American Council of Learned Societies

"Advocacy" in Different Forms: December 2, 2025 Advocacy Update Princeton GradFUTURES Fellow Kim Akano shares about the many different approaches to "advocacy" taking place amongst ACLS academic societies and peer organizations.

In our latest Advocacy in Action update, Princeton GradFUTURES Fellow Kim Akano shares about the many different approaches to advocacy taking place amongst ACLS academic societies and peer organizations: https://bit.ly/49Sznb0

Your support this #GivingTuesday helps ACLS defend academic freedom and fund research across the humanities and social sciences: https://bit.ly/4poc1if

Graphic featuring a wavy blue pattern. Text says: Support ACLS. Your gift helps us defend academic freedom and take a stand for the humanities and social sciences.

“ACLS is doing the long-term work of securing the future of humanistic inquiry, even as we respond to crises in the headlines.”

Read ACLS President Joy Connolly’s Community Message for December, and consider supporting our work this #GivingTuesday: https://bit.ly/4pBZwzo

Text graphic: Supporting PhD students studying religion. Graduate Internships on the Spiritual Infrastructure of the Future. Webinar for applicants: December 8, 2025 @ 12PM EST. Applications due: January 14, 2026.

ACLS is offering a Summer 2026 Graduate Internship on the Spiritual Infrastructure with Norton Healthcare in #Louisville, KY for PhD students studying religion. Help assess how faith communities advance health and wellness in their congregations.

Learn more: https://www.acls.org/GISI

2026 Summer Institute for the Study of East Central and Southeastern Europe. Apply Now. Deadline for Applications: December 2, 2025, 9 PM EST.

One week left to apply!

Apply by Dec. 2 for the 2026 Summer Institute for the Study of East Central and Southeastern Europe, a two-week residency in Bulgaria for scholars of the region, convened by ACLS and the Centre for Advanced Study Sofia: www.acls.org/SISECSE

ACLS celebrated the 2025 ACLS Open Access Book Prizes at The New York Public Library last month. The event was moderated by Beth Daley of @us.theconversation.com and highlighted the impact of making high-quality research freely available to readers worldwide: https://bit.ly/3WXDivw

How First-Generation Scholars Thrive Through Community Hear from first-generation scholars at multiple career stages about how mentorship, community, and support through fellowships have shaped their research and paths in higher education.

First-generation scholars make up more than a quarter of US doctoral students, yet their experiences in academia often remain underrepresented.

Hear from first-gen scholars at multiple career stages about their paths in higher education: bit.ly/4p5QGK8

#firstgen #scholars #humanities

ACLS welcomed executive directors from more than 30 member societies to Seattle for the 2025 Fall CEO Meeting. Over three days, leaders explored the evolving role of academic societies, how to meet member needs, and strategies for strong, sustainable governance.

Read more: https://bit.ly/49Ty6Ai

Text graphic: Supporting PhD students studying religion. Graduate Internships on the Spiritual Infrastructure of the Future. Webinar for applicants: December 8, 2025 @ 12PM EST. Applications due: January 14, 2026.

ACLS is now accepting applications for Graduate Internships on the Spiritual Infrastructure of the Future: summer 2026 opportunities for PhD students studying religion to work with leading nonprofits and apply their research beyond the academy.

Apply by Jan 14, 9 PM ET: https://www.acls.org/GISI

Summer Institute for the Study of East Central and Southeastern Europe ACLS partners with the Centre for Advanced Study Sofia to convene the Summer Institute for the Study of East Central and Southeastern Europe.

Deadline approaching! Apply by Dec. 2 for the 2026 Summer Institute for the Study of East Central and Southeastern Europe, a two-week residency in Bulgaria for scholars of the region, convened by ACLS and the Centre for Advanced Study Sofia: www.acls.org/SISECSE

Scholarship is a profound act of love for humanity.

ACLS invites you to share your stories of scholarship as an act of love—deep archival research, teaching difficult subjects, reaching students, meaningful community collaborations, and breakthroughs that led to positive change: bit.ly/49ZTNi3

Publicly Engaged Religion Mapping Project Survey Please click the link to complete this form.

Help map public scholarship on religion! Share your projects or case studies with us by December 20 to help create a searchable database on public scholarship on religion in North America.

Submit here: https://bit.ly/49f0JHX

#ReligiousStudies #publicscholarship

2025 ACLS Research University Consortium Meeting Annual summit of deans from leading humanities research universities convened in New York November 6-7, 2025.

ACLS convened representatives from our Research University Consortium Meeting earlier this month for discussion on the future of the humanities and social sciences. Topics ranged from funding landscapes to new doctoral education models and the impact of AI.

Full recap: https://bit.ly/43uIGtJ

ACLS Community Message for November 2025 Camilo Villalpando reflects on the power of connection among learned societies and highlights new initiatives strengthening collaboration.

ACLS Director of Member Society Relations Camilo Villalpando reflects on the power of connection among learned societies and highlights new initiatives strengthening collaboration and innovation: https://bit.ly/3LzLDD6

'The Trouble of Color' Is on the 100 Must-Read Books of 2025 Here's why it made the list

Congratulations to @marthasjones.bsky.social, 2013 ACLS Fellow, on having her book "The Trouble of Color" named to Time's 100 Must-Read Books of 2025! time.com/collections/...

Collaborating for the Next Generation – AHA The AHA is partnering with the American Council of Learned Societies, the Modern Language Association, and the Society of Biblical Literature to reimagine humanities PhD programs in the new Doctoral F...

In #AHAPerspectives, executive director Sarah Weicksel introduces the AHA’s new Doctoral Futures initiative, which “seeks to reimagine humanities PhD programs, with new structures, policies, and academic cultures that will help to prepare the next generation.” 🗃️

Text graphic: ACLS Digital Justice Grants. Applications due: November 20, 2025 9:00 PM EST

One week left to apply! ACLS Digital Justice Grants provide vital resources for projects that diversify the digital domain, advance justice and equity in digital scholarly practice, and contribute to public understanding of racial & social justice issues: www.acls.org/DigitalJustice

Speaking Out for All Studies: November 12, 2025 Advocacy Update Joy Connolly shares how ACLS is standing with scholars and societies defending academic freedom and humanistic inquiry against censorship, defunding, and political interference.

ACLS is speaking out for all studies, standing up for academic freedom, humanistic inquiry, and scholars whose work spans gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, disability, Middle East studies, and more.

Read more in ACLS President Joy Connolly's newest Advocacy in Action post: bit.ly/4oDhSQz

ACLS Welcomes the Association for the Study of the Worldwide African Diaspora to Federation of Member Societies ACLS welcomes the Association for the Study of the Worldwide African Diaspora (ASWAD) to its century-old federation of academic societies.

ACLS welcomes the Association for the Study of the Worldwide African Diaspora (ASWAD) to our federation of member societies. ASWAD brings together hundreds of scholars from around the world to advance understanding of Africa & the African Diaspora: https://bit.ly/4qR6q5f

Informed by dialogues taking place at the intersection of media, technology, and law, our work is inherently interdisciplinary, multi-methodological, and multi-modal. But what do we mean by multi-modal work? 1/5

Photos of past summer institute with text: 2026 Summer Institute for the Study of East Central and Southeastern Europe. Apply Now. Deadline for Applications: December 2, 2025, 9 PM EST.

Apply by Dec. 2 for the 2026 Summer Institute for the Study of East Central and Southeastern Europe, a two-week residency in Bulgaria for scholars of the region, convened by ACLS and the Centre for Advanced Study Sofia: www.acls.org/SISECSE

The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Program in Buddhist Studies. Apply Now. Deadlines: November 20, 2025 and January 27, 2026

🕰 Applications for Public Impact Grants in Buddhist Studies are due November 20, 2025, at 9:00 PM ET!

These one-year grants support projects like podcasts, museum collaborations, and translation projects that improve public understanding of Buddhism: https://bit.ly/3JwJG9O

Screenshots of previous ACLS Digital Justice Grant projects with text ACLS Digital Justice Grants. Apply by November 20, 2025, 9 PM EST.

ACLS is offering Digital Justice Seed Grants of $10k-50k and Development Grants of $50k-100k for digital humanities projects focused on the histories and interests of historically marginalized communities through the ethical use of digital tools & methods: acls.org/DigitalJustice

ACLS Launches 2026 Graduate Internships on the Spiritual Infrastructure of the Future Competition Program will offer summer internships and professional development support for emerging scholars of religion

Applications are open for the new ACLS Graduate Internships on the Spiritual Infrastructure of the Future!

The program provides practical work opportunities in summer 2026 for PhD students in the humanities and social sciences studying religion. Learn more: bit.ly/4nHGTZr

#humanities #gradstudent

Calling all #HBCU faculty! Applications are due this week!

Applications are now open for the @acls1919.bsky.social 2026 Summer Institute for the Study of East Central and Southeastern Europe!
ACLS & the Centre for Advanced Study Sofia will convene scholars from Eastern Europe & North America for a residency in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria June 3-19: bit.ly/3Ip2Mhz

The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Program in Buddhist Studies, now open. Deadlines for Applications: November 20, 2025 and January 27, 2026

Calling scholars of Buddhist Studies across the globe! Apply now for The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Program in Buddhist Studies fellowships & grants. Deadline for Public Impact Grants, Dissertation & Early Career Fellowships is Nov. 20, 2025, 9 PM ET: https://www.acls.org/BuddhistStudies

Ancient Roman Gravestone Found in New Orleans Backyard Touches Off a Mystery Nobody knew how a nearly 2,000-year-old grave marker landed in a backyard for decades -- until this week.

While working from home during her fellowship year, 2024 ACLS Fellow Daniella Santoro uncovered a nearly 2,000-year-old Roman grave marker buried in her New Orleans backyard.

Read more in the New York Times: https://nyti.ms/42Wy1ru

Text reads Luce/ACLS Early Career Fellowships in China Studies. Deadline for applications: November 5, 2025, 9 PM EST.

Early-career scholars of China: Apply for the Luce/ACLS Early Career Fellowship in China Studies!

Flexible and long-term awards of $15k-45k are open to untenured, recent PhDs and support research & writing. Deadline Nov. 5, 9:00 PM ET: www.acls.org/ChinaStudies

Photos of past ACLS HBCU Faculty Fellows and Grantees with text, ACLS HBCU Faculty Fellowships and Grants. Apply by November 5, 2025 9 PM EST.

Any faculty employed primarily at HBCUs are eligible to apply for the ACLS HBCU Faculty Fellowship and Grant Program! Grants of up to $10K and fellowships up to $50K. Apply by Nov. 5, 9 PM ET: www.acls.org/hbcu-awards