Global Humanities Institute
The Global Humanities Institute works to have a major impact on the teaching and learning
of the humanities at Montgomery College.
In addition to our work with faculty fellows, campus events and support of faculty scholarship, we also aim to create new courses, to modify existing courses, and to create learning communities that adopt a global perspective.
We strongly believe that adopting a broadly humanistic and global perspective on the issues that confront our world today is an important means of preparing students and faculty for a complex and intricate future, with issues, concerns and opportunities that are unprecedented. We know that in order to address the needs of our societies and communities in the future, we will need a deep understanding of our global interconnectedness. The interdisciplinary work of the global humanities makes possible this deeper understanding, putting a premium on people’s lives and the ways that mutual appreciation of cultural differences and similarities shape our realities.
Leadership
Email: carla.naranjo@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-2241
Office Location: Germantown Campus, HS 178
Biography
Carla Isabel Naranjo is a Spanish Professor on the Germantown campus. She holds a BA in Political Science with a concentration in Latin America from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland (1991), a Master of Science in Spanish Language and Culture from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. (2005), a Graduate Certificate in Spanish Interpretation and Translation from American University in Washington, D.C. (2005) and a Ph.D. in Instructional Leadership for Changing Populations from Notre Dame of Maryland University’s School of Education.She has developed Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) curriculum in her Spanish courses since 2015 by collaborating with faculty members from universities in El Salvador. Additionally, she serves as the co-coordinator of the Global Classrooms-COIL Faculty Fellowship at Montgomery College. Her academic interests include the impact of COIL on community college students, Open Educational Resources (OERs) for Spanish, and immigration trends from Central American countries to the United States.
Before teaching, Carla was a labor organizer for over 10 years, organizing Spanish-speaking immigrants living and working in Texas, California, and Washington, D.C. In her free time, Carla enjoys exercising in the early morning hours and spending time with her daughter, Reina de la Paz.
Educational Background
BA, Political Science, College of Notre Dame of Maryland, Baltimore, MDMS, Spanish Language and Culture, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Graduate Certificate in Spanish Interpretation and Translation, American University, Washington, D.C.
Ph.D. Instructional Leadership for Changing Populations, Notre Dame of Maryland University
- Gloria Barron, ELITE, GHI Website and IT Projects Support
- Xiaosheng Bi, China Partnerships Liaison
- Marcia Bronstein, Global Humanities Learning Communities, Humanities Days, STEAM
- Amy Gumaer, College Grants Manager; GHUM101 committee
- Jamie Gillan, Global Humanities Networking Student Breakfast Annual Event
- Evelyn Gonzalez-Mills, Lead, El Salvador Programs
- Jennifer Hatleberg, Libraries, Global Humanities Resources
- Dan Jenkins, Lead, GHI Sabbaticals Abroad
- Shelley Jones, Humanities Days, Global Classrooms Lead, GHI Events Support
- Jill Kronstadt, STEAM, Humanities Days
- Angela Lanier, ELITE, Instructional Design Support and ELITE liaison
- Greg Malveaux, Study Abroad
- Amanda Miller, STEAM; Art liaison
- Carol Moore, Lead, STEAM, “Introduction to Global Humanities,” Lead, GHI Professional Development
- James Murray, ELAP and Ethiopia Initiatives; GHI Faculty Summer Research Grants
- Joan Naake, Global Humanities Networking Student Breakfast Annual Event; Course Lead, “Introduction to Global Humanities”
- Carla Naranjo, Lead, Global Classrooms
- Nancy Nyland, STEAM Librarian
- Eniola Olowofoyeku, General Support; International and Multicultural Center, TPSS
- Emily Rosado, International Partnerships
- Pat Ruppert, Lead--Global Humanities Networking Student Breakfast Annual Event; “Introduction to Global Humanities;” Lead, GHI Global Justice Scholarship
- Alessandra Sagasti, STEAM; STEM liaison
- Heather Satrom, Humanities Days, GHI scholarship support
- Leah Sneider, Women's Studies Liaison
- Nik Sushka, Global Service Learning
- Deborah Taylor, Lead, “Introduction to Global Humanities”
- Marlon Vallejo, Student and Faculty Exchanges
- Greg Wahl, English, “Introduction to Global Humanities” Lead, GHI Global Justice Fund
The creation of the Global Humanities Institute’s core programs was accomplished between the years of 2012—2014 by the following original members of the GHI Workgroup:
- Rita Kranidis, Director
- Marcia Bronstein: Lead, Global Humanities Learning Communities Fellowship
- Sharyn Neuwirth: Lead, Global Humanities Stand-Alone Course Fellowship [retired]
- Gregory Wahl: Lead, Global Humanities Stand-Alone Course Fellowship
- Laura White: Multicultural and Diversity Training Specialist
- Carol Moore: Instructional Designer and Lead with creation of Fellowships
- Brenda Braham: Librarian assigned to the GHI. Resources support and procurement of MANGO Languages [retired]
- Shelley Jones: Service Learning Specialist, support of GHI faculty fellowships.
- Maisha Duncan, Librarian assigned to the GHI. Maisha holds a BA in History and a Masters of Library Science from the University of Maryland. She is currently employed by the University of Delaware.
The National Endowment for the Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is the main contributor to humanities programs nationally and the largest supporter of the humanities in the world. Through the National Endowment for the Humanities’ “Bridging Cultures” initiative for community colleges, the GHI continues to imbue our humanities courses and other offerings with a strong focus on global issues.
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is an independent federal agency created
in 1965. It is one of the largest funders of humanities programs in the United States.
(Read "What We Do" from NEH (PDF, 
) .)
Because democracy demands wisdom, NEH serves and strengthens our republic by promoting excellence in the humanities and conveying the lessons of history to all Americans. The Endowment accomplishes this mission by awarding grants for top-rated proposals examined by panels of independent, external reviewers.
NEH grants typically go to cultural institutions, such as museums, archives, libraries, colleges, universities, public television, and radio stations, and to individual scholars. The grants:
- strengthen teaching and learning in schools and colleges
- facilitate research and original scholarship
- provide opportunities for lifelong learning
- preserve and provide access to cultural and educational resources
- strengthen the institutional base of the humanities
"The term 'humanities' includes, but is not limited to, the study and interpretation of the following: language, both modern and classical; linguistics; literature; history; jurisprudence; philosophy; archaeology; comparative religion; ethics; the history, criticism and theory of the arts; those aspects of social sciences which have humanistic content and employ humanistic methods; and the study and application of the humanities to the human environment with particular attention to reflecting our diverse heritage, traditions, and history and to the relevance of the humanities to the current conditions of national life."
—National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act, 1965, as amended.
An excerpt describing the National Endowment for the Humanities’ Bridging Cultures initiative, which funds the Global Humanities Institute at Montgomery College:
“During a time of rapid global change, the vitality of our twenty-first century democracy depends on a commitment to understanding the historical and cultural forces that have shaped and continue to shape our world. To that end, NEH has developed a special initiative, Bridging Cultures, which engages the power of the humanities to promote understanding and mutual respect for people with diverse histories, cultures, and perspectives within the United States and abroad.
The Bridging Cultures initiative encompasses a broad array of themes and programming informed by the best in humanities research and scholarly insight. Chairman Leach has noted, “The sharing of language, philosophy, literature, and art – the history of peoples – is the most profound bridge between societies and across cultures.”
Further information about the NEH is available on the National Endowment for the Humanities Websitenew window.
