Grinnell Receives $138,000 Grant to Empower Future Scholars through Mellon-Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program

Grinnell College is proud to share the news that the College has received a generous grant totaling $138,000 in support of its Mellon-Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (MMUF) program. This significant grant renewal highlights the College’s unwavering dedication to fostering a diverse faculty and promoting the multivocality of the humanities and related disciplines. 

The Mellon-Mays Undergraduate Fellowship program, which is at the core of the Mellon Foundation’s mission to enhance diversity in academia, actively encourages students to pursue doctoral degrees in humanistic fields while also championing the value of diverse perspectives in scholarly discourse. By expanding narratives and interpretations, the program not only enriches the academic landscape, but also contributes to a more inclusive understanding of the world. 

This annual renewal of the MMUF program serves as a testament to the exemplary work of the leadership team that continues to nurture and mentor both the program’s fellows and their faculty mentors. The grant will empower Grinnell College to sustain its commitment to support two five-student MMUF cohorts each year, providing them with essential resources such as stipends, research funding, travel opportunities, faculty guidance, and additional support necessary to pursue successful academic careers. 

Founded in 2009 by Professor Shanna Benjamin, the Grinnell MMUF program has continued to thrive under the dedicated coordination of Professor Karla Erickson since 2018. At the conclusion of this academic year, Professor Elias G. Saba, the current assistant coordinator, will transition into the role of coordinator, ensuring the program’s continued success. MMUF’s leaders acknowledge that administrative support has been instrumental to the program’s success since its inception; at the end of this year, Lisa Mulholland will pass the torch to Mike Eikmeier, who will continue to provide administrative assistance to the MMUF program. 

Grinnell College expresses heartfelt gratitude to the Mellon Foundation for its support of the MMUF program and the College’s ongoing commitment to the promotion of diversity and inclusivity in academia. As the MMUF program continues to thrive, it will undoubtedly nurture the next generation of scholars who will enrich our understanding of the humanities and related fields, making the world a more informed and inclusive place.