Undergraduate Research with the Center for the Humanities and the Public Sphere
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Center for the Humanities and the Public Sphere (CHPS) offers a funded undergraduate program for students of all majors to pursue a research project in areas such as:
- The humanities (literature, philosophy, cultural studies, and more)
- Public engagement
- Local research
- Partnering with community organizations
The Alexander Grass Scholars Program awards $2,000 to support an introductory research experience.
Students will enroll in a special section of IDS 4911 during the summer, continue to engage in independent research through the following fall, and present the final project at a Grass Scholars Research Symposium.
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS & RESEARCH PROJECTS
The 2024 cohort of Grass Scholars will be working with our partner organizations on one of the following research projects.
A. Quinn Jones Museum & Cultural Center
Tracing the Foundations: The Evolution of the A Quinn Jones Heritage Museum Building
Project Leader: Dr. Joni Perkins, MPA, M Ed
Graduate Mentor: Kevin Artiga, PhD Student in English
The project aims to delve into the rich history of the A Quinn Jones Heritage Museum and Cultural Center in Gainesville, Florida. Students will explore the evolution of the museum, starting from the original home to its transformation into a cultural center and museum. Through archival research and oral history interviews, students will uncover the journey of the building, from its historical significance to its preservation and conversion. The final outcome will be an interactive permanent museum exhibit that creatively showcases their findings, combining infographics with an interactive displays for an engaging visitor experience.
Harn Museum of Art
Exploring Indigenous Art and Culture: A Digital Installation Project at the Harn Museum of Art
Project Leader: Paige Willis, Community Engagement and Museum Interpretation Manager
Graduate Mentor: Allison Westerfield, PhD student in Art History
This project-based research experience will introduce students to humanities research behind the development of interpretive materials for a museum digital installation on Indigenous art and artists in the collection. During the semester, students will meet with staff from different museum departments to discover the unique curatorial and programming responsibilities that factor into installation making as well as consult with Gainesville’s Indigenous Peoples’ Task Force members to understand how art represents culture and community. Students will conceptualize the virtual installation with the goal of contextualizing the objects through contemporary representations. The digital installation will be available on the Harn’s website and on digital display at the museum during Indigenous Peoples’ Week in October.
Matheson History Museum
Gainesville Area AIDS Project Memorial Quilts at the Matheson History Museum
Project Leader: Chloe Richardson, Collections Coordinator
Graduate Mentor: Anthony Smith, PhD Student in Classical Studies
The Gainesville Area AIDS Project archive was donated to the Matheson History Museum by the North Central Florida Community Pride Center in 2023. The collection includes the group’s papers and a selection of Memorial Quilts created by the members in the 1990’s and early 2000’s. Participants in this project will choose one of the quilts to research and document for an online exhibit about the local response to the AIDS epidemic. Participants will learn about the care and preservation of mixed media materials and textiles in museums as well as the ethics of researching and displaying memorial objects in museums. They will also practice their research skills using historic archives and digitized newspapers and learn how to distill the information they gather into an engaging and informative online exhibit for their intended audience.
Smathers Libraries
Researching and Exhibiting Rare Materials with the Smathers Libraries: 19th and 20th Century Almanacs
Project Leaders:
Megan Daly, Assistant University Librarian of Classics, Philosophy, and Religion
Jennifer Hofer, History Librarian
Graduate Mentor: Noah Mullens, PhD Student in English
Students in this group will learn valuable research and information literary skills by engaging with a collection of over 4,000 almanacs in Special and Area Studies Collections. Distributed at low or no cost by businesses, almanacs were everywhere in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, giving families basic information about seasons, weather, and health advice, but also providing amusing stories, helpful tips, and advertisements for medicines and remedies from the companies who paid to produce them. These short books provide a window into how earlier Americans understood issues of personal health, medical advertising, domestic responsibilities, and access to information. Using the collection, students will learn how to conduct research with and think critically about rare library materials. Students will also learn how to use other library resources to find secondary sources that will amplify their understanding of these materials. They will then learn how to present their findings digitally through the creation of an online exhibit.
MEET OUR 2024 GRASS SCHOLARS!
Jehlia Andrew
Year: Junior
Majors: Psychology with an emphasis in Behavioral Analysis, African American Studies
Minor: Sociology of Social Justice & Policy
“I am most excited to work alongside faculty members within and outside the Center for the Humanities and the Public Sphere and conduct my very first independent research project!”
Cecilia Aragon
Year: Freshman
Major: Natural Resource Conservation
“I am most looking forward to developing the skills I need to pursue my research interests in anthropology under the guidance of knowledgeable and experienced faculty.”
Liam Degnan
Year: Freshman
Major: Political Science
Minor: Educational Technology
“As a Grass Scholar, I am excited to be a part of a community of students dedicated to learning how to understand and improve the human condition.”
Melanie Delgado
Year: Junior
Major: Linguistics
Minors: Spanish, Arabic Language and Literature
“As a Grass Scholar, I look forward to expanding my knowledge of sociolinguistics and contributing to the field through meaningful research and engagement alongside others.”
Jace Digby
Year: Junior
Major: Philosophy
Minor: Classics
“I look forward to connecting with the Grass Scholars Program community and enhancing my research abilities in the humanities!”
Madison Durand
Year: Sophomore
Major: English
Minor: French
“As part of the first cohort of Grass Scholars, I’m most looking forward to contributing research to a new program and meeting other students who are also passionate about the humanities!”
Fiona Garber
Year: Sophomore
Major: Anthropology
“I am most looking forward to understanding how to conduct an independent research project as well as meeting other students and faculty with similar academic interests as me.”
Alanis M. González Maldonado
Year: Junior
Majors: Agricultural Education, Communication
Minor: Event Management
“I am most looking forward to developing and polishing current research projects and developing as a student and researcher!”
Jarom Gordon
Year: Junior
Majors: Philosophy, Economics
“What I’m most looking forward to about being a Grass Scholar is the opportunity to learn from skilled mentors and peers about how to make my own research more positively impactful.”
Sophia Guarnieri
Year: Freshman
Major: Philosophy
“While the prospect of a research project is intriguing, what I anticipate most is the chance to cultivate a mentor-mentee relationship and establish meaningful connections with peers.”
Jayla Harper
Year: Junior
Major: Psychology
Minor: African American Studies
“I am most excited to learn about conducting research within the humanities and meeting everyone on the team!”
Chelsea Hernandez
Year: Junior
Majors: Anthropology, Political Science
Minor: Asian Studies
“I look forward to forging meaningful connections with the Center for the Humanities and the Public Sphere, leveraging my dedication to public service for research endeavors.”
Wiley Johannesmeyer
Year: Junior
Major: History
Minors: Business Administration, Urban and Regional Planning
“I look forward to engaging with a community of motivated and curious scholars, as the diverse perspectives and collaborative atmosphere will expand my research skills.”
Tristan Krammel
Year: Sophomore
Major: English
Minor: Education Studies
“As a Grass Scholar, I am looking forward to learning more about topics I am unfamiliar with and contributing my unique perspective.”
Mia Martone
Year: Junior
Major: Classics
“I am most looking forward to our research presentation in the fall where I’ll be able to both share a project I’m deeply passionate about and listen to the presentations of my peers who have also been able to pursue their interests.”
Gregory Nobleza
Year: Freshman
Major: Computer Engineering
Minor: Sustainability Studies
“I am excited to explore how we can use engineering to promote the humanities and how we can use the humanities to create more mindful, inclusive engineers.”
Rachel Nuyten
Year: Junior
Majors: Linguistics, Spanish
“I am most looking forward to engagement and collaboration with the Gainesville community!”
Em Petlev
Year: Freshman
Majors: English, History
Certificate: Legal History
“I am most excited to learn about the research process in the humanities as well as gain a faculty mentor to help me with further research and exploration into working in the humanities.”
Fiorella Recchioni
Year: Sophomore
Major: Political Science
Minor: Mass Communication Studies
“Because I learn best through firsthand experience rather than just instruction, I’m most looking forward to finally understanding what research looks like by exploring a topic that I’m truly interested in.”
Catherine Smith
Year: Freshman
Major: Public Health
“As a Grass Scholar, I am so excited to conduct research that allows the sciences and humanities to merge together and to meet the other scholars!”
Click here to review the scholarship application for the 2024 cycle.
For questions about the program contact:
Alison Walsh, Grass Scholars Coordinator
humanities-center@ufl.edu
About Alexander Grass
Alexander Grass (1927-2009) was an attorney, businessman, and founder of the Rite Aid Corporation, a major national retail drugstore chain. Mr. Grass completed his law degree at UF in 1949. Beyond his success in business, he is remembered for his commitment to community service and his generosity as a community philanthropist. Although Grass originally hailed from and operated his business in Pennsylvania, his generous support of UF’s campus, including the endowed chair in the Center for Jewish Studies, is a testament to the impact of his time as a student here. As noted in a 1997 interview (archived with UF’s Samuel Proctor Oral History Program), the humanities courses he completed at UF fostered an interest in the arts that continued throughout his life.
The Alexander Grass Scholars Program will allow the Center to directly involve undergraduate students in our mission to connect humanities research endeavors with the community where we live and teach. The Center for the Humanities and the Public Sphere is honored to be a part of his lasting legacy.