The Department of American Culture is marking its 90th anniversary! We are planning a year of celebration and reflection that highlights the history, vitality, and promise of American and ethnic studies at Michigan.

The community will gather to reflect on the accomplishments of the past 90 years and celebrate the enduring impact of American Culture and the broader fields of American and Ethnic Studies.

Our Celebration begins in Spring 2026, April 2nd & 3rd

Thursday April 2, 2026

We will launch the anniversary year on campus with our annual Betty Ch’maj Distinguished American Culture Lecture. We are thrilled to announce that Professor George J. Sánchez will deliver the Ch’maj lecture. Professor Sánchez is a leading scholar of American studies and ethnicity, as well as history, at the University of Southern California, where he serves as Vice Dean for Diversity and Strategic Initiatives in the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences.

A former Chair of American Culture at Michigan in the early 2000s, he was instrumental in shaping the model of American studies that has defined our department. His lecture will reflect on that history—examining the strengths and limitations of Michigan’s model and considering its national influence.

Friday April 3, 2026

Students, alumni, staff, and faculty will gather for a day of conversation and reflection on 90 years of inventive and experimental work in the study of American cultures. Graduates of our PhD program will return to campus to participate in these Friday panels alongside current graduate students and faculty. Please join us!

AC 90th  Anniversary Symposium

  • 10-10:30 STUDENT POSTER SESSION
  • 10:30 CHAIR’S WELCOME
  • 10:30 - 12:00 PANEL: Thinking About the Michigan Model: American and Ethnic Studies in Practice
  • 12:00 -1:30 LUNCH and PANEL: What has American Culture Made Possible? Impacts Across the Academy and Public Life
  • 1:30- 3 PANEL: The Public Life of Our Scholarship

Both days will also feature poster sessions showcasing research by undergraduate and graduate students.


The Celebrations continue: Fall 2026

We will continue our celebrations at the American Studies Association’s Annual Conference in Chicago on October 22–25, 2026.
For decades, Michigan’s Department of American Culture has been a vital presence at ASA. In honor of that history, we will host a 90th-anniversary reception to bring together alumni, faculty, current students, and colleagues. This will be an opportunity to reconnect, celebrate, and envision the next chapter of our collective work.
(The deadline for submitting a paper for the conference is March 1, 2026.)


Celebrating Our Alumni: 90 Stories for 90 Years

Our alumni are at the heart of our story. Beginning in January 2026, we will launch a social media campaign featuring 90 profiles drawn from our extraordinary network of more than 1,700 American Culture alumni.

These profiles—researched and curated by brilliant AC graduate student Mica Nimkarn—will highlight the diverse paths, contributions, and achievements of our graduates.
Follow along on Facebook and Instagram as we celebrate their stories and the impact of an American Culture education.

Join us throughout 2026 as we honor the past, celebrate the present, and shape the future of American Culture at the University of Michigan!

The Annual Betty Ch’maj Distinguished American Studies Lecture Series, established to honor Betty Ch'maj's legacy, was made possible with generous support from the Ch’maj family.