CHESS faculty advocate for humanities during spring break trip to Washington, D.C.

April 1, 2026
Categories: Community Engagement, Faculty, News, Teaching & Advising
Maddison Elliott and Karen Flint standing in front of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. for the 2026 National Humanities Alliance Meeting.

Maddison Elliott, director of graduate programs and data analytics, and Karen Flint, associate professor of history, traveled to Washington, D.C., March 8‑10 to attend the 2026 National Humanities Alliance meeting and to speak personally with congressional correspondents for Humanities Advocacy Day.

The NHA is a nationwide coalition that advocates for the humanities on college campuses and through legislative action. During the annual meeting, Elliott and Flint joined faculty, administrators and representatives from scholarly societies, museums, archives and other humanities organizations. They attended sessions on applied curricula, challenges and opportunities in higher education, humanities‑STEM research collaborations, AI initiatives and more. 

”Like UNC Charlotte, many universities and organizations across the country are doing valuable work in the humanities, and conferences like this allow us to learn from each other,” said Elliott. “By sharing our experiences and lessons learned we can ensure our efforts are more impactful and meaningful to our students and community.”

On their second day in the nation’s capital, Elliott and Flint visited the offices of eight North Carolina representatives and senators — including those of UNC Charlotte alumni Richard Hudson (R) and Addison McDowell (R) — to meet with legislative correspondents.

They shared information with state legislators about the value of the humanities, the impact of National Endowment for the Humanities funding on UNC System research and the state humanities council, and the importance of the National Archives.

“These meetings reinforce the relationships between our policymakers, our universities and the communities they serve,” said Elliott. “Our stories have the power to transform perspectives about what’s happening and how people are feeling in our policymakers’ districts. Our advocacy is one way we hold them accountable.”

Elliott smiling and pointing up at a goose on an office wall.
Elliott holding the camera out to take a selfie, with four people smiling in the background.
Elliott smiling in front of a UNC Charlotte jersey that says "McDowell"

Story by Alex Reynolds. Photos courtesy of Maddison Elliott.