Jessica Pressman
Associate Professor, English & Comparative Literature and Director, Digital Humanities Initiative
San Diego State University
Pamela Jackson
Popular Culture Librarian
San Diego State University
Pamella Lach
Digital Humanities Librarian
San Diego State University
San Diego State University (SDSU) is home to a growing digital humanities (DH) Initiative. What began as a grass-roots, faculty-led effort to explore the impact of digital technologies in research and teaching has grown into a campus-wide initiative and strategic “Area of Excellence.” As an Area of Excellence with a unique focus on global diversity, DH@SDSU was awarded a faculty cluster hire and provided with start-up funds. SDSU Library & Information Access has been a partner in this initiative, receiving one of the first cluster hires (a new Digital Humanities Librarian) and developing a new Digital Humanities Center, which officially opened its doors in January 2018. In this project briefing, we will discuss the evolution of the campus initiative and the unique relationship between the library and the teaching faculty to create a space and set of programs to foster a community of digitally-engaged and curious faculty, staff, and students.