Whittier College has been awarded a $1.5 million grant from the Mellon Foundation to support a multi-year initiative that will expand the role of humanistic inquiry across the College’s academic programs.
The grant is funded through the Foundation’s Humanities for All Times Initiative. It aims to infuse humanistic approaches such as critical analysis, interpretation, communication, and creative problem-solving into Whittier’s newly implemented liberal education curriculum. The work builds on the College’s broader efforts to connect a liberal arts education with career preparation and experiential learning.
“I am very proud that the Mellon Foundation has awarded Whittier this grant, which will further embed humanistic inquiry into our curriculum,” said President Kristine Dillon ’73. “Students across all majors benefit from developing the critical thinking, creativity, and perspective that the humanities offer.”
Titled “Integrating Humanistic Methods of Inquiry Across a Revised Liberal Education Curriculum at Whittier College,” the grant will help ensure that students are equipped not only for careers but for thoughtful engagement in their communities and professions.
Central to the initiative is the creation of a Hub for Humanistic Inquiry and Practice, which will support faculty development, interdisciplinary collaboration, and new approaches to teaching. Through the Hub, faculty will develop new courses and redesign existing ones to integrate humanistic methods across disciplines, while students will have expanded access to internships, research opportunities, and community-engaged learning experiences.
The initiative reflects Whittier’s commitment to ensuring that all students, regardless of major, can understand and apply the insights of the humanities to their academic and professional paths. By integrating humanistic inquiry across the curriculum, the College aims to help students connect their studies to real-world challenges and develop the skills needed to navigate an increasingly complex, rapidly changing world.
