The Franco Family Institute for Liberal Arts and the Public Good recently awarded large grants totaling just under $250,000 to eleven faculty across eight departments in the College of Arts & Letters.
Franco Institute’s large grants support scholarship in three specific areas: the creative and performing arts, conferences and lectures, and research assistance.
Large Creative and Performing Arts:
The Notre Dame Arts Initiative and the Franco Institute award the Large Creative and Performing Arts Grants twice annually to support arts and creative practice projects in any medium that are directed by faculty in the College of Arts & Letters. The Arts Initiative and Franco Institute give special consideration to projects that align with one or more of the Arts Initiative’s current creative practice priorities.
David Bird, assistant professor of music, for the Hinterlands album release.
Roy Scranton, associate professor of English, for Popeye: An American Odyssey.
Rodrigo Lara Zendejas, assistant professor of art, for a solo exhibition at the Contemporary Art Museum of Indianapolis.
Lida Zeitlin-Wu, assistant professor of Film, Television, and Theatre, for “How Color Became a Technology: The Making of Chromatic Capitalism.”
Large Henkels:
The Large Henkels Grant program can cover the costs of an academic conference on campus or in one of the University’s Global Gateways; a series of lectures or performances; or a single, significant visiting lecturer or performer. Departments, institutes, and interdisciplinary groups can bring scholars to Notre Dame for two or more days of public events including a lecture, colloquium, panel, or performance. While all events may not result in a publication, the Institute expects that proposals will be designed with the goal of having a lasting effect beyond a series of lectures or performances.
Kimberly Belcher, associate professor of theology, for “The Work of Human Hands: Timely and Timeless” (April 15-17, 2027).
Jennie Grillo, associate professor of theology, for “Embodiment and Affect in Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity” (May 9-13, 2027).
Victoria Tin-Bor Hui, associate professor of political science, for “The Rise and Fall–and Resilience–of Christian Churches and Civil Society in Hong Kong and in Exile” (May 2027).
Mary Celeste Kearney, professor of Film, Television, and Theatre, for “100 Years Strong But Forever 16: Reclaiming and Expanding Teen Entertainment History” (April 2-3, 2027).
Gabriel Radvansky, professor of psychology, for “Event Cognition Conference” (March 22-24, 2027).
Large Research:
The Franco Institute awards Large Research Grants of up to $25,000 twice annually to support faculty research projects in any department or discipline in Arts & Letters. Large Research Grants can help fund travel to research sites, research assistance, and other expenses associated with data collection and analysis.
Muna Adem, assistant professor of sociology, for “When Is Catastrophic Harm Publicly Recognized? Immigration Enforcement and (Non)Eventfulness.”
Kaylin Hill, assistant professor of psychology, for “Neuroscience for the Public Good: Supporting First-Time Parents.”
Originally published by at franco.nd.edu on March 30, 2026.