History
The Humanities Research Institute (HRI) was established in 1997 to promote interdisciplinary study in the humanities, arts, and social sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Originally called the Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities (IPRH), it was initially part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and now resides within the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation.
The IPRH officially advanced to institute status in June 2020 with a new name: the Humanities Research Institute (HRI). This change reflected both the legacy of excellence in humanities research at Illinois and a renewed commitment to our shared work for a just, livable and sustainable future for all.
HRI has hosted conferences; organized panel discussions, lectures, and other events; awarded event grants, research prizes, and fellowships; supported reading groups and public humanities outreach groups such as the Odyssey Project and the Education Justice Project; and co-sponsored numerous events involving a wide range of campus units and departments.
In the past, HRI has also run art exhibits and film series, as well as organized Curtain Call discussions following performances at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, gallery tours and conversations at the Krannert Art Museum, and performances by artists from the University of Illinois and elsewhere.
Directors, Past and Present
Antoinette Burton is the current HRI Director. She follows in the footsteps of Dianne Harris (2008–2015), Matti Bunzl (2003–2007), Suvir Kaul (2001–2002) and Michael Bérubé (1997–2001).
Learn more about HRI’s past campus fellows, past post-doctoral fellows, event grant winners, and research prize winners.
Reports
View the 2015 Interdisciplinary Working Group for the Humanities Report (PDF) and the 2018 Humanities Task Force Report (PDF).