Bard’s New Chang Chavkin Center Director Roosevelt Montás Featured in the Chronicle of Higher Education
Bard’s new Chang Chavkin Center and Laura Y. Chang and Arnold Chavkin Professor in Liberal Education and Civic Life Roosevelt Montás were featured in the Chronicle of Higher Education. Photo by Inbal Sivan
Bard’s new Chang Chavkin Center was featured in the Chronicle of Higher Education. The feature profiles Roosevelt Montás, the center’s director and Laura Y. Chang and Arnold Chavkin Professor in Liberal Education and Civic Life, and explores his philosophy of a broad, less departmentally siloed form of liberal education. As the former director of Columbia University’s Core Curriculum, Montás has an established track record of advocating for a model of undergraduate learning based on foundational texts and discussion-based courses. He teaches in the undergraduate college, leading research into the advancement of liberal education. His focus is on the importance of liberal education and the study of texts with major cultural significance related to fundamental human questions, emphasizing lives of purpose and deep civic engagement.
“Montás may seem like he’s tilting at windmills,” writes Beth McMurtrie, senior writer for the Chronicle. “But a lot of other people and groups are galloping alongside him. They include foundations, longtime champions of Great Books curricula, and the many faculty members who have transformed their classrooms by adopting this approach.”
Montás teaches in the Literature Program at Bard, which emphasizes cultural, linguistic, and geographic diversity, challenging national, cultural, and disciplinary boundaries.
Post Date: 09-03-2026
“Montás may seem like he’s tilting at windmills,” writes Beth McMurtrie, senior writer for the Chronicle. “But a lot of other people and groups are galloping alongside him. They include foundations, longtime champions of Great Books curricula, and the many faculty members who have transformed their classrooms by adopting this approach.”
Montás teaches in the Literature Program at Bard, which emphasizes cultural, linguistic, and geographic diversity, challenging national, cultural, and disciplinary boundaries.
Post Date: 09-03-2026