The Institute for Latino Studies (ILS) has played a vital role in fostering an understanding of the U.S. Latino experience since its inception in 1999. One way that the Institute does this is through fostering and developing research in Latino Studies by faculty experts from numerous disciplines. ILS can help support such research through its Faculty Fellows program. The program is currently home to 36 Fellows across disciplines at the University. These Faculty Fellows can obtain grants to support research, research-related conference travel, academic conferences & workshops, working groups, research clusters and labs, academic and cultural events, and projects in Latino Studies.
During the 2023-2024 academic year, five of these Fellows applied for and received mini-grants through ILS. As such, projects and lectures in everything from Sociology to Engineering as a result of its Faculty Fellows applying for and receiving ILS mini-grants. With the academic year coming to a close, ILS is thrilled to share a look into the things that its Fellows used their mini-grants for.
Kraig Beyerlein, Associate Professor of Sociology; Director, Center for the Study of Religion and Society; and Director of Graduate Studies reached out to ILS to support the Chicago Congregations Project (CCP). The CCP uses innovative data collection methods to better understand the role of congregations in urban life. Beyerlein used his mini-grant to hire two student workers to assist him.
Tatiana Reinoza, Assistant Professor of Art History, connected with ILS so she could bring a guest lecturer to campus for her Latin American Photography course. The guest lecture, “Feeling Resonances: Archival Affiliations with Latinx Photography”, was delivered by Dr. Deanna Ledezma.
Emiliano Aguilar, Assistant Professor of History, spoke with ILS regarding funding for two events on campus. He brought in Dr. Delia Fernández-Jones from Michigan State University to give a public lecture entitled “Making the MexiRican City: Mexican and Puerto Rican Migration, Activism, and Placemaking in Grand Rapids, Michigan”. In addition to this public lecture, Aguilar used his ILS mini-grant for a public screening and panel discussion of the documentary “Southeast: A City Within A City”.
Edgar Bolívar-Nieto, Assistant Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, reached out to ILS to allow student research in his Wearable Robotics Lab (WeRoLab). Two students will be conducting research alongside Bolívar-Nieto this coming summer.
Jenny Padilla, Assistant Professor of Psychology and William J. Shaw Center for Children and Families Collegiate Chair, connected with ILS to support her work in the "Vivimos Unidos" Project during the upcoming summer as well as her mentorship of graduate students at Notre Dame.
If you're a Faculty Fellow who would like to formally request support from ILS, please address a one-page proposal along with a one-page budget showing all revenue sources and expenses to ILS Associate Director, Paloma Garcia-Lopez. Funding requests are accepted year-round. The funds can be used to support the following support the following:
- research funds transferred to your account to use as you see fit
- editing
- indexing
- honoraria
- travel expenses
- event expenses
- food/entertainment
- facilities
- undergraduate research hours
- partnership costs
- community engagement costs
- van rentals
ILS looks forward to supporting more fantastic projects, lectures, and events in the 2024-2025 academic year.