Gustavus Adolphus College

Assistant Professor of History Sujay Rao

Associate Professor of Religion Mary Solberg

Two Gustavus Adolphus College faculty members — Associate Professor of Religion Mary Solberg and Assistant Professor of History Sujay Rao — recently received Summer Stipends from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to support project research.

Solberg’s project is titled “The German Christians in Print: Translations of Selected Deutsche Christen Texts, 1933-45.” The project involves tracking down extant German-language materials published during the Third Reich by the pro-Nazi German Christian faith movement, and translating a representative selection for publication in a volume suitable for use by students and other researchers interested in the behavior of the churches in Hitler’s Germany.

Rao’s project involves examining the role of provincial politicians in Argentina’s history from independence in 1810 to 1829. Specifically, Rao intends to focus his research on the ties and relationships between provincial governments and the national congress in Buenos Aires during the 1820s.

NEH Summer Stipends provide $5,000 for two consecutive months of full-time research and writing. The program supports individuals pursuing advanced research that contributes to scholarly knowledge or to the public’s understanding of the humanities. Colleges and universities are allowed to nominate two faculty members for an NEH Summer Stipend each year. Solberg and Rao were among 84 recipients selected from 814 applicants this year.

“These awards are a great affirmation of the talent and accomplishment of two very talented faculty members,” Interim Dean of the Faculty Eric Eliason said. “At the same time the awards also affirm the importance of the kind of historical, ethical, and political questions that are at the heart of Gustavus’ liberal arts education. The international scope of the topics that Professors Rao and Solberg address in their projects exemplifies the international perspective that we work to foster in our academic programs.”

The NEH is an independent grant-making agency of the United States government dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. Through the grant program the NEH strives to strengthen teaching and learning in the humanities in schools and colleges across the nation, facilitate research and original scholarship, provide opportunities for lifelong learning, preserve and provide access to cultural and educational resources, and strengthen the institutional base of the humanities.