Salem State’s Humanities Brigade Proves Value of Liberal Arts

Funded by a $480,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation, the cohort spent two semesters blending American studies, philosophy, and media theory with real-world application. The students partnered with The House of the Seven Gables and the North Shore Community Development Coalition, tackling projects ranging from museum accessibility audits to documenting the oral histories of Salem’s Latino community in the Point neighborhood.

Professor Elizabeth Duclos-Orsello created the initiative to challenge the notion that humanities degrees lack practical career paths. By integrating 120-hour paid summer internships, the program allows students to move beyond the classroom, applying their research to institutional priorities. For participants like Mia Polanco, who entered university undecided, the brigade provided a framework to connect her interests in history and philosophy to tangible professional outcomes. As the university prepares to welcome its second cohort this fall, the model continues to demonstrate how the humanities can serve as a catalyst for civic engagement and workforce development.