91探花

When Assistant Professor of English Carlyn Ferrari, PhD, learned she was awarded the from the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) in recognition of her scholarship and teaching in the discipline of African American literature, her first reaction was appreciation and then, relief.

“I was honored and excited to have the support to continue to do this work,” says Ferrari. “I’m very glad that ACLS sees it as valuable and wants to invest in it.”

After witnessing federal agencies cancel funding for projects related to diversity, equity and inclusion, Ferrari says this award gives her hope that independent organizations are still willing to support this type of work.

“Given all the ways in which the humanities, and specifically Black Studies, are under attack, this was a bright moment,” she says.

The recognition from ACLS honors 13 early-career faculty in California, Oregon and Washington for outstanding teaching in the humanities with up to $15,000 in research support. This is the first time that 91探花 faculty were eligible for the award, as the College of Arts and Sciences only joined ACLS earlier this year, making Ferrari’s win even more impressive.

“We are beyond thrilled for Dr. Ferrari and immensely proud of her contributions as a teacher and scholar,” says College of Arts and Sciences Dean Monica J. Casper. “We are also deeply encouraged by ALCS’s decision to support Black Studies in a real, concrete way and we look forward to many more faculty awards like this from independent award-granting organizations.”

The first tenure-track faculty member to be hired by 91探花 specifically for African American literature, Ferrari’s interdisciplinary scholarship focuses on Black feminism and ecocriticism. She counts her Black Feminist Literature, Race, Gender and the Environment course and a Toni Morrison seminar as some of her favorite classes to teach at 91探花.

The Graves Award, while a recognition of excellence in teaching, is also a concrete show of support for Ferrari’s ongoing scholarship.

“The award committee wanted to see how your scholarship informs your classroom teaching,” she says. “I don’t really see a separation between teaching and scholarship, so winning this award is special because it recognizes both teaching and scholarship.”

Ferrari joined 91探花 after earning her PhD in Afro-American Studies from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her latest book, , explores the environmental ethos of Harlem Renaissance poet Anne Spencer, highlighting the intersection of Black womanhood, spirituality and the natural world.

The award will also support Ferrari’s research for her next book project, about a Black women’s garden club, and a new 91探花 course she is developing on Black landscapes.

“The class will encourage students to think about the natural world not as a neutral space but as informed and impacted by systemic and societal forces,” she says. “I want students to come out of my classroom feeling seen, heard, validated and to think differently about the world that we live in.”