The Carolina history professor has spent nearly four decades sharing the enduring value of the humanities with audiences inside and outside the classroom. When students question Lloyd Kramer about the value of a humanities degree, the veteran professor of history responds succinctly: It prepares you for life.

Victoria Rovine, professor of art history, has been named the next director of Carolina Public Humanities. She begins her new role on July 1. Rovine succeeds Lloyd Kramer, who has been director of CPH since 2014.

This year’s Jefferson Award winner emphasized Jefferson’s ideals of expanding knowledge, fostering diverse ideas and defending democracy, rather than his contradictions and his racist flaws.