The Value of Humanities in a Challenging World

November 6, 2025

As our country and world confront a wide array of major challenges – extreme economic inequality, climate change, wars, threats to democracy, the scapegoating of marginalized groups, political and cultural polarization,
susceptibility to fake news and propaganda, and more – the role of the humanities has perhaps never been more important.

The skills taught in the humanities are crucial in maintaining the possibility of a just and sustainable world, in world in which humans and other forms of life can flourish. These include skills such as critical thinking, cross-cultural communication, creative expression, the ability to learn from study of the past, ethical discernment, and the attainment of spiritual insight.

One way that Xavier University highlights the value of the humanities is through the annual Roger A. Fortin Award for Outstanding Teaching and Scholarship in the Humanities. Established by Michael Fortin in 2012 in honor of his father Roger, professor emeritus of history and Xavier’s first provost, this award recognizes “a teacher-scholar who, in the judgment of students and peers, is excellent to outstanding in her or his teaching and, in the judgment of the faculty, shows evidence of scholarship that is recognized and given positive evaluations by the scholarly community.” The recipient is honored at an award ceremony in the Spring and also receives a generous monetary gift.

I hope that you will consider nominating colleagues in the humanities who exemplify the kind of teaching and scholarship that our world so desperately needs. You can read more about the award and past recipients at https://www.xavier.edu/cas/awards/fortin-award/.

John Sniegocki
2025 Roger A. Fortin Award recipient
Professor, Department of Theology
Co-Director of the Institute for Spirituality and Social Justice