Levan Institute for the Humanities

Conversations celebrating new books by USC scholars in the humanities and humanistic social sciences. Each event features the author and guests in conversation about a recently completed publication.

Conversations about our writing, our selves, and the worlds of connection we hope to sustain. Each event features authors and professors of writing, discussing questions relevant to both experts and beginners.

Interdisciplinary working groups that foster intellectual exchange and advance research on topics in the humanities (broadly construed) not already addressed by an existing department or program.

The Levan Institute provides modest grants and promotion for public events in the humanities at USC.

The Levan Institute aims to foster and facilitate collaborations with scholars and institutions around the globe.

Congratulations to USC scholars on their recent publications!

November 10, 2026, 11am–12pm  | More

The author will be joined in conversation by Shih-shan Susan Huang (Rice University) and Wilt L. Idema (Harvard University), moderated by Lori Meeks (USC). Organized in partnership with the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, the East Asian Studies Center, and the Early Modern Studies Institute. Registration is required.

November 20, 2026, 12pm–1pm  | More

This event is part of the Levan Institute for the Humanities’ “On Writing” series, conversations aiming to answer questions about how writing matters, now. This conversation will feature Angelica Jade Bastién (writer, essayist, and film critic) and Anahid Nersessian (UCLA), hosted by Sarah Mesle (USC). Organized in partnership with the Consortium for Gender, Sexuality, Race and Public Culture.

December 1, 2026, 11am–12pm  | More

The author will be joined in conversation by Alex E. Chávez (University of Notre Dame) and Richard T. Rodriguez (UC Riverside), moderated by Edwin Hill (USC). Organized in partnership with the Department of English, Experimental Humanities Lab, and Center for Music, Brain and Society. Registration is required.

February 1, 2027, 12pm–1pm  | More

The author will be joined in conversation by Steven Hahn (NYU) and Michael Kazin (Georgetown University), moderated by Alaina Morgan (USC). Registration is required. Registration is required.

February 19, 2027, 1pm–2pm  | More

The authors will be joined in conversation by Sabina Magliocco (University of British Columbia) and Solimar Otero (Indiana University, Bloomington), moderated by Kristiana Willsey (USC). Registration is required.

March 1, 2027, 12pm–1pm  | More

The author will be joined in conversation by Roshanak Kheshti (University of California, Berkeley) and Dominic Pettman (New School), moderated by Kara Keeling (USC). Registration is required.

March 12, 2027, 2pm–3pm  | More

The author will be joined in conversation by Steve Choe (University of Hong Kong) and Hye Seung Chung (Colorado State University), moderated by Akira Lippitt (USC). Registration is required.

April 8, 2027, 11am–12pm  | More

The authors will be joined in conversation by Shelleen Greene (UCLA) and Kamal Sinclair (MIT), moderated by Holly Willis (USC). Registration is required.