New Humanities Scholars Program Manager Named

A new Humanities Scholars Program Manager has been named: Ben Fortman, currently a senior consultant in Undergraduate Admissions and First-Year Experience (UAFYE), will replace Emily Carpenter, who resigned in August to accept a fulltime position in Arts and Sciences Advising.

Ben earned both his BA and MBA (2009) from Ohio State. During his four years with UAFYE, Ben received extensive training in university policies and procedures. He was responsible for admissions counseling and was a senior territory manager for the Texas region, where he planned and managed large-scale events. As an undergraduate business major, Ben was involved with the OSU Marching Band and the OSU Men's Glee Club. He considers his 2009 Study Abroad project in Ethiopia on emerging markets a highlight of his student experience and looks forward to communicating his enthusiasm for international travel and cross-cultural communication to Humanities Scholars students. Ben observed, "I was fortunate to have fantastic mentor support during my Ohio State undergraduate experience, and I welcome the responsibility of returning the favor by giving back to current students."

From 2005 to August 2009, Emily Carpenter ably and energetically led the Humanities Scholars Program, consistently building its membership and agenda of cultural events. She organized annual cultural trips to major cities (New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia) and inaugurated a service project with the Mid-Ohio Food Bank in Logan. She also hosted lectures with Humanities faculty members, expanded its documentary film series, conducted a spirited "Banned Books Club," and developed many other events and a blog. As an Advisor in Arts and Humanities of Arts and Sciences Advising, Emily will continue to be the GEC advisor for Humanities Scholars students.

A co-curricular program, Humanities Scholars currently has 276 students, about half of them Humanities majors. Their residence is Haverfield Hall.