Grinnell awarded Mellon grant for interdisciplinary curriculum development
Grinnell College has received a $965,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for interdisciplinary faculty and curriculum development in the humanities and social sciences. The four-year grant will support the college's Expanding Knowledge Initiative (EKI), providing faculty with opportunities to experience learning, teaching, and research outside their core areas of training.
The Mellon grant will also support the addition of a full-time Arabic language instructor on a three-year trial basis as part of an expanding program in Middle Eastern Studies.
"Middle Eastern Studies is an interdisciplinary area of increasing interest for our faculty and students," said Jon Chenette, associate dean of the college. "With the addition of Arabic language, our students will be able to prepare more fully for off-campus study and mentored research opportunities in the Middle East."
In addition, the Mellon grant will permit current Grinnell faculty members to develop expertise in disciplines outside of their primary specialties, either with Grinnell faculty colleagues or through outside agencies, research centers, and professional organizations. Grant funds will also support travel or consultants for teams of faculty members and students working together on research topics that benefit from collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches.
