Faculty Colloquium Series
The UVM Humanities Center hosts monthly faculty colloquium series during the academic year, highlighting the depth of research at UVM. The series reflects the annual Center theme.
In 2026-2027, the Center faculty colloquium series takes up the notions of “silence/noise”. Turn on the news, open a social media app, or listen to administrators and it is plain to see that there is a fixation on our attention span, the way we listen, what we hear, and the privatization of those experiences. How we engage with sonic landscapes has changed as earbuds become ubiquitous and noise ordinances proliferate. Though when we talk to historians, silences indicate not a literal lack of sound, but a(n often purposeful) lack of archival materials, a silencing of minoritized voices. And further still, when we think about the chilling of free speech, to make noise—and where it can be made—has another valence as well. We invite our campus and especially our humanities researchers to reflect with us on questions that interpret the theme of "silence/noise" in a capacious and expansive sense, regardless of discipline, field, or craft across the University.
The 2026-2027 Silence/Noise Faculty Colloquium Series includes presentations from John Pirone (CESS, ASL), Lisa Holmes (Political Science), Vicki Brennan (Religion), Eric Lindstrom and Daniel Fogel (English), Joseph Acquisto (SWLC, French), Rebekah Trollinger (Religion), Deborah Cafiero (SWLC, Spanish), Tyler Sonnichsen (Geography).
Colloquia will feature faculty research related to silence/noise as they understand it during a lunchtime, hour-long session; faculty will present for no more than 20 minutes, and the remaining time is reserved discussion and exchange. Colloquia are normally held in the Humanities Center Conference Room.
Space is limited and reserved for faculty or those staff pursuing research. Lunch will be provided. RSVP is required.