National Humanities Center Announces Dr. Blair LM Kelley as New President

DURHAM, N.C., June 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- After a nationwide search, the National Humanities Center (NHC) is pleased to announce the selection of historian Blair LM Kelley as its next president and director. Dr. Kelley's appointment marks a pivotal moment for the NHC as it looks to build on five decades of foundational work in supporting and advancing humanities research and education.

Kelley comes to the Center with a stellar record as both a scholar and leader, having most recently served as Joel R. Williamson Distinguished Professor of Southern Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was also director of the Center for the Study of the American South and co-director of Southern Futures. Previously, Kelley spent 20 years on the faculty and a decade as an administrator at North Carolina State University, including service as associate dean of interdisciplinary affairs and partnerships.

In her scholarly work, Dr. Kelley has offered profound insights into the lives of Black Americans and the history of social movements, and helped connect historical narratives about race, labor, and activism with contemporary issues. Her bestselling recent book, Black Folk: The Roots of the Black Working Class (Liveright, 2023), received the 2024 Brooklyn Library Book Award, the 2024 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Book Award, the 2024 Philip Taft Labor History Prize and was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Award in History. It was also hailed as one of the best books of the year by Smithsonian magazine, Amazon Editors, and the African American Intellectual History Society. In 2024, she was named one of the Top 40 Women in Higher Education by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education.

A sought-after commentator, Kelley has appeared on NPR's Marketplace, Here & Now, and Fresh Air, MSNBC's All in with Chris Hayes, The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart, Velshi, and the Into America podcast. She has also written for the New York Times, The Washington Post, The Root, The Grio, and The Daily Beast.

"We are delighted to welcome Dr. Blair Kelley to lead the National Humanities Center as its next president and director," said Rishi Jaitly, interim chair of the NHC's board of trustees. "Dr. Kelley's exceptional scholarly record, proven ability to engage many publics across channels and her commitment to—and conviction around—inspired leadership make her the ideal person to build on the Center's remarkable, nearly 50-year legacy of service to the nation, and the world. We live in dynamic times—an AI-ascendant era in which our culture and civic spaces will continue to experience weighty change—and I am confident Dr. Kelley will ensure the National Humanities Center—and advanced humanistic research—will remain a standard bearer for higher understanding."

Throughout her career, Dr. Kelley has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to fostering intellectual communities and championing the humanities across diverse platforms. Her experience in academic leadership, public scholarship, and innovative programming will be instrumental in expanding the NHC's reach and impact. She will be charged with enhancing the Center's renowned fellowship program, developing new initiatives to support emerging scholars and teachers, and advocating for the vital role of the humanities in addressing complex societal challenges.

"I am deeply honored to join the National Humanities Center as its seventh president," said Dr. Kelley. "For nearly 50 years, the Center has been a beacon; a vital space for intellectual inquiry and connection for academic scholars and educators. At a time when supporting the humanities means more than ever, I am proud to have the opportunity to lead a space committed to fostering transformative scholarship, intellectual community, and broad public engagement. I look forward to working with the talented team at the Center, its esteemed Fellows, and our network of partners to amplify the voices of humanities scholars and educators. It is a vital moment to advocate for richer understandings of the past, our present, and a more just and equitable future."

Kelley succeeds J. Porter Durham, Jr., who has served as interim president of the Center since the retirement of Dr. Robert D. Newman in 2024. She is the first woman, the first person of color, and the first NHC Fellow to lead the Center.

Kelley received her BA from the University of Virginia in history and African and African American studies. She earned her MA and PhD in history, and graduate certificates in African and African American studies and women's studies at Duke University. She was recently made a fellow of the Society of American Historians.

About the National Humanities Center:

The National Humanities Center (NHC) is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing discovery about the human experience, fostering community among humanities practitioners, and empowering all those seeking to better understand and improve the human condition. Located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, the NHC provides fellowships and other research programs for scholars; offers professional development and classroom resources for educators; and works to foster deeper appreciation for the ways the humanities help improve lives, build communities, and address complex issues.

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SOURCE National Humanities Center