Back to Center for Urban and Global Studies

Mellon Faculty Environmental Justice Teaching and Research Grants

As part of a Mellon-funded Environmental Justice Grant, faculty are invited to apply for one of three curriculum development grants, one of three co-instruction-with-community-partner grants, and one community engaged faculty research grant. Read on for details about each grant and the application processes. All proposals for these grants will be due by email to [email protected] by May 30, 2025.
A committee consisting of Garth Myers, Abigail Fisher Williamson, Amanda Guzmán, and Erica Crowley will review applications and select grantees for these grants in June 2025. Faculty are eligible to apply for more than one grant concurrently. Questions can be directed to Garth Myers, [email protected].

 

Curriculum development grants
Three $1,500 stipends are available for faculty to develop new classes with a focus on environmental justice. Preference will be given for courses that incorporate humanities approaches or methodologies. The stipend can be used for course expenses and/or faculty income.
To apply, please submit the following to Gabby Nelson, Associate Director of the Center for Urban and Global Studies, by May 30, 2025:
  • CV
  • Cover letter describing your past research and/or teaching interest or in environmental justice and your ideas for a new environmental justice course.
As part of this grant project, a team of faculty are partnering with the Center for Leadership and Justice/Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance to collect oral history interviews and conduct PhotoVoice projects about urban and suburban understandings of environmental justice in Greater Hartford. These materials will feed into exhibits and dialogues at the Stowe Center for Literary Activism and other sites in the region. If you would be interested in incorporating a piece of this project in your own course, please reach out to co-PI [email protected] to discuss your thoughts as you’re preparing your application.

 

Co-teaching with community co-educators grants: Three grants for co-teaching with community co-educators are available for AY 2025-26. The Trinity faculty member and community partner will co-teach a class related to environmental justice. Each award will include funds for a stipend for the community co-educator set at the standard Trinity adjunct fee of $6,000; benefits at the rate of 7.65% ($459); and course assistance funds ($500) to be used for class-related activities (materials and supplies, research expenses, guest speakers). Faculty and partners will receive guidance on co-instruction and course design support from Erica Crowley, Senior Director of CHER Academic Programs. Questions can be directed to [email protected].
To apply, please submit the following to Gabby Nelson, Associate Director of the Center for Urban and Global Studies, by May 30, 2025:
  • CV
  • Cover letter describing  1) your teaching interest in environmental justice, 2)  a description of the new or revised course you plan to teach with a community learning component, and when you plan to teach it, 3) name of a community partner you would like to bring on as a co-educator, or a request to be matched with a community partner.
Faculty applying for either the Curriculum Development or Co-Teaching grants who intend to design a course with a community learning component are also eligible for an additional $1,500 stipend. This stipend is for participation in the Community Learning Faculty Fellowship (CLiFF), which includes six meetings during the 2025–26 academic year focused on training and development in community engagement pedagogy.

 

Community Engaged Faculty Research Grant
One $6,500 grant is available for faculty conducting community engaged environmental justice research. Funds may be used for stipends and associated benefits, research materials, supplies, or other related costs identified by the researcher and community partner. The recipient will receive a $6500 stipend, with $5000 paid in July 2025 and $1500 paid upon presentation of the intended research or creative product.
To apply, please submit the following to Gabby Nelson, Associate Director of the Center for Urban and Global Studies, by May 30, 2025:
  • CV
  • Cover letter explaining the goals of the environmental justice research, the intended product, and the ways in which the project engages a community partner(s).
  • A brief letter or email from one or more community partners affirming their participation in the project as described in the cover letter.