UK’s Gaines Center headlines national humanities leadership institute

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 9, 2025) – While campus may be a bit quieter during the summer months, the University of Kentucky continues to lead boldly in its mission to elevate education, community and the human experience. The UK Gaines Center for the Humanities was recently honored with a prominent role at the Modern Language Association’s (MLA) 2025 MAPS Leadership Institute — recognized as the nation’s leading professional development forum for humanities leadership.

Held virtually June 23-26 and themed "Creative Vision, Pragmatic Victories: Strategies for Impactful Humanities Leadership," the institute convened more than 150 academic leaders to explore the future of the humanities in higher education and public life. The opening plenary session, "The Current Moment," featured Michelle Sizemore, Ph.D., director of the Gaines Center, and Chelsea Brislin, Ph.D., associate director, as speakers.

“The Gaines Center is proud to represent UK on the national stage,” Brislin said. “Our work doesn’t pause in the summer — it deepens. Whether it’s mentoring students, building community partnerships or sharing ideas with national colleagues, we’re always moving the mission forward.”

Their presentation spotlighted the Gaines Center’s interdisciplinary, community-engaged approach to the applied humanities. Drawing from UK’s unique curricular model, Sizemore and Brislin emphasized how the study of the humanities equips students to understand, navigate and respond to real-world problems — from cultural conflict to ethical dilemmas to social innovation. 

“Humanities students want nothing more than to combine their passion with purpose," Sizemore said. "Deliberately equipping them with the tools to apply their knowledge, we’ve found, does not diminish but rather supplements appreciation for the intrinsic value of the humanities.”

“We were delighted to feature the good work of the Gaines Center on the opening plenary at the MAPS Leadership Institute,” said Paula M. Krebs, executive director of the MLA. “They foster undergraduate interest in the humanities through connection to the community, and they support the pursuit of humanities-related careers. The Gaines Center understands what produces humanities success, and we are grateful that they were willing to share their strategies with our attendees.”

UK’s presence at the institute also included College of Arts and Sciences faculty member Molly T. Blasing, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages, Literatures and Cultures (MCLLC). Blasing co-facilitated a discussion group titled "Recalibrating the Study of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures in the Age of AI." The session drew more than 45 participants from academic leadership in world languages across the U.S., reflecting widespread interest in the promises and challenges of generative AI for the profession.

“Educators in fields connected to foreign languages and global cultures have a lot of different views of how generative AI will shape the future of our profession,” Blasing said. “The session created space to share how our universities are responding through policy frameworks and educational innovations and to identify areas where additional support is needed. Language is at the heart of how large language models are built, after all, so it’s critical that world language educators see themselves as having an active voice in shaping the technology and its uses in teaching and cross-cultural communication. We also feel a responsibility to help our students understand the ways that AI can get in the way of their progress in developing language skills and in what circumstances it can accelerate their capabilities. In the end, we need our students to become responsible, engaged stewards of AI and understand well its benefits and limitations.”

Blasing, along with co-facilitator Erika Stevens of Walters State Community College, also serves on the MLA Task Force on World Languages and Generative AI — an effort aimed at exploring the future of language and cultural education in this time of rapid technological change.

“Molly T. Blasing recently co-facilitated a standout discussion group at the MLA Academic Program Services (MAPS) Leadership Institute,” said Lydia Tang, head of world language programs at the MLA. “She and Professor Stevens led an engaging and informative conversation that resonated with both AI skeptics and enthusiasts. Participant evaluations highlighted the session’s effective blend of practical guidance and broader conceptual insight.”

Krebs added, “Molly and Erika’s session drew one of the largest audiences of any discussion group — clear evidence that AI remains a pressing concern for faculty leaders in the humanities.”

Founded in 1984 by a gift from John and Joan Gaines, the Gaines Center serves as a hub for innovative humanities inquiry at the University of Kentucky. The center promotes cross-disciplinary scholarship and public programming while providing students with experiential learning opportunities rooted in curiosity, critical thinking and civic responsibility.

The humanities encompass a broad range of disciplines — literature, history, languages, philosophy, art, music and more — as well as everyday cultural practices like storytelling, design and performance. Engagement with the humanities strengthens the ability to interpret human experience, grapple with complexity and foster meaningful change.

As Kentucky’s flagship university, UK remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing the Commonwealth through education, research and service. Through the Gaines Center and its dedicated faculty, the university is preparing the next generation of leaders and thinkers to carry the values of the humanities into every corner of society.