Manhattanville College Awarded NEH Grant in Support of Groundbreaking Project to Enhance Sport Studies Through Latinx Lens
The proposal, “Sport Studies in the 21st Century: Amplifying the Latinx Experience in Curricula, Conversation, and Community,” was selected for one of five such awards from the National Endowment for the Humanities
JANUARY 24, 2024 Purchase, NY – Manhattanville College’s Sport Studies program has been awarded a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The proposal, “Sport Studies in the 21st Century: Amplifying the Latinx Experience in Curricula, Conversation, and Community,” presents a groundbreaking initiative that aims to explore the multifaceted social, political, historical, and cultural aspects of sport within Latinx communities.
This award is one of five given as part of the NEH’s 2023 Humanities Initiatives at Hispanic-Serving Institutions competition. The college has earned a designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education, which recognizes the campus’ significant Hispanic population.
The award-winning project was conceived and will be spearheaded by Manhattanville's Sport Studies faculty – Amy Bass, Ph.D., Seth Tannenbaum, Ph.D., and Samantha White, Ph.D. – who serve as project directors. The project seeks to address gaps in the field of Sport Studies, making stronger connections with the broader fields of Latinx and American Studies. By focusing on the impact of Latinx athletes and the role of sport in Latinx communities, the project aims to rectify the underrepresentation in this vital area of study.
At the core of this initiative is a dynamic speaker-in-residence series, featuring renowned scholars in sport and Latinx studies. The speakers will be in short residencies at Manhattanville over the course of the next three years, working with students, faculty, and members of the wider community through a series of lectures and interdisciplinary learning clusters, building upon the strong collaborative nature of the Sports Studies major. The work will be preserved online and in the college’s archives, available for broad future use.
Dr. Bass, Professor of Sport Studies and Chair of the Division of Social Science and Communication, expressed her excitement for the project, stating, "To echo the NEH's evaluation of our project, I think this program will serve as a standard-bearer for how sport serves as a valuable lens through which to study society and culture grounded in the humanities, something we already know to be true at Manhattanville with the overwhelming success of our major in Sport Studies."
Westchester County Executive George Latimer praised the work the faculty are doing. “Westchester County celebrates Manhattanville College for its work in spearheading this innovative program supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities,” said Latimer. “The Sport Studies faculty's commitment to addressing gaps in the curriculum and amplifying the Latino experience is commendable. By embracing Latino studies within the study of sport, Manhattanville is leading the way in providing a comprehensive and inclusive education that reflects the diverse perspectives within our society.”
Founded in 2013, Manhattanville’s unique interdisciplinary Sport Studies program is the fastest growing major -- and one of the largest -- in the School of Arts and Sciences, with courses that range from “Sport Communication and Media” to “Sport and Social Change” to “Fundamentals of Team Sports.”
Dr. Tannenbaum, Assistant Professor of Sport Studies, shared his enthusiasm about the project's focus on Latinx communities, stating, "I'm excited to begin work on this project that focuses on Latinx communities and sport and will make Sport Studies even more relevant to the lives and experiences of a larger swath of our Manhattanville student body."
Furthering Sport Studies’ work with organizations that center on Latinx populations is another key aspect of the project. Assistant Professor of Sport Studies Dr. White highlighted the importance of these community partnerships, stating, "One of the key aspects of this project that I find most appealing is expanding partnerships with organizations that center on Latinx communities in order to grow our experiential learning opportunities in sport beyond the classroom."
“Sport Studies in the 21st Century: Amplifying the Latinx Experience in Curricula, Conversation, and Community” represents a significant step forward in the field of Sport Studies. By employing the Latinx perspective, Manhattanville College aims to provide students with a comprehensive and inclusive liberal arts education that reflects the diverse world in which we live.
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About Manhattanville College:
Manhattanville College is a private liberal arts institution dedicated to academic excellence, purposeful education, and social justice. For three years in a row, “U.S. News and World Report” has ranked Manhattanville the number one private, non-profit institution in New York among Top Performers of Social Mobility in Regional Universities North. Located 30 miles from New York City on a 100-acre suburban campus in the heart of Westchester County, Manhattanville enables easy access to entertainment offerings, educational resources, and business opportunities for its primarily residential and diverse student body. The college serves more than 1,300 undergraduate students and nearly 1,000 graduate students from more than 44 countries and 33 states. Founded in 1841, the college offers more than 75 undergraduate and graduate areas of study in the arts and sciences, education, nursing and health sciences, business, and creative writing, as well as continuing and executive education programs. Graduate students can choose from over 70 graduate and certificate programs. Extracurricular offerings include more than 45 clubs and activities and 22 NCAA Division III teams.
Manhattanville has also been recognized by “U.S. News and World Report” for Ethnic Diversity. The college has earned a designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education which has allowed it to recruit more Latinx students. For the sixth consecutive year, Manhattanville has been named to the Colleges of Distinction list which recognizes colleges that excel in student engagement, great teaching, vibrant communities, and successful outcomes. The college is also among those that have earned the Equity and Inclusion badge from Colleges of Distinction, while continuing to be recognized for excellence with Business, Education, and Career Development badges. The school is also one of the few to offer an undergraduate certificate in design thinking, giving students a leg up with employers looking for critical thinking skills.
Contact:
Cara Cea, 914-906-9680, Cara.cea@mville.edu
