CCCU Awards $70,000 in Faculty Research Grants

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities today announced the 2024 recipients of its annual Networking Grants, awarded to support high-quality, collaborative Christian scholarship that brings Christian voices into contemporary academic conversations. A total of $70,000 was awarded to four research teams representing 15 different institutions from around the world. 

The Networking Grants for Christian Scholars program was established more than two decades ago through the ongoing generosity of Walter and Darlene Hansen, and in 2020, a generous gift from the Christian Community Credit Union expanded the size of the grants. Each year, the CCCU awards Networking Grants to scholars whose work satisfies two key criteria: 1) the work is significantly informed by Christian practices, perspectives and purposes, and 2) the work demonstrates the potential for dissemination in the larger academy.   

“The CCCU is blessed to support faculty at our member institutions, who make an incredible impact both by faithfully teaching generations of students and by bringing the crucial lens of faith to academic research,” said CCCU President David Hoag, Ph.D. “We are grateful to the two funders of the Networking Grants program and to all the dedicated, expert faculty members who applied for this year’s grants.”   

This year, the CCCU awarded Networking Grants to four distinct research teams composed of 23 scholars, representing 14 CCCU colleges or universities and one additional institution. These institutions span a wide geographical area, including eight different U.S. states and four different countries. 

“The selection committee was impressed by the broad range of competitive proposals, showcasing the in-depth, timely work and meaningful collaboration that takes place within Christian institutions of higher education,” said Dr. Stanley P. Rosenberg, vice president for research and scholarship at the CCCU and executive director of Scholarship & Christianity in Oxford (SCIO). “Scholarship is a vital component of our engagement with and service to the broader world, and the selected projects promise to bring a vital Christ-centered lens to significant scholarly conversations.” 

Grant-funded projects are divided into two categories: Initiative Grants provide up to $30,000 in funding over three years for teams implementing research projects, and Planning Grants provide up to $5,000 in funding over one year for teams setting out to plan research projects. 

2024 Initiative Grants 

Hymns of Healing: The Therapeutic Impact and Meaning of Christian Hymns on Dementia in Australia, Indonesia and Romania 

• Dr. Lois Vaduva, University Professor of Theology, Music and Social Studies, Emanuel University of Oradea (Romania) — Project Director 

• Dr. Annamaria Balla, University Lecturer of Theology, Music and Social Studies, Emanuel University of Oradea (Romania) 

• Mirjam Borzasi – Somogyi, Assistant Professor of Theology, Music, and Social Studies, Emanuel University of Oradea (Romania) 

• Bonny Cotter, Lecturer of Social Work; Field Education Supervisor, Excelsia College (Australia) 

• Liam Webb, Lecturer of Music; Tutor, Excelsia College (Australia) 

• Kezia Putri, Lecturer of Music Study, Universitas Pelita Harapan (Indonesia) 

• Carly Sumampouw, Lecturer of Communication Study, Universitas Pelita Harapan (Indonesia) 

• Rose Tarigan, Lecturer of Communication Study, Universitas Pelita Harapan (Indonesia) 

Educating Humans in the Age of AI 

• Dr. Richard Gibson, Professor of English, Wheaton College (IL) — Project Director 

• Dr. Rachel Griffis, Associate Professor of English, Spring Arbor University (MI) 

• Dr. Jeffrey Bilbro, Associate Professor of English, Grove City College (PA) 

• Dr. Brad East, Associate Professor of Theology, Abilene Christian University (TX) 

• Dr. Elijah Jeong, Interim Director of the Institute for Faith and Learning, Baylor University (TX) 

• Dr. Marjorie Terpstra, Professor of Education, Calvin University (MI) 

• Dr. John Dyer, Vice President for Enrollment Services and Educational Technologies; Assistant Professor of Theological Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary (TX) 

2024 Planning Grants 

Christian-Informed International Relations: Thinking, Teaching, and Practicing 

• Dr. Ana Shippey, Associate Professor of Political Science, Lee University (TN) — Project Director 

• Dr. Katherine Bryant, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Westmont College (CA) 

• Dr. Justin Clardie, Professor of Political Science, Northwest Nazarene University (ID) 

The Impact of AI Technology on Connectedness, Interpersonal Trust, and Loneliness in Higher Education and the Church 

• Dr. Alison Young Ruesser, Associate Professor of Psychology, Houghton University (NY) — Project Director 

• Dr. Michael Jordon, Associate Professor of Theology, Houghton University (NY) 

• Dr. Elizabeth Gassin, Professor of Psychology, Olivet Nazarene University (IL) 

• Dr. Kristian Veit, Professor of Psychology, Olivet Nazarene University (IL) 

• Dr. Paul Young, Professor of Psychology, Houghton University (NY) 

For more information on the CCCU’s Networking Grants for Christian Scholars program, visit cccu.org/campus-grants/networking-grants/.  

All media inquiries should be directed to Dr. Amanda Staggenborg, Chief Communications Officer, at astaggenborg@cccu.org. 

About the CCCU 

The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities is a higher education association of more than 185 Christian institutions around the world. Since 1976, the CCCU has served as the leading voice of Christian higher education. With campuses across the globe, including more than 150 in the U.S. and Canada and more than 30 from an additional 19 countries, CCCU institutions are accredited, comprehensive colleges and universities whose missions are Christ-centered and rooted in the historic Christian faith. Most also have curricula rooted in the arts and sciences. The CCCU’s mission is to advance the cause of Christ-centered higher education and to help our institutions transform lives by faithfully relating scholarship and service to biblical truth.  

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