2025-2026 Humanities EXCEL Cohort
Thirty-seven students from across the division are joining the 2025–2026 Humanities EXCEL cohort this fall.
Announcing this year’s Humanities EXCEL Fellows set to complete paid internships with community-partner organizations in Santa Cruz County and beyond.
Thirty-seven students from across the division are joining the 2025–2026 Humanities EXCEL cohort and completing internships with 29 partner organizations. An additional 16 students will begin their internships in January and will be announced in Winter 2026. Fellows work directly with their host organizations, gaining hands-on experience in a professional field while contributing meaningfully to ongoing projects and programs. Each site pairs students with a designated mentor who provides training, supervision, and feedback throughout the internship.
The program connects students’ academic strengths with real applications, demonstrating how valuable, durable, and transferable a Humanities degree can be. Partner organizations consistently recognize the insight and skill Humanities students bring to a wide range of fields—including communications, community engagement, data and advocacy, and educational programming. Fellows also meet twice each quarter with their cohort and divisional staff for reflection and professional development.
The Humanities EXCEL Program is led by the UCSC Humanities Division with strategic support from The Humanities Institute.
53
Paid Internships
29
Community Partner Organizations
81%
Students are Humanities Majors*
16%
Students are Humanities Minors*
*to date
Alanah Martinez
Critical Race and Ethnic Studies and Feminist Studies Double Major
Morgan Woodley
History of Art & Visual Culture Major and History Minor
Future Fellow – Winter
Humanities Major/Minor
The Humanities EXCEL Program is funded by The Mellon Foundation, The Helen and Will Webster Foundation, The Humanities Division, The Humanities Institute, and private donors.
