Welcome to CHIA, our newest APEX innovation center thanks to a $1.49M grant from the Mellon Foundation.
Set Yourself Apart — Before and After Ursinus.
CHIA is a community built for curious, creative, and socially conscious students. Whether you’re passionate about the arts, driven by social justice and advocacy, or eager to make your voice heard, CHIA enhances your major with hands-on opportunities that prepare you for life after graduation.
- Internship grants to fund real-world experience in social justice and community-driven organizations
- Research funding to explore humanistic fields on your own terms
- Travel opportunities to regional and national conferences
- Industry partnerships connecting you to nonprofits and beyond
- Professional certificates in high-demand areas like Environmental Justice and Storytelling & Advocacy
See It in Action
- In IDS 100: Arts & Culture Leadership, students dive into the world of nonprofits and grants — writing real grant proposals for arts organizations in Philadelphia.
- In APEX 200: Sacred Earth, students deliver public presentations and have even traveled to Oklahoma to attend the annual Lenape Pow Wow.
- At events like “Writing as Resistance”, students workshop op-eds and comedy pitches alongside published professionals.
- CHIA also features a dedicated space for Arts in Action — where creativity meets advocacy.
Upcoming Events
CHIA Kick-Off: Project-Based Learning with Dr. Aarti Madan from WPI
Berman Museum 016
This workshop will bring Dr. Aarti Madan, Associate Professor in WPI’s Department of Humanities & Arts to Ursinus to share PBL design principles, resources for supporting PBL projects, and ideas for course integration, with emphasis on humanistic projects.
Beyond the Canvas and Curtain: Connecting Arts, Industry, and Future Creative Leaders
Berman Museum
Join us on Wednesday, September 23rd, from 12:30–2:30 p.m. at the Berman Museum for a career panel just for you. We’re bringing together a small group of arts professionals to share how they built their careers in the arts — and what advice they’d give students just starting out.
