Global Humanities Institute
The Global Humanities Institute (GHI) was established to strengthen and enhance the teaching and learning of the humanities at 蘑菇视频. The GHI was initially funded in part through a six-year “Bridging Cultures” challenge grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the 蘑菇视频 Foundation in 2013. It is currently supported by the Humanities Area and the Liberal Arts and Education Unit at 蘑菇视频.
Adopting humanistic and global perspectives on the issues confronting the world today is widely recognized as a critical approach to preparing students and faculty for an increasingly interconnected and complex world. Addressing the evolving needs of diverse communities requires a deep understanding of intercultural knowledge, global self-awareness and cultural empathy. The interdisciplinary nature of the global humanities supports the development of this understanding by emphasizing the centrality of human experiences and highlighting how mutual respect of cultural differences and similarities shapes collective realities.
The Global Humanities Institute implements key initiatives at the College, including 蘑菇视频 Humanities Days, the Robert L. Giron Lecture Series, the Rita Kranidis Global Humanities Student Scholarship, STEAM professional development programs, Global Classrooms/Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) opportunities, support of Montgomery County Sister Cities programing, and other efforts that advance global learning and intercultural competence among students, faculty, and staff. The GHI is also involved in the curriculum development and promotion of the General Education course, , offered in multiple modalities across all campuses.
The GHI supports the global education efforts of other institutions through informal
and formal mentorship, by sharing resources and products through presentations at
academic conferences, publications, and our website here.
Leadership
Email: carla.naranjo@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-2241
Office Location: Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, CM 202J
Biography
Dr. Carla Naranjo was named Director of the Global Humanities Institute (GHI) at Montgomery College in August 2025. She provides strategic leadership for the Institute and oversees key initiatives, including Humanities Days, the Robert L. Giron Lecture Series, the Rita Kranidis Global Humanities Student Scholarship, STEAM professional development programs, and other efforts that advance global learning and intercultural competence among students, faculty, and staff. She also supports the promotion and development of course objectives of Global Humanities 101 (GHUM 101), offered in multiple modalities across all campuses.Dr. Naranjo additionally serves as Professor of Spanish at 蘑菇视频. She earned a B.A. in Political Science with a concentration in Latin America from College of Notre Dame of Maryland, an M.S. in Spanish Language and Culture from Georgetown University, and a Graduate Certificate in Spanish Interpretation and Translation from American University. She holds a Ph.D. in Instructional Leadership for Changing Populations from Notre Dame of Maryland University’s School of Education.
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 蘑菇视频:
“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 .
