Three College of Humanities Faculty Awarded NEH Grants
Danielle Endres and Melissa Parks
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), one of the largest and most prestigious funders of humanities projects in the United States, has awarded grants to three communication faculty from the University of Utah’s College of Humanities. Since its founding in 1965, the NEH has been the only federal agency dedicated to supporting the humanities. With over $6 billion awarded to museums, universities, libraries, and cultural organizations across the nation, NEH grants play a pivotal role in advancing education, research, and civic engagement. This year's awards recognize two innovative projects by Danielle Endres, Professor of Communication, Melissa Parks, Assistant Professor of Communication, and Mike Middleton, Associate Professor of Communication, that will further the understanding of the human experience, enhance education, and foster dialogue on pressing societal issues.
Wanda Pillow, Acting Dean of the College of Humanities, says, “I am thrilled that Dr. Endres, Dr. Parks, and Dr. Middleton have been recognized by the NEH for their outstanding work. All three faculty members are conducting exactly the kind of work that accomplishes the University of Utah’s vision of achieving unsurpassed societal impact through world-class educational experiences and reaffirms the integral nature of the humanities in higher education. We’re so proud to have such talented and dedicated colleagues representing the College of Humanities.”
Endres, who also serves as Director of the Environmental Humanities Program, has received NEH funding for her project, "Environmental Humanities and Transformative Justice: A Community-Based Experiential Learning Certificate for Undergraduates." In collaboration with Melissa Parks, co-director on the grant and also serving as Associate Director at the Taft-Nicholson Environmental Humanities Center, this grant will support the recently launched Environmental Humanities Undergraduate Certificate. The program integrates environmental humanities with social justice, equipping students with leadership, communication, and advocacy skills to address complex environmental challenges while considering their impacts on diverse communities. This program helps students understand and empowers them to work within communities toward sustainable solutions.
Middleton, who is also currently serving as Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, has received a grant for his project, "Debate Across the Curriculum."
Mike Middleton, Natasha Seegert, and Jeannie Hunt
Along with collaborators Natasha Seegert, Associate Professor Lecturer and Director of the Conflict Resolution Program, and Jeannie Hunt, Associate Professor Lecturer and Director of Forensics, Middleton’s project will integrate academic debate practices into a variety of disciplines. The project aims to strengthen humanities-informed teaching by developing instructional materials based on best practices in debate pedagogy. These materials will support faculty members across multiple disciplines and majors, equipping them to integrate debate techniques into their courses and foster critical thinking, communication, and writing skills in students. Ultimately, the project will demonstrate the relevance of the humanities in addressing contemporary challenges relevant to students’ lives both within the confines of the university and in their professional lives.
Congratulations to Danielle Endres, Melissa Parks, and Mike Middleton on their NEH grants. These prestigious awards recognize their groundbreaking work and highlight the vital role of the humanities in building a more informed, thoughtful, and engaged society.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.