Match Opportunity: DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT! Your donation will be matched dollar for dollar up to $5,000 throughout the day.
Matching funds were generously provided by UC Santa Cruz Foundation Trustee Linda Peterson (Stevenson ’70, History).
The Employing Humanities initiative goes beyond preparing students for careers; it highlights the importance of a humanities education in developing thoughtful, engaged citizens who lead with empathy, curiosity, and purpose. Supporting this initiative helps bridge classroom learning and students’ future aspirations.
The two core Employing Humanities programs provide undergraduate students with exclusive cohort experiences, mentorship, and skill-building opportunities. The Humanities EXCEL program offers paid internships at museums, agencies, nonprofits, and media outlets, while Humanities EXPLORE is a paid research program where student teams work on faculty projects, gaining practical experience.
Employing Humanities will also sponsor three international study immersion courses in 2026, with faculty-led trips planned to Japan and Senegal. These immersive experiences deepen cultural understanding, broaden global perspectives, and help students connect their academic learning to real-world contexts.
Why Your Support Matters
Many of our students come from historically underserved or first-generation college backgrounds. For them, paid opportunities like EXCEL and EXPLORE are not just valuable—they’re essential. With your support, we can provide more of these transformative experiences and ensure that financial barriers never hinder growth, discovery, or purpose.
Here's what your gift can make possible:
🌱$20 can help cover team-building activities for research teams and travel groups. 🌿 $50 can provide financial support for daily excursions on study immersion. 🌼 $200 can fund 10 hours of paid research or internship work. 🎓 $2,000 funds a student’s entire quarter, giving them a transformative, career-shaping experience.
Hear From Our Students
“Thanks to the Humanities EXCEL program, I built the skills and confidence that led me to my current role as a Development Associate at Pivotal. The hands-on training I received—from nonprofit communications to project management—directly connects to the work I do now supporting foster youth. Your support makes these transformative opportunities possible.”
– Serena, Critical Race & Ethnic Studies ’25
“My internship at the San Lorenzo Valley Museum brought my studies to life. I applied what I learned in the classroom directly to preserving community history—cataloging photographs, transcribing postcards, and highlighting the value of everyday materials, such as letters and souvenirs. It was meaningful academically, professionally, and personally.”
– Eva, History ‘26
Be a Champion for the Humanities
Together, we can ensure that every humanities student feels supported and prepared to thrive on campus and beyond.
Your gift is an investment in a student’s future. You are empowering the next generation of students to become the kind of creative problem-solvers and communicators that every profession—and the world itself—urgently needs. Be a champion for the humanities.
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