Doctoral Futures Events

Doctoral Futures at the 2026 AHA and MLA Annual Conventions

The American Historical Association and the Modern Language Association will both be hosting sessions at their annual conventions that discuss topics related to the Doctoral Futures project’s goals and objectives.

See below for additional details.

American Historical Association (AHA) Annual Meeting

January 8-11, 2026 | Chicago, IL

Thursday, January 8, 2026 | 5:00 PM CDT

Reception for Graduate Students

The AHA Graduate and Early Career Committee cordially invites graduate students to a reception and informal conversation with colleagues. Palmer House Hilton, Adams Room (Sixth Floor).

Friday, January 9, 2026 | 8:30 AM CDT

Graduate and Early Career Committee Guided Conversation

The AHA Graduate and Early Career Committee invites graduate students and early-career professionals to a forum to discuss issues of common professional interest. Hilton Chicago, Boulevard A (Second Floor).

Friday, January 9, 2026 | 1:30 PM CDT

A Doctorate with a Difference: 25 Years of Digital Humanities and the PhD in History

In the Fall of 2001, George Mason University began its Ph.D. in History program under the leadership of Roy Rosenzweig, founder of the Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media (RRCHNM). The degree, which required students to train in digital humanities methods, was the first of its kind. Marketed under the catchphrase, “A Doctorate with a Difference,” the program offered students a wider range of job opportunities beyond the traditional tenure-track path. The vision was that students could use their traditional and digital expertise to pursue careers in public history, archives, and digital humanities centers as well as bring their digital training to tenure-track positions. Hilton Chicago, Boulevard B (Second Floor).

Friday, January 9, 2026 | 1:45 PM CDT

DGS Focus Group, Doctoral Futures Project

A confidential listening session with ACLS Doctoral Futures staff for DGS’s. Hilton Chicago, PDR 1 (Third Floor).

Friday, January 9, 2026 | 3:30 PM CDT

Career Contacts at the Annual Meeting organized by the AHA Professional Division

This session provides attendees with the opportunity to speak with a group of professionals who represent a wide variety of career pathways. Professionals who work in careers such as publishing, museums, nonprofits, education, and other areas will discuss their career trajectories and professional development in a structured but informal setting. Attendees will have the opportunity to rotate between tables where the career professionals are stationed to better learn about how to navigate various career paths. Hilton Chicago, Waldorf Room (Third Floor).

Saturday, January 10, 2026 | 1:45 PM CDT

HGSA Focus Group, Doctoral Futures Project

A confidential listening session with ACLS Doctoral Futures staff for current graduate students. Hilton Chicago, Pullman Boardroom (Fourth Floor).

Modern Language Association (MLA) Annual Convention

January 8-11, 2026 | Toronto, ON, CA

Friday, January 9, 2026 | 12:00 PM EDT

Just in Time: ACLS Doctoral Futures: Faculty Perspectives on Doctoral Education in the Humanities

In fall 2025, the ACLS convened faculty teams from Brown University, Columbia University, Northwestern University, Rice University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Virginia to participate in a workstream to reimagine doctoral education in the humanities. Each team worked locally, based on the resources and opportunities specific to each school, but also connected with other teams to formulate collective responses to national challenges. Representatives share findings.

Saturday, January 10, 2026 | 8:30 AM EDT

Discussion Group on the Future of Graduate Education

This discussion group explores the future of graduate education, including advising and mentoring, retention, curricular innovation, and graduate student labor. The guiding question is, How might we reimagine humanities graduate education to support a wider range of students and outcomes, develop the flexibility to meet new needs without abandoning core strengths, and strengthen the academic humanities’ ability to contribute to society?

Saturday, January 10, 2026 | 1:45 PM EDT

The Future of Graduate Education

Participants consider the future of graduate education for language and literature programs within the larger context of ongoing changes to funding models and pressures faced by programs and students alike, contributing to the ongoing ACLS project The Future of Graduate Education, funded by the Mellon Foundation.