Faculty success grows with UNM FRESSH program

UNM's 2024-2025 cohort of the WeR1 Fostering Research Expansion in the Social Sciences and Humanities (FRESSH) program welcomes a diverse group of 18 researchers, each bringing unique perspectives and expertise to the initiative. In April, all 18 participants completed their pre-proposals and are now preparing to submit their grants to identified funders. This marks the third year of the training and mentorship program open to faculty, postdocs, and staff at UNM.

The FRESSH program not only aims to enhance research capabilities within these vital fields but also fosters collaboration and innovation among scholars. The participants are poised to make significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge, addressing pressing societal issues and exploring new ideas that will undoubtedly enrich the academic landscape. The enthusiasm and dedication of these researchers reflect a promising future for social sciences and humanities research at UNM and beyond.

"This initiative has not only fostered professional development but has cultivated a vibrant community of learners and leaders who are committed to excellence and innovation at UNM," Vice President for Research Ellen Fisher said. "With each passing year, we have witnessed the transformative impact of cohort mentorship, empowering individuals to reach their fullest potential while simultaneously encouraging a culture of shared knowledge and support. I'm very proud and moved when I hear about the success stories of not only the program itself, but more importantly, the individuals who bring their inspiration and hard work to this campus every day."

Congratulations to the 2024-2025 FRESSH Cohort:

Sara Abbaspour, MFA, College of Fine Arts
Joshua Birchall, Ph.D., College of Arts and Sciences
Kate Cartwright, Ph.D., College of Arts and Sciences
Aijuan Cun, Ph.D., College of Education and Human Sciences
Amanda Curreri, Ph.D., College of Fine Arts
Armando Garza Ayala, Ph.D., College of Education and Human Sciences
Myrriah Gomez, Ph.D., Honors College
Jake Greenberg, Ph.D., Academic Communities
Aimee Hackney, Ph.D., College of Education and Human Sciences
Kathleen Holscher, Ph.D., College of Arts and Sciences
Elspeth Iralu, Ph.D., School of Architecture and Planning
Aaron Lenihan, Ph.D., College of Arts and Sciences
Luotao Lin, Ph.D., College of Education and Human Sciences
Jacqueline Miller, Ph.D., Geospatial and Population Studies
Divina Olivas, Ph.D., College of Arts and Sciences
Cara Streit, Ph.D., College of Education and Human Sciences
Damián Wilson, Ph.D., College of Arts and Sciences
Ling Zhou, Ph.D., Anderson School of Management

Since 2022, FRESSH has increased faculty knowledge of grant processes and encouraged grant submission through a series of worksops during the academic year. The program kicks off with "The Why and How of Grant Writing" and sharpens its focus with sessions that step participants through the process including awareness and utilization of internal resources; narrative outlining and drafting; budget and justification. Each participant learns to successfully develop research concepts and proposals suitable for funding opportunities from federal agencies or major foundations. Participants develop and refine the expression of their research but not in isolation. Staff from the UNM Faculty Research Development Office (FRDO) and other Lobo faculty mentor the participants, bringing real life experience to a process that can seem intimidating to early career or first-time applicants.

UNM Associate Professor Belinda Deneen Wallace, who is also a former FRESSH participant, shared her experience with the 2024-2025 cohort during a panel discussion and what she believes she gained from the program.

"Writing and applying for a grant can be a nerve-racking experience but I have the skills and knowledge that I didn't have before," she said. "It isn't until you have a program like FRESSH, you know that you are doing the right things with your grant writing."

In addition to the qualitative benefits of greater confidence and mutual support, the program has also fostered the submission of successful grant proposals. Nearly 46 percent of the proposals submitted by the 2022-23 cohort were awarded, well above the federal award average. That success rate increased to an impressive 77 percent following resubmissions. That increase, recognized as an opportunity, has prompted FRDO to establish WeR1 Grant Revision for Outstanding Wins to Level Up program (GROWL). The GROWL pilot program will begin in September and will assist UNM faculty in revising and resubmitting previously declined or terminated proposals. The program aims to enhance participants understanding of grant sponsor review processes and gain confidence in interpreting and acting on reviewer feedback.

"FRESSH reflects the heart of FRDO's mission - building research capacity by supporting scholars who ask bold, human-centered questions. It's a vital part of how we expand and diversify UNM's research enterprise. FRESSH is one of the most rewarding programs we run," FRDO Director Hannah Torres said.

The FRESSH and GROWL programs will alternate every other year to build on one another to advance research success at UNM while serving different audiences-FRESSH focuses on the social sciences, education, the arts, and humanities, GROWL will include researchers from those fields as well as STEM.