Engaging Leaders Podcast Welcomes Phoebe Stein '10

Season 2, Episode 3: Understanding the Value of the Human Experience

“Leading is not about having the answers—it’s about marshalling the resources, supporting others, and helping to get to the solution.” – Phoebe Stein ‘10

In this episode, Eric Brotman '09 is joined by the President of the Federation of State Humanities Councils, Phoebe Stein ’10, to discuss the overall mission and values of the councils, why it’s critical to invest in the humanities—art, philosophy, literature, ethics, history, and more—the pandemic’s impact on new leadership roles, and the importance of relationship building.

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In this episode, we discuss:

• The role of the Federation of State Humanities Councils and how the various councils are offering free, accessible public humanities to their communities
• The pandemic’s impact on art, philosophy, literature, history, and more
• How to respond to leadership challenges brought on by the pandemic—navigating change and transition and embracing new competencies
• The importance of learning with the community and from the community, and how the councils are helping younger generations find connections through meaningful experiences

​About our guest:
Phoebe Stein is president of the Federation of State Humanities Councils, the membership association of state and jurisdictional humanities councils founded in 1977. The Federation provides leadership, advocacy, and information to help member humanities councils advance public programs that engage millions of citizens across diverse populations in community and civic life. The Federation also strives to create greater awareness of the value of the humanities— history, literature, philosophy, ethics, the law—in public and private life. Stein serves on the board of the National Humanities Alliance and on the advisory councils of BFG Financial Advisors and Humanities Indicators, a project of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
 
Stein was the executive director for Maryland Humanities from 2008 to 2020 and has been an advocate for the humanities at local, state, and federal levels for more than 20 years. During her tenure at Maryland Humanities, Stein expanded the council’s partnerships and resources and hosted a radio spot, “Humanities Connection,” while advancing several of the council’s flagship programs, including Maryland History Day, Museum on Main Street, and One Maryland One Book. She served on the Federation’s Board of Directors from 2013 to 2017 as both vice chair and as a member of the Legislative Committee. In 2016, she was recognized as one of “Maryland’s Top 100 Women” by The Daily Record. She is also a member of the 2010 class of Leadership Maryland. Before joining the Maryland council, Stein was the director of public affairs at Illinois Humanities. She received her Ph.D. and M.A. in English from Loyola University of Chicago and her B.A. in English from the University of Michigan. 

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