Christopher Newport University’s Center for American Studies & Civic Leadership Awarded Major Grant by National Endowment for the Humanities

 

(Newport News) - The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has awarded a $500,000 “We the People” Challenge Grant to Christopher Newport University’s Center for American Studies & Civic Leadership (the Center). CNU’s Center was one of only seven recipients from a national pool of competitive applicants. NEH’s “We the People” program “supports humanities activities that explore significant themes and events in American history and advance knowledge of how the founding principles of the United States have shaped our history and culture.”

“This grant recognized the expanding reach and reputation of CNU and our faculty and will empower our students to become more effective leaders, said CNU President Paul Trible.”

The NEH grant is the single largest gift to the humanities at CNU. “This award is an unprecedented honor and an extraordinary challenge for CNU and our Center,” said Dr. Elizabeth Kaufer Busch. CNU must raise $1.5 million in matching funds over the next four years.

NEH Chairman Bruce Cole expressed enthusiasm regarding the direction of the University and the Center. “We are delighted to be a funding partner for this exciting endeavor and I hope others will join with us in supporting the enrichment of the humanities in America.”

The Center provides a forum for intellectual engagement on the foundations, evolution and future of the American experiment in liberty, democracy, capitalism and consent-based governance. Its programs encourage students to study core texts relevant to the American founding and to continue their studies in post-graduate programs. The NEH grant, and matching funds will endow the Center and fund the annual conference and speaker series, postdoctoral and junior fellowships, Summer Teacher Recertification Workshop, and library resources.

The NEH’s investment represents a confidence that CNU will continue to grow in stature. Recently, U.S. News and World Report’s annual review of the nation’s top schools of higher learning also recognized the tremendous advances of CNU, ranking it seventh among the nation's “Up-And-Coming” liberal arts institutions.

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Christopher Newport University is a four-year public university in Newport News, Virginia. CNU enrolls 4,800 students in programs through its College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Joseph W. Luter III College of Business and Leadership and offers great teaching, small classes and an emphasis on leadership, civic engagement and honor.
Visit us at www.cnu.edu.

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