Elizabethan political thought, archaeological remains of the Roman empire, early Chinese bureaucracies, and the liturgical practices of medieval religious women: these are just some of the topics recently studied with support from the Institute for Scholarship in the Liberal Arts at the University of Notre Dame.
Over the past forty years, the Institute for Scholarship in the Liberal Arts has been a critical line of support for research in the College of Arts and Letters and a hub for scholarly dialogue and collaboration. As the institute embraces its expanded vision as the Franco Family Institute for Liberal Arts and the Public Good, it remains committed to supporting a wide range of scholarship, including the premodern humanities.
According to Kate Marshall, Associate Dean for Research and Strategic Initiatives and Franco Institute Director, “The Franco Institute is unique in its support of research across the humanities, social sciences, and arts. This is research that addresses not only the most challenging questions of our time, but enduring questions. Our support of work in the premodern humanities is vital to our mission, and will be central to our vision for humanities research in the future.”
An updated slate of initiatives reflect the institute’s goals of building a dynamic connection with South Bend and the surrounding region while continuing its commitment to more traditional forms of scholarship in the liberal arts. For example, the Research Innovation Collaboratives program begun last year offers support for both Strategic Theme Collaboratives aligned with the university’s strategic framework and Humanities Research Collaboratives, devoted to “big questions” in the humanities approached from transdisciplinary perspectives. The Expanding Research Access grant, also begun last year, provides new support for open-access publishing and novel scholarly products targeting broad audiences, while the institute has also expanded its support for academic monographs, increasing award caps for several grants and providing new support for developmental editing.
While the institute funds a wide range of projects focused on the present and recent past, its commitment to the support of premodern studies has been especially robust in recent years, harnessing Notre Dame’s particular strengths in this area to advance scholarship and creative work. Just since August 2023, the institute has made 45 awards totalling more than $300,000 to support projects examining periods before 1850. These figures do not reflect additional support provided through funding awarded for student research, logistical support for conferences, or proposal development services for external applications.
Recent ISLA awardees on how humanities support from the institute has advanced their scholarship:
“ISLA has been there to support my research on medieval French manuscripts and literature from the day I arrived at Notre Dame. They have made it possible to launch a regional research network of medieval French literary studies, start an international dialogue on philology today, conduct an interdisciplinary project on historiographical texts and manuscripts, and share my research at home and abroad, making Notre Dame a buzzing hub for medieval French today.”
Johannes Junge Ruhland, Assistant Professor of French and Francophone Studies (Small Henkels Grants ‘23-’24, ‘24-’25; Annual Research Theme Grant ‘24-’25)
"Over the past three decades, the discovery of numerous archaeologically excavated manuscripts has profoundly enhanced our understanding of the early Chinese empires, the foundation of Chinese civilization. Supported by ISLA research grants, I traveled to China, where I visited the Hunan Provincial Archaeology Institute to examine these unearthed materials and engage in discussions with archaeologists. This research forms the foundation of my forthcoming book, Convict Politics: From Utopia to Serfdom in Early China (221 BCE–23 CE) (Cambridge University press)."
Liang Cai, Associate Professor of History (Small Henkels Grant ‘24-’25; Large Henkels Grant ‘24-’25)
“ISLA support has made it possible for me to study unique archival materials, key nutrients to my body of scholarship. Research travel to archives and libraries thousands of miles away from campus has made it possible for me to publish books, articles, and to co-curate an exhibition.”
Heather Hyde Minor, Professor of Art History (Small Research Grants ‘23-’24, ‘24-’25)
“With ISLA’s support, we conducted archaeological research at three remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome, Hadrian’s villa at Tivoli, and the ancient Roman city of Butrint in southern Albania. This research encompassed archaeological excavations, geophysical surveys, topographical mapping, and detailed studies of architecture and artifacts.”
David Hernandez, Eli J. and Helen Shaheen Associate Professor of Classics (Large Research Grant ‘23-’24; Small Research Grant ‘24-’25).
Any faculty member in the College of Arts and Letters should feel free to contact Josh Tychonieivch, Managing Director, to discuss ways that the institute can support their work.