Durba Ghosh, professor of history in the College of Arts and Sciences, will become the Taylor Family Director of the Society for the Humanities, starting on January 1, 2025.

Recently the faculty director of the Humanities Scholars Program (A&S), Ghosh brings to the Society scholarly background in the history of British colonialism on the Indian subcontinent; academic focuses on gender and sexuality and South Asia; and broad experience with interdisciplinary collaborations. Stepping down June 30 after leading the society since 2017 is Paul Fleming, the L. Sanford and Jo Mills Reis Professor of Humanities (A&S).

“I am delighted to welcome Durba Ghosh as the director of the Society for the Humanities,” said Rachel Bean, interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “Durba has an outstanding record of scholarly accomplishments and academic leadership of Cornell programs that showcase multi-disciplinary approaches to the humanities. I’m also deeply grateful to Paul Fleming for his leadership and vision for the past seven years and the monumental successes he’s brought for humanities scholars and students at Cornell and throughout central New York,” Bean said.

Alexander Livingston, associate professor of government (A&S), will serve as interim director of the Society for Humanities during the fall semester of 2024 while Ghosh is on research leave as a member at the Institute of Advanced Study in Princeton.

Read the full story on the College of Arts and Sciences website.