Choosing the right college isn’t just about picking a major—it’s about shaping a life of purpose. At Westminster College, students are challenged to explore not only what they want to do, but who they want to become.

This fall, the College invites students, employees and the wider community to join in Humanities Week, a week-long celebration from Oct. 16-24, showcasing how the humanities empower individuals to think critically, lead ethically and engage meaningfully in a rapidly changing world.

A key event of the week features Westminster alumnus Ben Nelson ’06, who will discuss how pairing a history major with a business major led to a successful and meaningful career. His talk will take place from 12:45-1:45 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16, in the Dietz Sullivan Room of the Hoyt Science Center.

In his presentation, “The Humanities Outside the Humanities: From Patterson Hall to New York City,” Nelson—associate managing director at Moody’s Investors Service in New York City—will discuss how his liberal arts degree provided a strong foundation for his career.

“This event is a must-attend for anyone curious about how to make the most of their college education,” said Dr. Angela Lahr, Humanities Week organizer and associate professor of history. “Students often ask why they need to take courses outside their majors at Westminster. This talk will help them answer those questions.”

As the workforce continues to be reshaped by artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, Lahr says the enduring value of a humanities education is becoming clearer than ever.

“Humanities majors learn skills that are useful for many career paths. No one knows for certain how A.I. is going to transform the world of work, but knowing what it means—and has meant—to be human is an advantage,” Lahr said.

Lahr added that humanities disciplines—such as history, English, religion, philosophy, languages, and the arts—help students develop critical skills like analytical thinking, effective communication, creative problem-solving, cultural awareness and ethical reasoning.

Additional Humanities Week events:

• Monday, Oct. 20, 7 p.m.: The Jake Erhardt International Film Series will present “Ni chaînes ni maîtres” (“No Chains No Masters”) in Mueller Theater, McKelvey Campus Center. 
• Tuesday, Oct. 21, 12:45-1:45 p.m.: History Capstone Presentations during a brown bag lunch in 207 Patterson Hall.
• Tuesday, Oct. 21, 6-7 p.m.: “Decomposition and Discovery,” a virtual presentation sponsored by the New Castle Public Library, explores body farms and their role in forensic science. This off-campus event will be held in the Copernicus Room of the New Castle Public Library, 207 E. North St., New Castle. 
• Wednesday, Oct. 22, 4:15-5:15 p.m.: “The Advantage of a Humanities Major or Minor in a Changing Job Market,” featuring humanities faculty in 207 Patterson Hall.
• Thursday, Oct. 23, 12:45-1:30 p.m.: Gallery talk on the current exhibition, “Yoko Ono: Passages and Wishes,” led by visual art majors at the Foster Art Gallery. The exhibition closes Friday, Oct. 24.
• Thursday, Oct. 23, 4 p.m.: Creative writing workshop led by senior English majors Olivia Plummer ’26 and Max Smith ’26 and facilitated by Dr. David Swerdlow, professor of English, in 210 Patterson Hall.
• Thursday, Oct. 23, 6-7 p.m.: The Westminster College Bleasby Colloquium in Berlin Lounge, McKelvey Campus Center. Student writers will present fiction and poetry alongside winners of the recent high school creative writing contest. Sponsored by the Department of English.

All events are free and open to the public. For more information about Humanities Week, please contact Lahr at lahram@westminster.edu.

To learn more about Westminster’s humanities majors, please contact:

•    Dr. Kristianne Kalata at kalatak@westminster.edu: English, writing, theatre, visual arts
•    Dr. Angela Lahr at lahram@westminster.edu: History, public history, religion, philosophy
•    Dr. Joel Postema at postemjt@westminster.edu: French and Spanish

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