturing, dynamic internal community during my nearly 35 years at MIT,” remarks Anne McCants, the Ann F. Friedlaender Professor of History and chair of the Faculty Fellows Program committee. “By enabling participants to work with UROPs [Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program projects] and other means to engage with students, we’re reaffirming our dedication to creating an atmosphere where faculty can rejuvenate and maintain the high standard of teaching and service our community expects and values.”
The establishment of the program was one of the suggestions highlighted in a May 2024 SHASS Programming Initiative Report, an initiative spearheaded by Keeril Makan, SHASS associate dean for strategic initiatives, as well as the Michael (1949) and Sonja Koerner Music Composition Professor.
The first cohort of fellows for Spring 2026 consists of:
- Héctor Beltrán, Class of 1957 Career Development Associate Professor, MIT Anthropology
- Volha Charnysh, Ford Career Development Associate Professor, Department of Political Science
- Kevin Dorst, assistant professor, MIT Philosophy
- Richard Nielsen, associate professor, Department of Political Science
- Emily Richmond Pollock, associate professor, MIT Music
- Jessica Ruffin, assistant professor, MIT Literature
- Robin Scheffler, associate professor, Program in Science, Technology, and Society
Only tenure-line faculty can apply, with a limit of 12 members chosen each year, or approximately six participants per semester.
Chosen faculty will engage in a semester outside the classroom while still maintaining opportunities for ongoing interaction with a small group of peers. Fellows will have the chance to collaborate with dedicated students in UROP to advance their research initiatives while participating in a distinctive, cross-disciplinary dialogue.
“I felt privileged to help craft the Fellows Program and to serve on the review committee,” states Arthur Bahr, a professor in the Literature Section and member of the Faculty Fellows Program Selection Committee. “While I was fortunate to have exceptional mentors within Literature, I would have cherished the chance to connect with and learn from colleagues in various disciplines, which the Fellows Program will facilitate.”
“What thrills me about the Faculty Fellows Program — beyond the potential for faculty to engage with one another across disciplines and units — is that it will highlight the importance and excellence of the humanities, arts, and social sciences at MIT,” expresses Heather Paxson, SHASS associate dean for faculty and the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Anthropology. “I eagerly anticipate hearing about new ideas ignited and new friendships formed through involvement in the program.”
Organizers indicate that the program signals MIT’s serious commitment to the humanities, arts, and social sciences, placing it on par with its peer institutions, many of which also have internal fellows programs.
“In light of the significant demand for such an initiative, launching the program carries an essential message to SHASS faculty that Dean [Agustín] Rayo acknowledges their concerns and is dedicated to fostering this kind of community growth,” McCants emphasizes.