#United States #New York #ACLS #Spiritual Infrastructure #Graduate Internships

American Council of Learned Societies Announces 2026 Awardees of the Graduate Internships

The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) has officially revealed the awardees for the inaugural year of their Graduate Internships on the Spiritual Infrastructure of the Future Program. This initiative aims to provide enriching summer internships for a group of ten emerging scholars who specialize in disciplines such as religious studies, theology, anthropology, and sociology, among others. The internships are designed to merge practical experience with academic research, facilitating the development of future leaders who are well-versed in the evolving American religious landscape.

A New Initiative for Emerging Scholars

Launched as part of a comprehensive three-year initiative funded by the Templeton Religion Trust (TRT) and in collaboration with Bryn Mawr College, the program focuses on creating institutional partnerships that will support the exploration and understanding of America's spiritual dynamics. According to ACLS Senior Program Officer Desiree Barron-Callaci, these internships will leverage the advanced research skills of the fellows to address pressing societal issues through the lens of religion and spirituality.

From early June, the ten fellows will embark on nine-week internship projects that not only allow them to apply their expertise but also assist various host organizations in impactful work. The awardees come from ten distinguished universities, covering departments dealing with diverse fields related to the social sciences and humanities.

Notable Scholars and Their Projects

The selected scholars and their host organizations are as follows:

• - Izzak Novak (Northwestern University) - will work with the American Friends Service Committee on Quaker Action for Migrant Justice.
• - khadijah j. akeem-cox (The George Washington University) - will collaborate with CAIR Minnesota to map and strengthen Muslim spiritual infrastructure in the state.
• - Alex Gruber (Fordham University) - will contribute to the Coalition for Spiritual Public Leadership focused on justice leaders.
• - Jacob Green (University of Virginia) - will develop AI tools for interfaith literacy and dialogue with the ICJS.
• - Eric Gu (University of California, Irvine) - will support Interfaith America in reviving pluralism and charting the next chapter of an American tradition.
• - Rose Miller (University of Southern California) - will work with the Jewish Women's Archive to further their encyclopedia of Jewish women.
• - Moses Ohene Biney (Rice University) - will engage with Norton Healthcare to assess faith communities' engagement in health matters.
• - Robyn West (Chicago Theological Seminary) - will assist Operation Shoestring in enhancing support networks for at-risk youth through faith communities.
• - Chloe Landen (University of Texas at Austin) - will work on enriching the public understanding of religion through digital media with Religion News Service.
• - Peter Dziedzic (Harvard University) - will contribute to The Conversation, focusing on collaborative and evidence-based journalism in religion.

The Future of PhD Training

Jonathan Anjaria, a co-leader of the program and a Professor of Anthropology at Brandeis University, expressed enthusiasm regarding how this initiative will forge new pathways in PhD training. The program aims not only to enhance academic output but also to demonstrate how practical experience can have a significant societal impact. It seeks to spark informed public discourse on religion, encouraging an exchange of ideas and insights among scholars and the broader community.

As scholarship increasingly needs to engage with real-world issues, the ACLS Graduate Internships mark a significant step towards blending academia with practical social engagement. This initiative assures that participating scholars will deepen their academic writing, gain valuable work experience, and cultivate diverse career outcomes, thereby enriching the overall educational framework surrounding doctoral studies in the humanities and social sciences.