The 55th-anniversary celebration of the Michigan Society of Fellows will take place on November 6-7, 2025, in beautiful Ann Arbor, Michigan. This momentous occasion will bring together the esteemed members of our community for a two-day symposium filled with enriching academic presentations and discussions by our alumni junior fellows, as well as joyous reunions by all current and former society members.
In anticipation of this event, David Gerdes, current chair of the Michigan Society of Fellows, interviewed three of our esteemed panelists to highlight their own experiences with the Society.
Assistant Professor in the Department of Asian & Middle Eastern Studies at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at Syracuse University
Professor in the Department of History of Art and Department of Architecture at Harvard University
QUESTION: The Society brings together scholars at a pivotal early career stage. What aspects of the fellowship experience were most valuable in helping you develop into the scholar that you are now?
Vinea: For me, the most valuable aspect, or better gift, of the fellowship was the time it offered. Time to think, to experiment, to have doubts, to not rush, to escape for a little while the pressure of a merciless academic market. The fellowship did not turn me into a highly productive scholar, but I hope it made me a more thoughtful one.
Watson: The strongest aspect of the fellowship was the diversity. Getting to share my experiences in physics with others that were mostly in the humanities and getting to know their perspectives on the pursuit of knowledge. My favorite experience was when I gave my talk and was asked, “How does an electron feel?”. What a wonderful question!
Fromont: The Society gave me the gift of time and perspective. Being a fellow allowed me to turn many of the theoretical stones and follow many of the research threads that I had identified in my doctoral research but had not had the opportunity to fully explore. It also encouraged me to be ambitious and daring in the framing of my first book and in later projects. Above all, I benefited at that pivotal moment from the deep intellectual generosity of the University of Michigan community. I am in debt to the many scholars who made time to meet and discuss my research in a set of conversations that were both transformative at the moment and enduring in their impact on who I would become as a scholar.
QUESTION: Looking back, what was the most unexpected or surprising benefit of your fellowship period? This could be intellectual, professional, or personal.
Vinea: The cultivation of an openness to different ways of asking scholarly questions, which defines the fellowship, made me a better anthropologist, I like to think.
Watson: Honestly, at that period in my life I was a bit snobby towards the humanities in general (science was superior). But after my time of interacting with everyone I made great friends (some of which last to this day) and learned I was missing out on a lot that I needed to learn. It was a very special experience.
Fromont: Experiencing Michigan was a completely unexpected gift. I was born and raised in the French Caribbean, and the Great Lakes region was as distant and exotic a place as I could imagine. During my time at the Michigan Society of Fellows, I was awed by the beauty of this part of the world and amazed at the vibrant -and fraught- mix of heritage it hosted. It was humbling as a historian to witness history in the making as Detroit confronted the aftermaths of the financial crisis and the Midwest welcomed the Obama presidency. I will also always carry with me the memory of the most amazing librarians in academia, turquoise water, and white sand beaches, musical concerts, the cracks of ice breaking in the spring on Lake St Clair, Easter eggs hidden in the snow, the best Reuben sandwich I will ever eat, and inexplicably large coffees drinks.
QUESTION: Could you share a specific memory or moment from the Society’s gatherings (whether formal or informal) that exemplifies what makes this intellectual community unique?
Vinea: Honestly, there is no specific moment that comes to mind, but the most memorable moments were the lunch talks. I always thought that was where the magic of transforming minds in dialogue with others happened.
Watson: There is one experience I must share for the sake of honesty (as this was the most memorable), but I don’t know if it will be useful to quote. When I first joined the Society one of the fellows held a dinner party. There were around twelve of us, I was the only man. I kept my mouth shut for most of the night and learned what women go through in academia – and other issues as well. It shaped how I have gone on as a professor and person and attempted to address issues of inclusion, equality, and diversity.
As a separate memory, I could not go without mentioning the mentorship of Don Lopez (Buddhist studies — director of the society during my time). He really shaped my thinking and also what would become my future career. Moreover, he taught me what it means to have strong character and to give to others without wanting anything in return.
Fromont: A main focus of my dissertation had been the analysis of central African cosmology as a religious and political concept. Scott Watson, a physicist, and cosmologist, was in the same fellow class. Ironically, it was our common interest in cosmology that allowed us to size up and consider together the barriers that disciplines, methods, and training build around scholars. On many occasions, we genuinely attempted and largely failed to find commensurability in our deep interest in cosmology as an object of research. These conversations were intellectually thrilling. They also brought me much insight into the culture, aims, and practices of parts of academia very distant from my own, and made me curious about and attentive to the mission, promise, and challenges of universities.
We can’t thank Vinea, Watson, and Fromont enough for taking the time to speak with us and we look forward to hearing more from each of them at our 55th Symposium this November.