History undergraduate students, Jatin Mirzayi and Amari Davis, were two of seven students selected as spring 2026 Humanities in Action Scholars by We CU and the Humanities Research Institute.
The Humanities in Action program (HIA) aims to remove some of the financial barriers that prevent undergraduate humanities students from taking advantage of community engagement opportunities. Selected by a competitive application process, HIA scholars are then matched—through the Community Learning Lab in the School of Social Work—with a community partner to address a vital area of need in the Champaign-Urbana community. The students will also attend workshops to strengthen their community partnerships and build connections with like-minded peers, and will learn more about HRI’s opportunities and the broader community of humanists at Illinois.
Jatin Mirzayi (class of 2027) is majoring in history. Before coming to the University of Illinois he studied in Edinburgh, Scotland. Living and traveling abroad has taught him about how little communication is shared between people globally. He previously volunteered at homeless shelters and realized how precarious the living situation of so many people is—and how easily they can, by one turn of bad luck or a seemingly transient poor decision, end up on the street. He takes an interest in language and is learning both Russian and Persian. At Illinois, he is an editor for the Undergraduate History Journal. He also has an interest in informational transparency and intellectual dissemination globally, which has led him to contribute to translating or digitizing old historical documents and articles.
Amari Davis (class of 2027) is majoring in sociology with minors in history and criminology, law, and society. Prior to her transfer, she was involved in several student organizations at Joliet Junior College. She was president of the Black Student Union, a member of the Honors Program, Phi Theta Kappa, TRIO SSS (of which she is now an alum), and Student Government. At Illinois, she is a member of the Student Sociology Organization. An aspiring professor, she loves reading and writing, and her interest lies in post-modern theory. Some issues that are important to her include education, food insecurity, and prison reform.
Editor's note: This story was adapted from the announcement on the Humanities Research Institute website.