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From art ecosystems to social robots to how people grow and learn, University faculty, staff and students are writing, editing and illustrating the books the moment demands.

On Wednesday, April 29, the University’s with host its , to celebrate humanities-related works that hit the shelves in 2025 and the scholars behind them. The showcase will feature 44 books by 43 authors, editors and illustrators representing 22 departments or programs across 10 University schools, colleges and divisions. Check out the that will be recognized.

The reception, which will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the Strasser Legacy Room, 220 Eggers Hall, is additionally supported by the College of Arts and Sciences, the Office of Research and the ������ Libraries. All are welcome to attend.

“While this annual event highlights individual scholarly accomplishments across schools and colleges, it also underscores how, collectively, University researchers are publishing cutting-edge works that enrich our understanding of the world around us, encourage us to envision our shared futures and invite us to unpack the past in new ways,” says Vivian May, professor of women’s and gender studies in the and director of the Humanities Center.

“As labors of love, books certainly take some time to come into the world, from initial idea to publication,” she says. “It is our honor to highlight such a rich array of volumes (and diverse range of scholars).”

“The scholarship on display in Books in the Humanities reflects A&S’ commitment to bringing humanistic insight to the questions that matter most,” says A&S Dean Behzad Mortazavi. “These works, spanning food justice, cultural well-being and the healing power of creative writing, show how the humanities drive meaningful change in our world. A&S is proud to support and celebrate this vital work.”

The books featured this year span a range of fields and topics. Many focus on sustaining communities and well-being through diverse means, bearing witness through creative writing and cultural reflection. Some of those titles include:

• “Black Women’s Art Ecosystems: Sites of Wellness and Self-Care” (University of Illinois Press) by Tanisha Jackson, assistant professor of African American studies in A&S. Jackson analyzes visual and personal narratives, historical archives and artmaking practices to reveal how Black women artists facilitate wellness through creative expression and cultural knowledge.
• “Food Justice Rhetorics and Literacies” (Bloomsbury Academic) by Eileen Schell, professor of writing and rhetoric in A&S. Schell presents the case that through understanding complex patterns of discrimination and social action in relation to land ownership and food production, we can begin to imagine and enact a more just and sustainable food system.                                                                                         
• “The Gathering Table” (Alfred A. Knopf) by Antwan Eady, illustrated by London Ladd, assistant teaching professor in the School of Art in the . This is a picture book about how a Southern family gathers around a special table for year-round celebrations that highlight the importance of family, community and coming together.
• “Mothering in the Time of Coronavirus” (University of Massachusetts Press) by Amy Lutz, professor of sociology in the, Sujung Lee G’19, G’24 and Baurzhan Bokayev G’22, G’24. The authors focus on remote and essential workers in Central New York during the COVID-19 pandemic, exploring the evolving demands on mothers as well as public policies that may have hindered their ability to balance work and caregiving.
• “Hungry Ghost” (Arrowsmith Press) by Bruce Smith, professor of English in A&S. The book of poetry is based on Buddhist reflections.

Inform the Humanities Center about your upcoming release via the Book Survey at their Forms page.