Research & Innovation
Faculty and students in CHSSA are actively involved in advancing knowledge and bolstering creative activity across a broad range of disciplines that all have important implications for humanity.
Faculty Research
CHSSA supports faculty research as funds allow with research reassignments, small project completion grants, research seed money, and other research in initiatives.
Semester-long research reassignments were granted for 2025-26 to the following faculty:
- Danielle Daidone, World Languages & Cultures
- Marina De Gramont, Creative Writing
- Venkat Dhulipala, History
- Christina Lord, World Languages & Cultures
- Jennifer Lozano, English
- Erin Michaels, Sociology & Criminology
- Julia Morris, International Studies
- Anna Lena Phillips Bell, Creative Writing
- Shannon Silva, Film Studies
- Emily Smith, Creative Writing
- John Stevens, World Languages & Cultures
- Olga Trokimenko, World Languages & Cultures
- Breea Willingham, Sociology & Criminology
The CHSSA Research Committee supports award selection for these grants, and encourages research activity across the College.
CHSSA Research and Scholarship Productivity Report
CHSSA Research Highlights, 2025-2026
Sponsored Research Grants:
- $2,175,541 submitted
- $831,204 awarded
Other External Research Grants:
- $1,766,641 submitted
- $214,262 awarded
Internal Research Grants: $378,925 awarded
Publications:
- 13 books
- 68 journal articles
- 34 chapters
- 25 poetry and prose
- 17 technical reports
- 15 book reviews
- 9 magazine articles
Arts Research:
- 185 musical performances
- 47 theatre performances and other performing arts productions
- 40 visual artworks, exhibitions and films
Faculty Research Resources
CHSSA faculty and staff can access research grant databases and find more in-depth information on the CHSSA Research Canvas site. A login is required for access.
Student Research
CHSSA students have the chance to work hand-in-hand with expert faculty on a variety of projects. From service learning to study abroad, students use what they have learned in the classroom to make a lasting impact on the community and the world around them.
All of our majors include an applied learning component, and experiential learning in the College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts provides students with limitless opportunities to collaborate with faculty. CHSSA faculty are actively involved every semester in sponsoring independent student research and inviting students to support a range of faculty scholarly and creative activity. Reach out to your advisor or faculty and ask about opportunities in your program.
CHSSA undergraduates are eligible for the full range of scholarships, loans, grants, and other aid programs, for example the
ALFRED AND ANITA SCHNOG TRAVEL AWARD FOR HOLOCAUST STUDIES
Graduate students may receive federal student aid, as well as support through their departments and programs. Visit the UNCW Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid for more award opportunities.
Research Communities
CHSSA encourages interdisciplinary collaboration on research, and encourages faculty to form research communities. Active current communities include:
Research Community in Digital Humanities
The Research Community in Digital Humanities seeks to foster collaboration and support for digital humanities broadly conceived. Whether you are already engaged in digital humanities work or just interested in exploring, we invite you to join the group. Faculty and staff from any department/discipline are welcome.
Contacts:
Jennifer Lozano, English
John Knox, UNCW Library
Research Community in Humanities AI
The Research Community in the Humanities AI seeks to foster interdisciplinary collaborations between humanities scholars, computers scientists, and other academics interested in studying the ethical, legal, and social impacts of technology--very broadly conceived as material and digital cultures, film, organizations, AI, generative AI, quantum computing, intelligent systems, large language models, etc.--in the past, present, and future. The goals of this community are: 1) to consolidate existing Humanities AI research at UNCW; 2) to create new collaborations on Humanities AI research at UNCW and beyond; 3) to showcase Humanities AI research at UNCW; and 4) to build a network of scholars interested in applying for Humanities AI research grants.
Contacts:
Anirban Ray, English
C. Shane Elliott, Sociology and Criminology
Research Community in International Trade and International Exchange
The Research Community in International Trade and International Exchange is a collaboration between the College of Humanities, Social Sciences, the Arts and the Cameron School of Business. Our goal is to educate our students and the public about the importance of international trade to our region, state, nation, and world and to explore the complex issues surrounding international trade. RCITE has three legs of activity: supporting faculty research, encouraging rigorous faculty-mentored student inquiry, and providing public programming.
RCITE Events
Contacts:
Mark Spaulding, History
Prosper Bangwayo-Skeete, Economics and Finance
Research Community in Science and Humanities
The Research Community in Science and Humanities Research Community engages intersections, interconnectivities, conceptual influences, and movements of knowledge between the sciences and the humanities. Scholars working in a variety of fields including, but not limited to, philosophies of science, science fiction studies, language and narrative in the sciences, scientific writing, (post) humanisms, histories of science, and science and the arts are welcome to join.
Contacts:
Christina Lord, World Languages and Cultures
Brian Chandler, World Languages and Cultures
Research Community in Sustainable Networks
The Research Community in Sustainable Networks is an interdisciplinary group of faculty from a wide range of disciplines whose work entwines the three tenets of sustainability: ecology, economics, and equity. The purpose of this community is threefold: 1) to create and strengthen networks among individuals working on sustainability efforts at UNCW and in the Wilmington community, 2) to amplify work already being done, and 3) to showcase the many components of sustainability, including the work of those in the humanities.
Contacts:
Meghan Sweeney, English
Jennifer Biddle, Public and International Administration
Women in Research
CHSSA Women in Research is an interdisciplinary community focused on helping CHSSA faculty navigate gender dynamics in research and supporting the growth of research in CHSSA. All CHSSA faculty are welcome to join!
Contact:
Jamie Brummitt. Philosophy and Religion