Habib attending National Endowment for the Humanities summer institute

Dr. Khalil Habib, associate professor of philosophy and director of the Pell Honors Program, has been selected to participate in a month-long National Endowment for the Humanities summer institute. “Medieval Political Philosophy: Islamic, Jewish and Christian” will be held at Gonzaga University from June 16 to July 11.

Focused on understanding the three traditions of medieval political philosophy, the institute will consist of seminar-style discussions among the participants along with lectures by the co-directors or outside experts.

The goal is to enable participants to incorporate the teaching of medieval political philosophy into their syllabi. For this reason, there will be an emphasis on preparing participants to address these three traditions in the context of an undergraduate classroom.

“My hope is to come out with a better and deeper understanding of the profound ideas that have shaped, and continue to shape, the world around us so I may strengthen my own teaching and share it with my students here at Salve Regina,” Habib said.

Once the institute is completed and the participants return to teaching, their syllabi and other materials will be collected and placed on a permanent website, making the fruits of the institute available to anyone attempting to advance the teaching of medieval political philosophy.

Created by the federal government in 1965, the National Endowment for the Humanities promotes excellence in the humanities and conveys the lessons of history to all Americans.

Its summer seminars and institutes extend and deepen knowledge and understanding of the humanities by focusing on significant topics and texts; contribute to the intellectual vitality and professional development of participants; build communities of inquiry and provide models of civility and excellent scholarship and teaching; and link teaching and research in the humanities.