DHSI now attracts over 600 participants[1] for two weeks of courses, forum discussions, paper sessions, and unconferences.
[2] In both the past and present, major overarching themes of DHSI have included collaboration, interdisciplinarity, and the creation and cultivation of a larger Digital Humanities community beyond the structure of the typical academic environment.
Founded in 2009 by Diane Jakacki and Cara Leitch, the event invited graduate-only submissions until 2011.
The inaugural DHSI event included lead speakers Susan Hockey, Nancy Ide, Willard McCarty, and John Unsworth, and there were some 35 participants in attendance.
[8] It is estimated that, as of 2012, there were approximately 1,800 alumni of the institute, with a large portion returning over a period of multiple years to take further courses.