- Mellon Publicly-Engaged Humanities Grant (2024-2026)
Southwestern University has received $1,287,000 for “Deepening the Heart of Texas: Publicly-Engaged Humanities for Social Justice.” The project realizes that this is a seismic moment for private small liberal arts colleges—especially in the Humanities, in the pursuit of social justice, and in Texas. In the wake of unprecedented moves against Critical Race Studies, DEI initiatives, LGBTQ+ rights, and the value of so-called “soft skills” majors, we are facing a set of existential issues, locally and globally, centered around matters of diversity, inclusion, equity, and justice, particularly as they pertain to race, ethnicity, and other intersecting modes of difference.
The grant will bolster the great work already being done on our campus when it comes to teaching, research, and disseminating projects in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Fine Arts and in looking beyond the confines of the University in all fields. With an eye towards the ideas, sources, and approaches traditionally used in the Humanities and humanities-related fields and to turning everything outwards, the grant will allow us to increase the number, type, and strength of community-engaged and course-based undergraduate research classes; grow the number, reach, and audience of summer undergraduate research opportunities; and create, define, and promote a set of research themes threaded throughout our efforts, on campus and off. The official Southwestern press release may be found here.CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES and PROGRAMS
2025-2026 academic year opportunities and programs include:
- Call for Part-Time and Visiting Faculty Course Development Support Mini-Grants, for 2024-2025 academic year, deadline from 25 August 2025 (rolling)
- Call for Mellon PEH Supplemental SURF Funds, for Summer 2026, deadline 23 October 2025
Current resources include:
- Southwestern University policies and procedures for paying community partners, updated Spring 2025
- Southwestern University Research Assistantship program, updated August 2025
If you are considering applying for any of the above, you might find the Humanities for All website to be both inspiring and practically useful. In particular, Humanities for All articulates a typology as well as a set of goals for Public Engagement. At this stage of our grant (heading into year 2), we are prioritizing #2, #3, and #4 on the typology. Projects that are geared towards these ends will be most competitive for funding. For more, see some of the leaders in the field like the National Humanities Alliance, Imagining America, Georgetown University, Rutgers University, the University of Washington’s Simpson Center, the University of Illinois, the Whiting Foundation, among many others.
PAST OPPORTUNITIES and PROGRAMS
2024-2025 academic year opportunities and programs included:
- Call for Community Partner Funding, for 2025-2026, deadline 12 December 2024
- Call for Part-Time and Visiting Faculty Course Development Support Mini-Grants, for 2024-2025 academic year, deadline from 16 September 2024 (rolling)
- Call for Mellon PEH Course-Release Sabbatical Program, for 2025-2026 academic year, deadline 10 October 2024
- Call for Mellon PEH Supplemental SURF Funds, for Summer 2025, deadline 24 October 2024
- Mellon PEH Supplemental Call for Professional Travel Awards, for travel between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026, deadline 27 March 2025
- Mellon PEH Supplemental Call for Research Assistantships, for 2025-2026 Academic Year, deadline 10 April 2025
Spring 2024 opportunities included:- Call for Faculty Leaders, deadline 1 March 2024
- Call for Mellon PEH Course-Release Sabbatical Program, for Spring 2025, deadline 18 March 2024
- Call for Mellon PEH Summer Fellows, for Summer 2024, deadline 2 April 2024
- Mellon PEH Supplemental Call for Research Assistantships, for 2024-2025 Academic year, deadline 10 April 2024
- Mellon PEH Supplemental Call for Professional Travel Awards, for travel between 1 May 2024 and 30 June 2025, deadline 15 April 2024
Led by dedicated faculty, top-notch career services, and a vibrant campus community, Southwestern University has again earned recognition as one of the top institutions in the country.
more information
Professor of Communication Studies Bob Bednar led five students deep into the Houston Methodist Hospital system to analyze organizational communication at one of the nation’s leading healthcare systems.
more information
As perspectives surrounding higher education shift, Southwestern University is doubling down on the impact and value of a liberal arts education.
more information
Since the launch of the Thrive campaign in 2018, the Southwestern community has donated over $160 million to elevate student success, enhance academic excellence, and transform the campus.
more information
In the true spirit of Paideia, physics and computer science students put their heads together to complete two different research objectives.
more information
Learn more about the legacy of Southwestern University’s first female registrar through a series of letters between Pearl Alma Neas, Lyndon Baines Johnson, and Lady Bird Johnson.
more information
Nationwide education services company honors Southwestern University as a 2025 “Best Value College.”
more information
SU recognized as one of the top student-centered undergraduate universities in the nation, anchored by strong career development, business, and education programs.
more information
Incoming students and families had their first chance to experience life at Southwestern during Sprog orientation sessions this summer.
more information
A pair of first-year biochemistry majors designed their own experiment aimed at increasing certain chemical compounds produced by spinach plants using different types of fertilizers.
more information
Led by dedicated faculty, top-notch career services, and a vibrant campus community, Southwestern University has again earned recognition as one of the top institutions in the country.
more information
Professor of Communication Studies Bob Bednar led five students deep into the Houston Methodist Hospital system to analyze organizational communication at one of the nation’s leading healthcare systems.
more information
As perspectives surrounding higher education shift, Southwestern University is doubling down on the impact and value of a liberal arts education.
more information
Since the launch of the Thrive campaign in 2018, the Southwestern community has donated over $160 million to elevate student success, enhance academic excellence, and transform the campus.
more information
In the true spirit of Paideia, physics and computer science students put their heads together to complete two different research objectives.
more information
Learn more about the legacy of Southwestern University’s first female registrar through a series of letters between Pearl Alma Neas, Lyndon Baines Johnson, and Lady Bird Johnson.
more information
Nationwide education services company honors Southwestern University as a 2025 “Best Value College.”
more information
SU recognized as one of the top student-centered undergraduate universities in the nation, anchored by strong career development, business, and education programs.
more information
Incoming students and families had their first chance to experience life at Southwestern during Sprog orientation sessions this summer.
more information
A pair of first-year biochemistry majors designed their own experiment aimed at increasing certain chemical compounds produced by spinach plants using different types of fertilizers.
more information
Led by dedicated faculty, top-notch career services, and a vibrant campus community, Southwestern University has again earned recognition as one of the top institutions in the country.
more information
Professor of Communication Studies Bob Bednar led five students deep into the Houston Methodist Hospital system to analyze organizational communication at one of the nation’s leading healthcare systems.
more information
As perspectives surrounding higher education shift, Southwestern University is doubling down on the impact and value of a liberal arts education.
more information
Since the launch of the Thrive campaign in 2018, the Southwestern community has donated over $160 million to elevate student success, enhance academic excellence, and transform the campus.
more information
In the true spirit of Paideia, physics and computer science students put their heads together to complete two different research objectives.
more information
Nationwide education services company honors Southwestern University as a 2025 “Best Value College.”
more information
SU recognized as one of the top student-centered undergraduate universities in the nation, anchored by strong career development, business, and education programs.
more information
Incoming students and families had their first chance to experience life at Southwestern during Sprog orientation sessions this summer.
more information
A pair of first-year biochemistry majors designed their own experiment aimed at increasing certain chemical compounds produced by spinach plants using different types of fertilizers.
more information
Trustee Brent Austin has encouraged the Southwestern community to match his $500,000 gift and push the University closer to reaching its fundraising goal for the new facility.
more information
Led by dedicated faculty, top-notch career services, and a vibrant campus community, Southwestern University has again earned recognition as one of the top institutions in the country.
more information
Professor of Communication Studies Bob Bednar led five students deep into the Houston Methodist Hospital system to analyze organizational communication at one of the nation’s leading healthcare systems.
more information
As perspectives surrounding higher education shift, Southwestern University is doubling down on the impact and value of a liberal arts education.
more information
Since the launch of the Thrive campaign in 2018, the Southwestern community has donated over $160 million to elevate student success, enhance academic excellence, and transform the campus.
more information
In the true spirit of Paideia, physics and computer science students put their heads together to complete two different research objectives.
more information
Learn more about the legacy of Southwestern University’s first female registrar through a series of letters between Pearl Alma Neas, Lyndon Baines Johnson, and Lady Bird Johnson.
more information
Nationwide education services company honors Southwestern University as a 2025 “Best Value College.”
more information
SU recognized as one of the top student-centered undergraduate universities in the nation, anchored by strong career development, business, and education programs.
more information
Incoming students and families had their first chance to experience life at Southwestern during Sprog orientation sessions this summer.
more information
A pair of first-year biochemistry majors designed their own experiment aimed at increasing certain chemical compounds produced by spinach plants using different types of fertilizers.
more information
Led by dedicated faculty, top-notch career services, and a vibrant campus community, Southwestern University has again earned recognition as one of the top institutions in the country.
more information
Professor of Communication Studies Bob Bednar led five students deep into the Houston Methodist Hospital system to analyze organizational communication at one of the nation’s leading healthcare systems.
more information
As perspectives surrounding higher education shift, Southwestern University is doubling down on the impact and value of a liberal arts education.
more information
Since the launch of the Thrive campaign in 2018, the Southwestern community has donated over $160 million to elevate student success, enhance academic excellence, and transform the campus.
more information
In the true spirit of Paideia, physics and computer science students put their heads together to complete two different research objectives.
more information
Learn more about the legacy of Southwestern University’s first female registrar through a series of letters between Pearl Alma Neas, Lyndon Baines Johnson, and Lady Bird Johnson.
more information
Nationwide education services company honors Southwestern University as a 2025 “Best Value College.”
more information
SU recognized as one of the top student-centered undergraduate universities in the nation, anchored by strong career development, business, and education programs.
more information
Trustee Brent Austin has encouraged the Southwestern community to match his $500,000 gift and push the University closer to reaching its fundraising goal for the new facility.
more information
By embracing the support system on campus and the resources available through Southwestern’s liberal arts education, first-generation student Fernando Cruz-Rivera ’26 has put himself on track to a successful career in government.
more information