St. Davids, PA: Eastern University is pleased to be the recipient of a $500,000 grant by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) for its Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants initiative. This initiative leverages federal funding to strengthen and sustain humanities infrastructure and capacity-building activities at cultural institutions.
The project, entitled “Expanding the Humanities at Eastern University,” will include the renovation of Workman Hall on Eastern’s St. Davids campus. The expanded space will house the Templeton Honors College, including the construction of a performance space, reception hall, and art gallery.
$35.63 million in grant funding has been awarded to 258 humanities projects across the country for the NEH’s Spotlight on Humanities in Higher Education grant program.
“These 258 newly funded projects demonstrate the vitality of the humanities across our nation,” said NEH Chair Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo). “NEH is proud to support exemplary education, preservation, media, research, and infrastructure projects that expand resources for Americans, support humanities programs and opportunities for underserved students and communities, and deepen our understanding of our history, culture, and society.”
For 25 years, the Templeton Honors College has enriched the Eastern community by offering students a formative education in the liberal arts tradition. This grant will provide the funds necessary to equip Workman Hall (soon to be Templeton Hall) with the space and tools needed to help students flourish.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled to see this dream come to fruition in Templeton's 25th anniversary year,” shared Dr. Brian Williams, Dean of the Templeton Honors College and the College of Arts and Humanities. "The new space will benefit not only the entire campus, but also the local community by providing a showcase venue for the humanities and the visual and performing arts. This expansion will realize a dream the Honors College has had since its founding of creating a hospitable home for current and future Honors College students.”
Increased philanthropic funding is one of the imperatives in Eastern’s Strategic Plan for 2022-2027. This NEH grant is a welcome affirmation of the strong efforts put forth by Eastern’s Office of Advancement in achieving this goal and propelling the University forward into a prosperous future.
"We are grateful to the National Endowment for the Humanities for this transformative contribution,” shared Luisa Wilsman, Vice President for University Advancement. “The awarding of this highly competitive grant, the final grant of its kind, will allow Eastern University to achieve its vision of renovating and expanding Workman Hall for the future home of the Templeton Honors College and enhance our academic environment for all students."
About Eastern University
Eastern University is a Christian university enrolling approximately 7,000 students in its undergraduate, graduate, and seminary programs. The university’s main campus is located in St. Davids, PA, with many programs available online. Eastern’s core values of faith, reason, and justice are woven into all of its educational programs. For more information visit eastern.edu or contact Ally Rosario, Director of Marketing & Communications: ally.rosario@eastern.edu.
