About the Department
Humanities refers to a broad range of subjects that include journalism and mass communication, languages, literature, philosophy, ethics, and religion. Students who select a major in the humanities, therefore, study the achievements of the human spirit and mind. They work within a variety of disciplines in order to acquire a deeper understanding of themselves, civilization, and the world.

Faculty and students of the Humanities study cultural facets of human identity. They seek to know themselves as symbol-users and meaning-makers. By examining their inherited traditions, students and faculty participate in the artistic life of their community, seeking a dialogue between the intellectual wealth of the past and the expressive possibilities of the present. They seek value, especially those values embodied in literature and art. They attempt to achieve critical thought and purposeful writing; perceive beauty as makers and critics; and gain understanding of the intangible and the spiritual.

Department Links

2009 French Film Festival
2011 Sandburg-Auden-Stein Residency (PDF file)
Student Media

Department Chair                                    

Kirk Hendershott-Kraetzer Chair, Humanities Department; Associate Professor of Humanities khendershott@olivetcollege.edu Conservatory 235 (269) 749-7621 (faculty bio)

Faculty Members

		Karen Chaney Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Ethics kchaney@olivetcollege.edu (269) 749-7726 (faculty bio)

		Laura Barlond-Maas Associate Professor of English; Director of Writing Programs         lamaas@olivetcollege.edu (269) 749-7678 (faculty bio)
		Martha Perkins Associate Professor of Humanities; Advisor for the Garfield Lake Review mperkins@olivetcollege.edu (269) 749-7114 (faculty bio)
		John Miller-Purrenhage Assistant Professor of English          jpurrenhage@olivetcollege.edu (269) 749-7118 (faculty bio)
		Gary Smith Assistant Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication           gsmith@olivetcollege.edu (269) 749-7693 (faculty bio)
		Joanne Williams Associate Professor of Journalism and Theatre; Advisor of The Echo       jwilliams@olivetcollege.edu (269) 749-6630 (faculty bio)

Adjunct Faculty    

Dustin Byrd
Adjunct Instructor of Religion
dbyrd@olivetcollege.edu
(269) 749-7227

Cecilia R. McCaleb
Adjunct Instructor of Spanish
cmccaleb@olivetcollege.edu
(269) 749-7227