The 2023-2024 Executive Board is hard at work. They’re planning the 2024 institute and updating the website, newsletter and more!
Some of the board members took a quick break from their busy teaching, research, mentoring, family and DHC-NC commitments to share their thoughts on some key questions.
Get to know a bit more about what drives DHC-NC members to do digital humanities.
Spoiler: it’s about the collaboration! (And excitement – lots of excitement – about what we can use digital tools to do.)
Digital humanities means…
Innovative, creative, responsible open-access data storytelling. – James B. Harr III (he/him), President | Christian Brothers University
The intersection of digital media and other forms of media that explore humanistic elements. There are so many possibilities within the field that it’s hard to define in just a few words! – Emma Stanley, President-Elect | Ph.D. Candidate, Communication, Rhetoric, & Digital Media and Instructor, English and Communication, NC State University
Connecting people and ideas through engaging technology. DH includes a range of approaches to using technology to research, present, and communicate about people’s lived experiences. – Donna Kain, Immediate Past President and Treasurer | Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies, East Carolina University
Deepening our understanding of humanities questions using tools that see more than we can see, hear more than we can hear, and count and compare faster than we can count and compare. – Rhea M. Hebert (they), Communications Coordinator | Communications Manager, UNC Center for Health Equity Research
Not being afraid of technology but being empowered to critically study that technology and find ways to use it to better approach humanistic concerns. – Jennifer Lozano (she/her/hers), Executive Board Representative | Associate Professor of Latinx Literature, UNC Wilmington
Considering how digital tools help to explore the humanities AND considering how the humanities can help understand the influences and consequences of our digital tools on our social & personal interactions, systems, and humanity at large. – Michelle Brenner, Executive Board Representative | Instructor of Humanities, North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
I joined the DHC-NC because…
The DHC-NC is a collective that actively rejects anti-intellectualism and promotes academic freedom through digital research. I wanted to be a part of that work while networking with other innovative academics and researchers in North Carolina. – James B. Harr III
It’s such a cool way to find people who are interested in similar scholarship and have productive discussions! – Emma Stanley
I had been attending the institutes when NC State, Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill sponsored them. Following the last event, a number of us decided that we needed to create an organization to keep the connections and the work going. – Donna Kain
I was nominated for a position on the executive board and discovered this wonderful group. It’s been an unexpected, welcome return to my roots! – Rhea M. Hebert
I really wanted to be a part of a group of people committed to DH across a variety of institutions and from a variety of backgrounds. We are always stronger together and I wanted to be able to learn from and with other people. – Jennifer Lozano
Of the chance to connect with DHers at the college level. As a high school teacher teaching DH, it is a bit lonely! – Michelle Brenner
My hope for the DHC-NC this year is…
To rebuild after three years of challenges and setbacks caused by the pandemic. While I’m excited that this means organizing more face-to-face events, I hope we will remember the lessons learned during the pandemic and continue fostering an inclusive and accessible community by creating opportunities for members to connect virtually. – James B. Harr III
Having lots of collaboration! I really love meeting new people and hearing about their research. Everyone in the DH field does such exciting stuff, and collaborations create even more unique projects. – Emma Stanley
That we have a successful institute in May and get more regular involvement from members. – Donna Kain
To be able to get to know the members and to plan/execute a successful institute with attendees from across NC and beyond. – Jennifer Lozano
That we find joy and connection in collaboration. – Michelle Brenner
To refresh communications for the DHC-NC and support the organization in continuing to connect digital humanities people across NC. – Rhea M. Hebert