The function of the Humanities Research Institute (HRI) at Brock University is to encourage the development of research programs and initiatives in the Faculty of Humanities and to generate greater public awareness of our scholarly expertise, as well as the breadth of our research and creative productivity.
Administration
The HRI is directed by the Associate Dean of Humanities (Research and Graduate Studies). The Director works closely with an Advisory Board consisting of 3-4 members of the HRI and (ex officio) the previous Director, the Dean of Humanities, and the Editor of the Brock Review.
The Director and the previous Director serve a three-year term. Regular Advisory Board members serve a two-year term, with the possibility of renewal for a further two years.
Election of Advisory Board members takes place in the Spring of those years in which there are vacancies, with the term of office beginning on July 1 of the year of appointment. In the spring of each year, applications are invited from all members of the HRI (known as “HRI Associates”) who are interested in becoming Advisory Board members. If there are more nominees than vacant positions, a slate of candidates is developed and an election by ballot is conducted by the present HRI prior to the July 1 “turnover” date.
The Director of the HRI receives administrative support from the Office of the Dean of Humanities.
Advisory Board
Ex Officio Members:
Director: Elizabeth Vlossak (History)
Previous Director: Keri Cronin (Visual Arts)
Dean of Humanities: Carol Merriam (Classics)
At Large Members:
Elysia French (Visual Arts) (first term to 2027)
Neta Gordon (English Language and Literature) (first term to 2027)
Mike Griffin (Dramatic Arts) (first term to 2027)
Aaron Mauro (Digital Humanities) (second term to 2026)
Adam Rappold (Classics and Archaeology) (first term to 2027)
Associate Membership
All full-time, tenured or tenure-track Faculty of Humanities are invited to become Associates of the HRI, on the basis of having submitted a research plan to the Institute.
The HRI recognizes that research, scholarship, and creative activity in the Humanities takes many forms, and that individuals may have more- or less-defined research and/or performance programs in place at different stages in their scholarly lives. It thus expects that research plans will take a variety of forms, some consisting of formally set-out statements of intention with respect to the next few years, and others involving statements of a more general and exploratory nature with regard to work newly begun or still at a ruminative stage of development. Application deadlines for HRI Associate status are January 15 and September 15 each year. The application process consists of forwarding a completed application form and a current C.V. to the Director of the HRI, in care of the Executive Assistant to the Dean of Humanities.
Initiative
- In keeping with its mandate to generate greater public awareness of research initiatives and scholarly expertise within the Faculty of Humanities, the HRI will organize symposia each year, featuring distinguished Humanities researchers at Brock, as well as other distinguished speakers.