ASA Trustees Approve Funding for 2022 Diversity Institute Aesthetics Speakers

The American Society for Aesthetics Board of Trustees unanimously approved, at its meeting October 25, funding for aesthetics speakers at the 2022 diversity institutes.

Although dates have not yet been announced, it is expected that the institutes will continue at the Summer Program for Women in Philosophy at UC San Diego, the Summer Immersion Program in Philosophy at Brown University, and the Rutgers Summer Institute for Diversity in Philosophy. ASA funding supports the honoraria, travel and lodging for an aesthetics speaker at each of the institutes.

This will be the eighth year in which ASA has sponsored a speaker at the San Diego and Rutgers programs and the seventh year for ASA sponsorship at the Brown Institute. ASA support supplements the budgets for these programs and also provides an excellent opportunity to introduce aesthetics to talented undergraduates who, for the most part, have had no experience with aesthetics. Institute directors repeatedly report great satisfaction with our participation. Through this relatively economical outreach, ASA has reached about 300 promising and very diverse undergraduates in philosophy with an introduction to aesthetics.

It is expected that a formal Call for Applications will be issued to all ASA members in December, with an application deadline of January 20, 2022. Applicants to be the ASA speaker must be current members of the ASA. Applicants will be asked to send a brief current CV (or URL of a current CV) and a brief statement (no more than 750 words) of the proposed presentation. In each case, presenters will be introducing aesthetics to undergraduate philosophy majors with little or no experience with aesthetics. Presenters also informally advise students about North American doctoral programs and opportunities in philosophy and should demonstrate familiarity with these in the application. Sponsored ASA speakers at previous summer institutes are eligible, although priority will be given to well-qualified applicants who have not previously presented on ASA’s behalf. A decision by ASA on finalists is expected no later than March 1 by an ad hoc committee appointed by the ASA President. The final speaker selection will be made by each respective institute director.