Florida Humanities funded event series Encanto: Everyday Magic

Marlissa Santos Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Humanities and Politics, Halmos College of Arts and Sciences, and also the Director of the NSU Center for Applied Humanities.

 

Tell me briefly about your recent grant-funded project.

The project is funded by Florida Humanities, an NEH-supported entity, as part of its Greater Good in Academia grant program. The project, entitled Encanto: Everyday Magic, is a 4-week event series celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. The theme of the series encourages exploration of the fantastic and the out-of-the-ordinary all around us.

 

Who is working with you on this project?

Various NSU faculty are assisting, including Drs. G. Nelson Bass, Joanne Pol Urrechaga, Amanda Furiasse, Yvette Fuentes, and Honors College Dean Andrea Nevins. We are collaborating with the Alvin Sherman Library in utilizing their Cotilla Gallery for the events. Faculty from other local south Florida universities are also participating (Dr. Guillermo Grenier, FIU and Dr. Barbara Ganson, FAU), as well as NBC-6 anchor Jackie Nespral, NY Times best-selling author Patricia Engel, and Ameyal Mexican Cultural Organization in Miami.

 

 

What opportunities and/or benefits does this grant bring to the NSU community?

The series of events made possible by this grant is free and open to the public, and their purpose is to foster appreciation and understanding of south Florida’s diverse Hispanic populations.

 

How does this project connect with your other work at NSU?

As Director of the Center for Applied Humanities, I am able, through this project, to advance the Center’s mission of promoting the way that perspectives from the humanities (literature, history, philosophy, etc.) can foster positive change and public good.

 

 

How has NSU helped you pursue and/or achieve personal and professional goals you have set for yourself?

NSU has provided me opportunities that I would never have had elsewhere to pursue innovative, interdisciplinary research and community outreach.

 

What advice do you have for other grant seekers at NSU?

Don’t get discouraged if your grant application does not get funded—seek as much feedback as you can from the sponsor and keep trying!

 

What is the next grant proposal or project on your agenda?

I plan to apply for another Florida Humanities grant, in order to fund next year’s Hispanic Heritage Month series again, as well as pursuing a “Humanities in Place” grant from the Mellon Foundation.