Community Engagement Mini-Grants

Funding is available for faculty and staff for community-engaged activities that further develop partnerships involving students, faculty, and community members as participants in addressing public issues.
Learn about Community Engagement Mini-Grants
Eligibility
CCEL provides mini-grant funding for faculty and staff in two areas:
- Research or Projects: to conduct community engaged research or plan and carry out community projects.
- Curriculum: to create or redesign curriculum incorporating community engagement and community partnerships.
Awards are open to all faculty and staff in all UAA schools, colleges, and at all community campuses. Junior faculty, faculty/staff teaching GER courses, and first time applicants are especially encouraged to apply. Funded proposals will conduct community-engaged research or plan and carry out community projects and involve UAA students whenever possible. These projects include engaged scholarship and professional partnerships with community organizations that incorporate the principles of reciprocity and respect for community knowledge with research or creative activity.
Application
Faculty and staff from all departments, colleges, and campuses can apply for up to $1000 in funding for their project. Junior faculty, faculty teaching GER courses, and faculty in underrepresented disciplines are especially encouraged to apply. Applications open in the beginning of Fall and Spring semesters. To be the first to hear when they open, subscribe to the CCEL newsletter.
Past Projects
- 2024-2025
Brett Watson, ISER
Addressing Housing Challenges in Anchorage Through Community-Engaged Research and Design Collaboration
Community partners: Cook Inlet Housing Authority, Anchorage Municipality Planning DepartmentMychal Machado, Psychology
Addressing the Gap: Understanding the Impact of School Resource Officers (SROs) in Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ
Community partner: Anchorage Police DepartmentChristopher Jung, Biological Sciences, and Gwen Lupfer, Psychology
Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ Brain Bee
Community partner: Anchorage School DistrictSteffi Kim, Psychology
AN CARE Connect: Enhancing Dementia Support for Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ Native Caregivers
Community partner: Native Village of UnalakleetKatie O’Loughlin, Theatre and Dance
Community Collaboration in Dance: Student Choreography Showcase with Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ Dance Theatre, East High, West High, and UAA Dance
Community partners: Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ Dance Theatre, West High School, and East High SchoolSarah Kirk, Writing
Community English Speaking Group: Development, Start-up, and Delivery
Community partner: Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ Literacy ProgramLisa Schwarzburg, Div. of Population Health Sciences
Completion of MOUD for Perinatal Patient Clinic Survey and Analysis
Community partner: Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ Department of Health Division of Behavioral HealthSusan Meskis, School of Nursing
The End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) Tokens
Community partner: City of Hope Supervisor, Division of Nursing Research & EducationWei Hsiao, Early Learning and Teaching
Engaging Students and Community in the Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ Association for the Education of Young Children (AEYC) Conference: Collaborative Leadership in Early Childhood Education
Community partner: Anchorage AEYCGabriel Garcia, Div. of Population Health Sciences; E.J.R. David, Psychology; and Joy Chavez Mapaye, Journalism and Public Communications
Isang Bagsak: Strengthening Ethnic Identity of Filipino American Youth in Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ and Building Solidarity and Consciousness About the Filipino American Experience
Community partner: Filipino American National Historical Society-Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æHeidi Biskeborn, Learning Center Director
Kenai Peninsula Food Bank Partnership
Community partners: Kenai Peninsula Food Bank, Kenai Peninsula Job CenterZachary Redman, Chemistry
Laboratory Validation of Gluten Reduction Techniques in Locally Brewed Craft Beers
Community partner: Turnagain Brewing CompanyLaura Stoddard, Dental Hygiene
Lifelong Smiles Initiative
Community partner: Healthy Smiles ForeverSpencer Heston, Millwright
Strengthening Local Workforce Development through Community-Engaged Curriculum Enhancement
Community partner: Local small and medium-sized enterprise (SME)/Certified National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER)Kristin Riall, Psychology
Using Video Modeling to Improve Swimming in Athletes with Intellectual Disability
Community partner: Special Olympics USAShane Castle, Writing
We Are Who We Are: An Arts and Literary Program for Incarcerated Youth at McLaughlin Youth Center
Community partner: McLaughlin Youth Center - 2023-2024
Mari Hahn, Music
Opera collaboration
Community Partner: Anchorage OperaIngrid Johnson, Justice
Good for business, good for the community: Exploring the range of sexual violence prevention efforts in nightlife settings
Community Partner: CHARRPradeeban Kathiravelu, Computer Science and Engineering
A data federation approach to analyze behavioral health and supplement healthcare practice with community health metrics in Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ
Community Partner: CHOICES, Inc.Joel Potter, Philosophy
Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ Young Philosopher Awards
Community Partner: South Anchorage High School, Romig Middle SchoolSteffi Kim, Psychology
Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ Native focused dementia care
Community Partner: Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ Native dementia caregiversMichelle Mishaan, Fine Art
Connecting Communities through Fine Arts and Ceramics
Community Partner: Palmer Middle School, Palmer High SchoolJessica Ross, Human Services
Nughejagh - "To become healed"
Community Partner: Native Village of EklutnaDavid Moxley, Social Work and Human Services
Advancing Personalized Health Care through Photovoice Methodology and the Arts
Community Partner: CHOICESChris Jung, Biological Sciences
The Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ Brain Bee
Community Partner: Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ High SchoolsAmanda Walch & Emily Faerber, Dietetics & Nutrition
Development of a Best Practice Intervention Design to Address the Mental Health and Nutrition- Related Needs of Student-Athletes at UAA
Community Partner: UAA AthleticsHeidi Biskborn Graves, Learning Center
KPC - Kenai Peninsula Food Bank Partnership
Community Partner: Kenai Peninsula Food BankKatie O-Loughlin, Theater and Dance
UAA Dance - Pulse Dance Partnership
Community Partner: Pulse Dance CompanyKristin Riall, Psychology
Increasing Representation of Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ Native People in Teaching Materials
Community Partner: Cook Inlet Native Head Start - 2022-2023
Vanessa Hiratsuka, Center for Human Development
Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ Disability Self-Advocate Meaning, Inclusion and Training Development
Community Partner: Peer Power Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æChristopher Jung and Rachael Hannah, Biological Sciences; Gwen Lupfer, Psychology
2023 Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ Brain Bee
Community Partner: Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ High SchoolsLibby Eufemio, Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ Native Studies Program & Alutiiq Studies Program
Edible Landscaping & Student Food Gardens at Kodiak College
Community Partner: RootedSarah Kirk, Writing
Building a Partnership for English Language Teaching
Community Partner: Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ Literacy ProgramIngrid Johnson, Justice Center, and Rei Shimizu, School of Social Work
Voice! Acknowledgement! Power! Victims’ Rights and Restorative Justice Symposium
Community Partner: Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (CDVSA)Dorn Van Dommelen, Anthropology and Geography
Denali National Park Navigational Mapping
Community Partner: Denali National Park Backcountry Information Center - 2021-2022
There were no available funds for faculty minigrants this year, unfortunately.
- 2020-2021
Joy Chavez Mapaye, Journalism and Public Communications
Managing Health Misinformation in the Infodemic Era
Community Partner: Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ Public Health AssociationHattie Harvey, Psychology
Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ Cultural Standards for Birth to Five Early Learning Settings
Community Partner: Cook Inlet Tribal CouncilAshley O'Connor, Social Work
Evaluation of the "Responder's Promise" Equine Therapy Program
Community Partner: Aurora Equine Therapy ProgramSarah Prielipp, Writing
Community Story Walk
Community Partner: MOA Parks and RecreationLeslie Redmond, Dietetics & Nutrition
Promoting the use of herbs and spices to improve dietary quality and intake among food pantry clients in Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ
Community Partner: Saint Francis House Food PantryAmanda Walch, Dietetics & Nutrition
Phase 2: Promoting the use of herbs and spices to improve dietary quality and intake among food pantry clients in Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ
Community Partner: Saint Francis House Food Pantry - 2019-2020
Martha Amore, Writing
Story Works WRTG 111 Collaboration
Community Partner: Story Works Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æSara Buckingham, Psychology
Untapped Talent: Inclusion and Integration in Anchorage, Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ
Community Partner: Mayor's OfficeJoy Chavez Mapaye, Journalism & Public Communication
Brand U: A Strategic Communications Project to Help Local Businesses and Non-Profits
Community Partner: Several Anchorage small businesses and non-profit organizationsHerminia Din, Art
Raising Awareness of Plastic Pollution in the Arctic
Community Partner: Aleut Community of St. Paul IslandRuby Fried, Institute for Circumpolar Health Studies
Traditional Food Security on St. Paul Island
Community Partner: Aleut Community of St. Paul Tribal GovernmentAlison Gardell, Biological Sciences, KPC
Monitoring Beluga Habitat Use in the Kenai
Community Partner: Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ Beluga Monitoring PartnershipMicah Hahn, Institute for Circumpolar Health Studies
Development of a Food Security Index for the Municipality of Anchorage
Community Partner: Municipality of AnchorageRachel Hannah, Biological Sciences
Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ Brain Bee
Community Partner: Anchorage High School EducatorsBritteny Howell, Population Health Sciences
Barriers and Opportunities to Healthy Aging Using Concept Mapping: Phase II
Community Partner: Anchorage Senior CenterAmana Mbise, Social Work
Asset Mapping to Inform FCC-UAA After-School Program
Community Partner: First Congregational Church AnchorageLauren Lessard, Institute for Circumpolar Health Studies
Adolescent Mental Health Pilot Project
Community Partner: NAMI, Story WorksLauren Lessard, Institute for Circumpolar Health Studies
Adolescent Reproductive Life Planning
Community Partner: State of Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ Division of Public HealthNancy Nix, Population Health Sciences
Healthy Food-Related Themes and Resources Across the Curriculum for Early Education
Community Partner: Department of Health & Social ServicesKathi Trawver & Heidi Brocious, Social Work
Office of Children’s Services Mentoring Program Evaluation Project
Community Partner: Office of Children's Services - 2018-2019
Daniel Anteau, Theatre
"New Kid"
Community Partner: Anchorage School DistrictGabe Garcia, Health Sciences
Evaluating the Anchorage School Based Health Centers
Community Partner: Anchorage School Based Health CentersRachael Hannah, Biological Sciences
Anchorage Brain Bee
Community Partner: Multiple High School Science TeachersIan Hartman, History
Black Life in the Last Frontier: A History of African Americans in Urban Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ
Community Partner: Cook Inlet Historical Society and National Park ServiceHattie Harvey, Early Childhood Education
Blend Practices: Supporting Diverse Learners in Pre-K Classrooms
Community Partner: Anchorage School District Preschool ProgramAgatha John-Shields, Indigenous Education
Future Indigenous Educators Group
Community Partner: First Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æns InstituteToby Long, Chemistry
Remote, On-Site Testing for Arsenic on the Kenai Peninsula
Community Partner: Love INCMike Mueller, Teaching & Learning
Creating Birding Kits for Youth Citizen Science in Âé¶¹ÎÞÂë°æ's Public Schools
Community Partner: Campbell STEM Elementary, National Park Service, Anchorage MuseumTerry Nelson, Management & Marketing
Tom Case Leadership Program
Community Partner: Clark Middle SchoolMarsha Olson, Communication
Campus Vote Project
Community Partner: League of Women VotersRiva Symko, Art
Stories from Santa Fe to Anchorage
International Gallery of Contemporary ArtKathi Trawver, Social Work
Evaluation of Mentoring of New OCS
Line Workers
Community Partner: Office of Children's Services
Faculty Success
Library 213 • 907-786-4496 • uaa_facultysuccess@alaska.edu •&²Ô²ú²õ±è;²Ñ´Ç²Ô»å²¹²â&²Ô²ú²õ±è;– Friday, 8 a.m. –&²Ô²ú²õ±è;5 p.m.