Virginia Tech Humanities Week
What is Humanities Week?
Virginia Tech's annual Humanities Week highlights the essential work happening in the humanities at Virginia Tech and beyond. This year's theme is Legacies of 1776. As the United States turns 250, we spotlight the contested meanings of sovereignty, freedom, equality, and independence. What do these defining ideals mean in our age of political polarization and technological transformation? How have they been deployed for different purposes--not just in the US but across the globe? Lectures, discussions, and other programs will provide opportunities for the entire community to consider differing perspectives on the ever-changing legacies of 1776.
In his keynote presentation and Q&A, "The Responsibilities of Being American," acclaimed journalist, author, and longtime NPR host Scott Simon explores the meaning of American citizenship. The keynote will be held at the Lyric Theatre on Tuesday, October 20, at 7:30 p.m.
Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and open to the public.
Humanities Week is sponsored by the Center for Humanities and the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.
2026 Schedule
Keynote Address
Join us on October 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the Lyric Theatre for a discussion and Q&A session by keynote speaker Scott Simon, American journalist, author, and longtime host of NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday. Mr. Simon's books will be sold by Blacksburg Books in the lobby before the event, and Mr. Simon will be available for book signing following the Q&A. Can't make it in person? Check back here for a livestream link!
Full 2026 Schedule
Monday, October 19
Jason Higgins
Monday, October 19
12:15 - 1:15 p.m.
Join our weekly humanities seminar series, in-person or via zoom, as we hear from oral history specialist and Humanities Associate, Jason Higgins. Higgins will discuss the stories of descendants of the families once enslaved at Smithfield plantation in Blacksburg, VA.
124 Newman Library, Athenaeum classroom, 560 Drillfield Drive
Hosted by the Virginia Tech Center for Oral History
Monday, October 19
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Join this interdisciplinary panel discussion on the role of “documentation", in destabilizing or shoring up our confidence in U.S. citizenship and democracy. Questions of documentation concern community archivists and knowledge keepers for whom documentation fuels connection and public recognition, but related technologies force new questions about the role of documentation in surveillance and legal exclusion. Meet professionals grappling with these questions from different viewpoints.
Blacksburg Public Library, 200 Miller St, Blacksburg, VA 24060
AI in the Spirit of Ut Prosim: Service, Systems, and Sovereignty
Rishi Jaitly and Warren Dixon
Monday, October 19
3:00 - 4:30 p.m.
In an era dominated by algorithms and automation, how does a community advance its commitment to service and sovereignty? Virginia Tech AI Futures Working Group co-chairs Rishi Jaitly, Professor of Practice and Distinguished Humanities Fellow, and Warren Dixon, Dean of the College of Engineering, will engage in a wide-ranging dialogue reflecting on aligning engineering innovation with humanistic values.
Assembly Hall, The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center
Tuesday, October 20
Tuesday, October 20
7:30 p.m.
Join us for a discussion and Q&A session by keynote speaker Scott Simon, American journalist, author, and longtime host of NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday. Mr. Simon's books will be sold by Blacksburg Books in the lobby prior to the event, and Mr. Simon will be available for book signing following the Q&A.
Can't make it in person? Check back here for a livestream link!
The Lyric Theatre, 135 College Ave, Blacksburg, VA 24060
Wednesday, October 21
Hokie for a Day - Humanities Takeover
Wednesday, October 21
Hokie for a Day offers fifth grade students a unique opportunity to experience college life. As part of Humanities Week, fifth graders visiting Virginia Tech will have hands-on academic experiences with Virginia Tech faculty, learning about a wide variety of humanities topics.
Wednesday, October 21
12:30 - 2:00 p.m.
Drop in any time for self-guided, informal discussion with this year's Freedom Scholars: Karin Kitchens, Jason Higgins, Wayne Moore, Tyechia Thompson, Philip Yaure, and Ashley Reichelmann. Learn about their research into various aspects of freedom, from the Declaration of Independence to the legacies of slavery and emancipation.
Refreshments will be served.
Goodall Room, Newman Library
(Enter main floor through the coffee shop, located just up the ramp to the left.)
"Conscience, Power, and Liberty in Ancient Greece (and in a 20th-Century American College Town)"
Wednesday, October 21
4:00 - 5:15 p.m.
Join VT Associate Professor of English, Shoshana Knapp, and students for a student-led debate about the enduring issues of private conscience and public power and the timeless struggle for independence.
380 Shanks Hall, 181 Turner St NW, Blacksburg, VA 24060
Film introduction by Virginia Tech PhD ASPECT student, Sean Chambers
Wednesday, October 21
6:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Join us for a fun journey into early American history as we view Disney's film version of Lin-Manuel Miranda's "Hamilton" (2020, PG-13). Singing is encouraged! Sean Chambers will provide brief introductory remarks on the extraordinary ability of the arts to inspire fresh conversations on history, politics, and civic life.
Squires Auditorium, Squires Student Center
Thursday, October 22
Thursday, October 22
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
What does freedom mean to you? Add to our mural with word or illustration, hosted by the Center for Humanities. Located on the main floor of War Memorial Hall, just inside the West Plaza Entrance. Snacks and supplies provided.
West Plaza Entrance, Main Floor, War Memorial Hall
Thursday, October 22
7:30 p.m.
Featuring contemporary and urban dance, capoeira, and martial arts, this fearless company hails from France, Algeria, and beyond. Compagnie Hervé Koubi presents a universal declaration of love of movement and yearning for independence, as the stage is transformed by visual storytelling.
*This event is organized by the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech Center for the Arts, 190 Alumni Mall Blacksburg, VA 24061
Friday, October 23
Friday, October 23
9:00 - 9:30 a.m.
The Institute for Creativity, Art, and Technology's weekly playdate features an innovative spatial audio interpretation of the Declaration of Independence. The team behind the project will discuss the intersection of technology and culture and the project's connection to America's 250th anniversary.
*This event is organized by the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology (ICAT)
Community Assembly, Creativity and Innovation Building
Last, but not least, catch our latest Vox Humanities Podcast episode! Released for Humanities Week, listen any time on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Pocketcasts.
In this special Humanities Week installment of the Center for Humanities' "Vox Humanities" podcast, host Sweta Baniya interviews Cana Uluak Itchuaqiyaq, Associate Professor in the Department of English and Founding Director of Virginia Tech's Center for Sustainable Engagement in the Arctic. Their wide-ranging conversation offers fascinating insights into decolonization, the ethics of research, and what happens when communities define the meanings of justice and sovereignty for themselves.
