New York, NY – Project Pericles announces the recipients of the Spring 2026 Periclean Faculty Leadership (PFL) Course Grants, a national initiative supporting faculty who integrate civic engagement, community partnership, and democratic skill-building into their teaching. The grants are funded by the Mellon Foundation, with additional support from the Eugene M. Lang Foundation.
The PFL Program is designed to strengthen the civic mission of higher education by helping faculty create and enhance courses that connect academic learning with meaningful work in communities. Awardees represent Periclean colleges and universities across the country and will implement their funded courses beginning in Spring 2026.
This grant cycle includes two funding pathways. Option A provides $3,000 for faculty to enhance an existing course. Highlights include developing group action projects, bridging microbial research with art, and applying game theory models to strategic voting. Option B awards $4,500 for the creation of a new course or a substantial revision of an existing one. Courses range from applying theoretical archival methodologies to develop research materials for incarcerated learners to examining how rhetoric can advance legislative advocacy efforts.
The Spring 2026 cohort was selected through a competitive review process involving external evaluators including academic experts, college presidents, foundation leaders, and Project Pericles staff. This new round of grantees reflects a national appetite for civic and community-engaged learning, as well as increased interest across disciplines in integrating civic inquiry into the classroom.
“This new slate of PFL Grants celebrates faculty who are expanding what civic-minded teaching can do in classrooms, in communities, and in students’ lives,” said Sanda Balaban, Executive Director of Project Pericles. “They are part of our broader efforts to place civic learning at the heart of higher education.”
In addition to funding, grantees will become part of a professional network, with access to webinars, resource exchanges, and opportunities to share their teaching and research. Project Pericles staff will also provide a platform for their work, in line with the organization’s recent strategic priority of elevating thought leadership in higher education.
Recipients:
- Emily W Kane, Bates College
- Lauren Buisker, Bates College
- dp Patrick, Berea College
- Ujju Aggarwal, Eugene Lang College (The New School)
- Jennifer Wilson, Eugene Lang College (The New School)
- Reuven Goldberg, Hampshire College
- Gaurav Jashnani, Hampshire College
- Julie Johnston, Hampshire College
- Maureen McClung, Hendrix College
- Myrl Beam, Macalester College
- Amy E. Elkins, Macalester College
- Holly J Hubbs, Ursinus College
- Melissa Lamanna, Wagner College
Media Contact:
Harry Hou
Civic Impact and Communications Coordinator
harry@projectpericles.org