ESC Grants Program
Recipients

Announced in 2019, the Engagement Scholarship Consortium’s Engaged Scholarship Research/Creative Activities Grants Program for Faculty competitively awards a limited number of grants of up to $5,000 that are intended to fund one-year projects, and collaborative projects among faculty from more than one discipline and/or more than one university. Below is a list of the recipients of the ESC Engaged Scholarship Research/Creative Activities Grants.

Community Voices, Health Choices: Community-Driven Health Solutions
Hollie Cost, Auburn University

A Lifetime of Auditory Wellness: Hearing Histories of Residents in Senior Living Communities Can Reshape Hearing Healthcare For Aging Adults
Irina Castellanos, Indiana University

Transformative Skill-Building for Students with Limb Differences
Yuri Gloumakov, University of Connecticut

Evaluating the Impact of a Park Visit Program on the Emotional Well-Beings of Residents in a Subsidized Senior Home (SSH)
Jie Gao, University of Alabama - Birmingham

Let’s Play Pickleball: An Intergenerational Approach to Promoting Social Connections and Community Engagement
Olzhas Taniyev, East Carolina University

Identifying Key School Experiences Linked to Reduced Absenteeism
Arya Ansari, Ohio State University

Understanding Indigenous Food Sovereignty in Michigan
Jorhie Beadle, Michigan State University

Optimizing Resource Allocation for SUD Treatment in Rural Indiana: A Community-Engaged Approach
Pengyi Shi, Purdue University

Digital Agricultural Extension in Community-Engaged Scholarship: An Analysis of Barriers and Opportunities in Public Higher Education Institution Outreach to Rural Communities in Nigeria
Mark Edwards, Oregon State University

Building Confidence and Connection through Culturally-Rich STEM Experiences
Lara Hebert, University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign

Enhancing Rural Mathematics Education: Addressing Unique Challenges through University-School Partnerships
Jingyuan Zhang, East Tennessee State University

(Re)membering and (Re)imaging: Incorporating Street Art in Social Studies Curriculum and Teacher Preparation
Terrance Lewis, University of Alabama

A Mixed Methods Study of Critical CommunityEngaged Learning in Criminal Justice: An Examination of Methodology and Preliminary Results
Bridget Joyner-Carpanini, Seattle University

“Our World Our Say”: The Impact of a Youth-Led Photovoice Exhibition on HIV and Environmental Justice in Hai Phong, Vietnam
Lesley Harris, University of Louisville

Enhancing Dementia Awareness and Support through Faith Leadership in Ghana
Tiffany Washington, University of Tennessee

2025 De-escalation Training Philadelphia Pilot Program
Charles Rapp, Pennsylvania State University

Participatory Mapping of Postpartum Experiences by Latina Mothers: Advancing Healing Justice by Design
Catalina Alzate, University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign

Active Engaged Scholarship with Tribal Nations
Kristin Barry, Ball State University

Louisville Migrantours and Storymap
Lisa Björkman, University of Louisville

Reducing School Violence through Community Partner Initiated Data Dissemination
Karyn Bowen, University of Alabama

Collaborating, Imagining, and Building a Curriculum Intervention on Youth Mattering with Racially and Ethnically Diverse High School Students
Roderick Carey, University of Delaware

Cemetery Histories and Community Memory: Researching the Past and Present of Petersburg-Newburg Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky
Aaron Comstock, University of Louisville

Cultivating Community and Biodiversity in Socio-culturally Diverse Community Gardens
Julie Cotton, Michigan State University

Design Clinics in Sustainability: A Community-Engaged Common Intellectual Experience (CIE) at Penn State Lehigh Valley
Laura Cruz, Pennsylvania State University

Shaping Advocacy and Action: The Role of Social Media in Environmental Justice Movements
Giovanna Di Chiro, Swarthmore College

Platicando Con Comadres: Creating Systems of Support for Student Parents at UTEP
Naomi Fertman, University of Texas – El Paso

Exploring the Integration of Social Studies and Math in Early Elementary through Lesson Study at a Laboratory School
Amanda Frasier, East Tennessee State University

Walking Virtually with Nokomis: Learning Rematriation with Digital Models of Indigenous Community-Made Dioramas of Life on the Land
Heather Howard, Michigan State University

Participatory Resurgence: Gathering for Dakota and CHamoru Reproductive Health and Justice
Katie Johnston-Goodstar, University of Minnesota

Service-Learning Engagement to Build Career Readiness in Transylvania
Mark Russell, Purdue University

Development of a Comprehensive Wellness Program for Vulnerable Young Mothers and Children at Tumaini Innovation Center
Ellen Schellhase, Purdue University

Proyecto Mariposas Healthy Periods Project
Stephanie Aubry, Ohio State University

Ukrainian Refugees: A Participatory Mapping Initiative in Slovakia
Andrew Bale, Dickinson College

Supporting Children's Early Literacy Development in Pediatric Settings: A Collaborative Partnership between Reach Out and Read and Preservice Teachers
Lori Bruner, University of Alabama

Community Spaces as Sites of Equitable Language Practices and Disciplinary Knowledge for Multilingual Learners in K-12 Education
Lucia Cardenas Curiel, Michigan State University

Providing Effective Puberty Sex Education for All Learners
Sarah Curtiss, University of Delaware

Borderlands Rainbow Center (BRC) Partnership
Brandon Merritt, University of Texas – El Paso

Academy of Community Reviewers Pilot Online Course
Jasmine Neal, Ohio State University

The Archives Project: LGBTQIA+
Cat Normoyle, East Carolina University

Inquiry Immersion as a Process for Retaining Diverse Students in Science
Cheryl Olman, University of Minnesota

Community Asset Mapping Through Front Porch Conversations and Writing
Ania Payne, Kansas State University

Evaluating the Impact of a Community-Led Harm Reduction Effort in the Global South: "Espaço Normal" in the Favela of Maré, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Desiree Poets, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

MooDe: App to Predict Mood Changes and Counter Depression
Rahat Ibn Rafiq, Grand Valley State University

Psycho-social Support for Afghan Refugees in the U.S.: Community-Based Spaces as an Intervention
Nura Sediqe, Michigan State University

Kellogg Biological Station Insect Bioblitz
Alisha Shah, Michigan State University

Increasing Awareness of Algorithmic Fairness for Ethical Healthcare Decisions via Community Engaged Research
Pengyi Shi, Purdue University

Seminar: "Refuge: Resettled in Philadelphia"
Benjamin Smith, Swarthmore College

Assessing the Impact of a Novel Veterinary Social Work Intervention Module Addressing Chronic Exposure to Trauma of Animal Shelter Workers
Jennifer Weisent, University of Tennessee – Knoxville

Creating Additional Support Structures
Christina Wilcoxen, University of Nebraska – Omaha


The Flagship Tutoring Project
Kirsten Benson, University of Tennessee

Beyond Conservation - Bridging Art and Science
Jonathan Cox, University of Delaware

Veterinary Street Medicine as Means for Community Engagement
Brad Crauer, Kansas State University

A Reciprocal Relationship between Human and Environmental Health
Jennifer Gay, University of Georgia

Movement Through Motherhood
Madeline Harvey, Colorado State University

Completing the American Indian Child Removal Study
Carolyn Liebler, University of Minnesota

Evaluating the Health and Environmental Impacts of Mosquito Management
Megan Meuti, Ohio State University

Recovering Indigenous Histories - How Urban Development Erased Jefferson Square
Sarah Nelson, University of Nebraska - Omaha

The Archives Project
Cat Normoyle, East Carolina University

Plan Your Park
Zoe Nyssa, Purdue University

Leveraging Community Partnerships to Increase Professional Capacity and Improve Access to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Autistic Youth
Angela Scarpa, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

The Citing Slavery Project
Justin Simard, Michigan State University

Heavy Metal Pollution and Safe Community Food Access in the Twin Cities
Emilie Snell-Rood, University of Minnesota

The TRUE Alumni Project
Adrienne Stuckey, Western Carolina University

Blue Economy Corridor
Emily Yeager, East Carolina University

Latinx Youth Empowerment through Ethnic Studies: Developing Critical Youth Educators and Anti-Racist Advocates
Socorro Morales, University of Texas - San Antonio

School Connectedness: Supporting the Emotional and/or Mental Health Needs of Adolescents in a Low-Income Middle School
Deborah Tyndall, East Carolina University

“The Promise:” Arts-Based Socially Engaged Research Exploring the Impact of Race-Based Trauma and Gun Violence in Louisville
Lesley Harris, University of Louisville

Helping AMC Families with Assistive Devices
Ashley Pigford, University of Delaware

Aligning Health and Built Environment Assessment Frameworks in Affordable Housing
Traci Rider, North Carolina State University

Addressing Children’s Mental Health via University-Community Partnerships
Lindsey Weiler, University of Minnesota

A Collaborative, Professional Development Partnership Focused on Resetting Writing Goals and Working to Eliminate Inequities Post-COVID-19
Tracey Hodges, University of Alabama

“Are we gonna make a difference?” Taking Action Toward Change with Youth Through Community-Based Participatory Action Research
Joanne Marciano, Michigan State University

Take Charge: Your Well-being and Wellness
Patricia Beierwaites, Minnesota State University - Mankato

Heritage Conversation Partners Project
Michael Kimball, University of Northern Colorado

A Community Approach for Racial Justice: Decision Analytics Using Fair Machine Learning and Optimization
Pengyi Shi, Purdue University

Pilot Testing the #PassTheMicYouth Curriculum to Nurture Youth-Led Community Engagement
Maru Gonzalez, North Carolina State University

The Mardi Gras Indians of New Orleans: Cultural Preservation Amid a Pandemic
Virginia Cope, Ohio State University

Community-Engaged Institution Building for Improved Rental Housing Conditions in East Central Indiana
John West, Ball State University

Inform, Inspire, Empower
Aaron Terry, University of Delaware

Micro-Internships at the Margins
Margaret Hall, University of Nebraska - Omaha

Parental Incarceration and Homelessness:  Identifying Intersections to Drive Policy Solutions
Rebecca Shlafer, University of Minnesota

Pilot Study of an At-Home Music-Based Intervention Implemented During Companionship Visits with Persons with Cognitive Impairment
Lindsey Wilhelm, Colorado State University

Supporting Peer Mentoring with Low-Income, Immigrant Students During COVID-19
Melanie Gast, University of Louisville

Writing with Adolescent Girls at CORRAL Riding Academy to Support Transformational Change
Crystal Lee, North Carolina State University

ARRIVALS: What’s Left Behind, What Lies Ahead
Jonathan A. Cox, University of Delaware
Andrew Bale, Dickinson University

Kansas Bike-Ped Systems Plan and Public Engagement Project
Brandon W. Kliewer, Kansas State University

Developing a Multi-Sectoral Network to Address Food Waste and Food Insecurity
Rebecca Gokiert, University of Alberta Extension

Performing Ourselves: Community Conversations on Loss, Gain, Acceptance, and Belonging
Elena Foulis, Ohio State University

Service Learning to Assess Medical Decision-Making at an Interprofessional Homeless Clinic
Neena A. Xavier, University of Alabama - Birmingham