March 6, 2024
Chapman Center announces recipients of fifth annual Interdisciplinary Research Grant
The Chapman Center for Rural Studies, a center of excellence in the College of Arts and Sciences, announces Tom Hallaq, associate professor and internship coordinator in the A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication, and Valerie Padilla Carroll, professor of gender, women, and sexuality studies and graduate certificate director of the social transformation studies department, as recipients of their 2024 Interdisciplinary Research Grant.
Hallaq and Padilla Carroll will use the grant to collaborate on a continuation of the "Hungry Heartland Reimagined" project, a multimedia documentary project supported in part by the Chapman Center's 2022 Interdisciplinary Research Grant funding. This film will investigate and document the stories of resilient people engaged with the past but preparing for a future of fresh, healthy and culturally appropriate food.
"The support from the Chapman Center will take the 'Hungry Heartland' project to the next level," Hallaq said. "This grant is invaluable in telling the stories of Kansans with limited access to fresh, quality food. Telling these stories and raising awareness will inspire needed change and bring communities closer together."
Hallaq and Padilla Carroll will receive a stipend from the Chapman Center for Rural Studies to support their interdisciplinary work. Grant support includes assistance with the development and capturing of media for the documentary. The Chapman Center will help mentor undergraduate students that will film across Kansas during the upcoming 2024-25 academic year. These student researchers will produce mini-documentaries, photo essays and a variety of other public-facing creative scholarships distributed through various social media channels.
The purpose of the interdisciplinary grant is to encourage faculty to work creatively and collaboratively with scholars outside their specializations to generate insights into the dynamics of rural life through partnerships with rural Kansas communities. Through these contributions, the center celebrates the rich legacies of life and culture in the Great Plains.
"Our team at the Chapman Center is excited to support a project that resonates with the Next-Gen K-State strategic plan," said Mary Kohn, executive director of the Chapman Center. "By centering student learning and rural Kansas communities, this project shows a dedication to providing students with applied learning experiences while working to identify strategies to support small town Kansas."
To learn more about the Chapman Center's annual Interdisciplinary Research Grant and previous recipients, visit the webpage.
Information about the next round of grants will be available in fall 2025.