Each semester, the Heyman Center welcomes dozens of prominent academics, critics, authors, journalists, artists, and performers from around the world. These visiting speakers participate in conferences and deliver lectures that are generally free and open to the public. 
Each year, the Heyman Center provides support to a variety of fellows. HCH-supported fellows include: The Heyman Center Fellows, a cohort of senior faculty, junior faculty, and advanced graduate students at Columbia who meet regularly and receive support to advance their work-in-progress; Public Humanities Fellows, who receive support in partnership with the New York Council for the Humanities; and the members of the Society of Fellows in the Humanities, for which SOF/Heyman provides offices and other sources of support.
Our staff carries out the programming, business, communications and marketing, and administrative functions of the Heyman Center at its East Campus offices.
Erica Benner works on political philosophy and the history of ideas. She has special interests in the ethics of self-determination; ancient Greek philosophy and history, especially Plato and Thucydides; Machiavelli; and philosophical traditions of ironic writing.
View a full listing of all recent affiliates of the Heyman Center
(including faculty, postdoctoral scholars, visiting speakers, staff, and governing board members)