About the Institute

NEH Seminars and Institutes allow K-12 educators an opportunity to enrich and revitalize their teaching through the study of humanities topics that bear upon K-12 education. Participants will receive a certificate upon completion of the program, but programs are not intended to duplicate graduate-level courses. 

This three-week NEH Institute, running from June 30 to July 18, 2025, at the University of California, Santa Cruz, will explore the global afterlives of Dickens’s Great Expectations. Designed for high school teachers, the institute will focus on decolonizing literary curricula through critical race studies, postcolonial theory, and adaptation studies, using Great Expectations as a catalyst for contemporary discussions on race and social justice.

Participants will benefit from the extensive resources of the Dickens Project and the expertise of affiliated faculty. The program will empower twenty-five educators—particularly from underserved communities—to integrate new perspectives into their teaching. Activities will include studying novels, film screenings, critical readings, guest lectures, and discussions, aiming to inspire innovative teaching methods. Additionally, participants will have the chance to attend the Dickens Universe conference the week following the institute.

Responding to the need for a more inclusive approach in literary studies, this project encourages educators to challenge traditional canons and promote diverse narratives. By examining Dickens’s work within contemporary contexts, we aim to equip teachers with the tools to foster critical thinking and relevance in their classrooms.