Program Update: Center for 21st Century Studies (C21)

A group of audience members greets a line of speakers sitting at a table.
From left to right, panelists Katelyn Hemmeke, Erica Machulak, Jon McCray Jones, and Jamee N. Pritchard talk with attendees at the C21 "Careers for Humanists" panel. (Photo courtesy of C21 Grad Fellow Yuchen Zhao)

On Oct. 21, UW-Milwaukee’s Center for 21st Century Studies hosted a “Careers for Humanists” panel discussion featuring early- to mid-career humanities professionals that are not pursuing the tenure track. They discussed navigating the current job market and explained non-traditional career pathways for students with humanities degrees. 

The panel consisted of five guests: Katelyn Hemmeke, Senior Editor at Inklore (an imprint of Penguin Random House); Erica Machuluk, Founder & Director of Hikma and author of Hustles for Humanists: Build a Business with a Purpose; Jon McCray Jones, Policy Analyst for the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin; Jamee N. Pritchard, a recent graduate of UWM’s African & African Diaspora Studies PhD program who is now the Special Assistant to the Executive Director at Bronzeville Center for the Arts; and Monica VanBladel, Associate Director of UWM’s Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies. The panel was moderated by C21 Managing Director Katie Waddell.  

A group of panelists sit behind a table while their names are shown on a project screen behind them. Audience members look on.
From left to right, panelists Katelyn Hemmeke, Erica Machulak, Jon McCray Jones, and Jamee N. Pritchard, Monica VanBladel, and panel moderator Katie Waddell introduce themselves to the audience. (Photos courtesy of C21 Grad Fellow Yuchen Zhao)

A central theme of the evening was that career paths are rarely linear, and flexibility and curiosity can turn unexpected experiences into valuable professional assets. The panelists highlighted how transferable humanities skills are to a variety of workplace environments, especially skills like critical thinking, research, writing, communication, collaboration, and project management.  

Networking and mentorship were also essential; several of the panelists ended up in their current positions by speaking to the right person at the right time about a shared passion. McCray Jones and VanBladel highlighted how these professional relationships and shared interests often create opportunities for recent graduates. The speakers also acknowledged the realities of precarious employment; Pritchard stated that she applied for over 40 positions, received three interviews, and got only one job offer. While the job markets remain competitive and financial pressures intensify, the panel left attendees feeling hopeful, suggesting students should take time to recognize their existing strengths and explore opportunities beyond traditional academic careers.  

At a time when humanities fields face mounting devaluation amid advances in AI and escalating university budget cuts, the panel affirmed that a humanities education remains a valuable asset, equipping graduates with adaptable skills and opening pathways to meaningful careers beyond the tenure track. 

A recording of the Careers for Humanists Panel can be found on C21’s YouTube Channel.

To see what is coming up at C21, check out their website.

By Chloe Kwiatkowski, C21 Graduate Fellow