Ball State University’s College of Sciences and Humanities (CSH) is launching Humanities in Action, a new initiative that will connect humanities students with paid internships in nonprofit organizations—strengthening career readiness, supporting community partners, and highlighting the value of humanities education across Indiana.
Ball State’s Humanities in Action program is supported by a $2.5 million grant from the Mellon Foundation. The initiative is designed to support at least 75 students per year in paid nonprofit internships, with program funds covering student wages. A pilot cohort is planned for Fall 2026.
“This investment will make a meaningful difference for our students and for the communities they serve,” said Dr. Maureen McCarthy, dean of Ball State’s College of Sciences and Humanities. “Humanities in Action advances Ball State’s commitment to preparing students for fulfilling careers and meaningful lives by creating paid, high-impact learning experiences that help students connect classroom learning with real-world problem-solving. We’re grateful for this support and excited for the positive impact this initiative will have across the University and beyond.”
Humanities in Action will serve majors across the humanities, including English, classical cultures, French, history, Japanese, multi-language, philosophy, religious studies, and women’s and gender studies. Eligible students will generally be juniors or seniors who have completed at least 12 credit hours in their major and are in good academic standing. Students will apply to the program and receive support through placement—rather than being expected to secure an internship on their own.
CSH's Drs. Richard Petts and Melisa Ellis Stevens are serving as co-principal investigators for the initiative.
“This funding allows us to remove a major barrier that keeps too many students from pursuing internships—especially unpaid ones—and to build a structured pathway that supports students from application through placement and professional development,” said Dr. Petts, CSH associate dean and professor of sociology. “Humanities students bring critical thinking, communication, and an ability to understand people and communities—skills that are essential across the nonprofit sector and the workforce more broadly.”
“Humanities in Action strengthens that connection between classroom learning and community impact,” said Dr. Stevens, CSH assistant dean and director of student success. “By combining paid internships with intentional support from the University, we’re helping students recognize—and clearly communicate—their skills and experiences, while also providing nonprofit partners with talented students who can contribute to meaningful, mission-driven work.”
During their internship semester, students will enroll in CSHU 369, an internship course that provides additional career and professional development and includes programming designed to help students reflect on and articulate the skills they’re building. Humanities in Action will also strengthen career readiness throughout humanities curricula by mapping where career competencies are introduced, reinforced, and mastered across courses, and by supporting faculty development that helps embed those competencies more consistently across majors.
“Ball State is continuing to innovate in ways that meet Indiana’s workforce and community needs,” said Becca Rice, vice president for governmental relations and industry engagement. “By connecting talented Ball State students with paid, real-world experiences, we’re strengthening talent pipelines, supporting mission-driven organizations, and helping communities thrive. Humanities in Action is an excellent example of how higher education can create practical pathways for students while delivering meaningful impact across the state.”
In addition to supporting internships, the funding model includes spendable funds over the grant period (Dec. 2025–Nov. 2030) and endowed funds with a Ball State match to help sustain the program long-term.
Nonprofit organizations interested in exploring partnership opportunities with Humanities in Action are encouraged to contact Dr. Petts at rjpetts@bsu.edu.