May 6, 2021
College of Education initiates Research Mini-Grant program
The College of Education initiated a Research Mini-Grant program for the 2021-22 academic year that provides seed funding to support faculty research and creative discovery activities that advance the college's mission. Five faculty were awarded grants ranging from $500 to $2,500.
Cindy Shuman, associate dean of research, said her office developed the program with a strategic focus on teaching and/or student learning with the goal of promoting scholarship in the College of Education. Funding for this year's application process was limited to one-time purchases of supplies or equipment for curricula design/innovation and instruction, materials for research or scholarly endeavors.
"Dean Mercer decided that strategic seed funding could potentially be a springboard for expanding research activities in the college," Shuman said.
The inaugural grant awardees, all faculty members in the department of curriculum and instruction, are:
- Pedro Espinosa, assistant professor, will create resources on effective strategies for working with Latinx students and families in K-12 settings.
- Della Perez, assistant professor, will investigate how course materials contribute to professional experience and social-emotional learning.
- Suzanne Porath, assistant professor, will conduct an inquiry on the use of Clifton Strengths with preservice and in-service teachers.
- Vicki Sherbert, assistant professor, will build resources for place-based writing and poetic inquiry, with a focus on building collaborations.
- Be Stoney, associate professor, will acquire equipment to support physical education and health research activities for faculty and preservice teachers.
Results of the research activities will be shared throughout the school year.