RESEARCH & CREATIVE ARTISTRY

In the College of Liberal Arts, scholarship takes many forms depending on whether you identify as being in the arts, humanities, or the social sciences, or somewhere in between. No matter the form, our research and creative activities result in impactful scholarship.

Through the efforts of the associate dean for research, we offer college-level competitive grants and awards, collaborations with the college and the Office of the Vice President for Research, the Office of Sponsored Programs, and the One Health Institute. And, we offer workshops and brown-bag sessions to help our faculty and students meet their creative research goals.

Research & Artistry Proposal Support

Searching for a research grant or need help submitting a grant application?

Books & Creative Activities

Explore this showcase of books, exhibitions, and performances by CLA faculty.

Awards and Fellowships

Seeking a fellowship or residency, or want to apply for or nominate someone for an award?

Research Centers & Institutes

Learn more about the centers, institutes, and other special units in the College.

Message from the Research Associate Dean

Elissa Braunstein

  • Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs
  • Professor of Economics

elissa.braunstein@colostate.edu

As the Research Associate Dean (you’ll sometimes hear me called the “RAD”) for the College of Liberal Arts, I am proud to support and advocate for the faculty, students and staff who engage in scholarship as it is uniquely defined here in CLA.

Research Highlights

$11.5 million

of funded research
& scholarship
, FY 2018-22

400+

active research projects

16

centers and institutes
devoted to research

2

Programs of Research and Scholarly Excellence: the Center for Literary Publishing and the Public and Environmental History Center

Recent Faculty Stories

Profitable Offices book cover by Doug Yarrington

History Associate Professor Doug Yarrington publishes historical study of Venezuela in the first half of the 20th century

January 29, 2026

Doug Yarrington, an associate professor of History in the College of Liberal Arts recently published a sweeping history of Venezuela that explores the ways corruption and efforts to combat it shaped the national state during the years of its formation.

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Economics for a Sustainable World book cover with octopus and starfish on blue background

Economics Professor Ed Barbier and Associate Professor Jo Burgess publish environmental economics textbook for students new to the field

January 29, 2026

University Distinguished Professor of Economics Ed Barbier and Associate Professor of Economics Jo Burgess recently published their first co-authored textbook, intended to invite students with little or no knowledge of economics to explore the field of environmental economics. The book uses extensive case studies to introduce concepts including sustainable development and the inextricable relationship between the natural world and the global economy.

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Headshot of professor Nina McConigley

McConigley’s debut novel portrays sisterhood, healing in the American West

January 22, 2026

Published by Pantheon on Jan. 20, ‘How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder’ centers on two sisters growing up in rural Wyoming and explores girlhood in the 1980s, identity, trauma and cultural memory. The novel is already earning praise from critics and readers.

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Research Conversations

Liberal Arts and Health

Associate Professor of Art Paul Flippen and Professor of English Aparna Gollapudi speak to the power of combining image and text to communicate an experience and emotion.

Associate Professor of Music John McGuire and Assistant Professor of Philosophy Domenica Romagni speak about the importance of a holistic approach to learning that puts well-being at the forefront.

On the Pod

Colorado State University’s podcast — The Audit — features conversations with CSU faculty on everything from research to current events. Just as auditing a class provides an opportunity to explore a new subject or field, The Audit allows listeners to explore the latest works from the experts at CSU.

Prison Agriculture Lab

The Audit: CSU’s Prison Agriculture Lab researches the roots, impact of the prison agriculture industry

February 20, 2023

There are more than 600 prison agricultural programs currently in the United States, but very little data looking at the how, what, and maybe most importantly, why of these programs. Colorado State University’s Prison Agriculture Lab is looking to change that. Co-directors Joshua Sbicca and Carrie Chennault talk about the lab’s recently published landmark dataset analyzing the different types of current prison agricultural programs, as well as the underlying drivers behind them.

The Audit: Can healing our divided nation start at the dinner table?

November 15, 2022

CSU Sociology Professor and Food Systems Institute Co-director Michael Carolan spoke to The Audit podcast about his research into food, food systems and building empathy on common ground.

Katie Abrams research

The Audit Podcast: Can social marketing keep wildlife – and you – safe? This CSU researcher says the right messaging can help

July 28, 2022

Colorado State University Associate Professor Katie Abrams discusses how the right message – and the right photo op – can help influence our behavior out in the wild.

Queer Memory Project

The Audit Podcast: From Matthew Shepard to CSU’s first (and last) male homecoming queen, the Queer Memory Project archives Northern Colorado’s LGBTQ+ history

June 22, 2022

The educational research effort is currently collecting artifacts, historical documents and personal stories as part of an online archive to preserve Northern Colorado’s LGBTQ+ past.

Areas of Research and Specialization

gender   inequality  aesthetics    pedagogy    cultural studies    collaboration  power  identity    environment    race/ethnicity     social justice    globalization  discourse    government    performance     ethics    health    intersectionality    sustainability    teaching and learning     community    poetry and fiction    climate change    water    energy     institutions    fieldwork    rhetoric    public policy    logic     digital humanities   food insecurity     political economy   religion     animal rights    labor     international media    visual literacy     adaptation     performance

Teacher Scholars

University Distinguished Professors
University Teaching Scholars
Best Teacher Award Winners
Excellence in Teaching Award Winners

Our faculty not only conduct research, they bring their talents and expertise into the classroom.

FIND A SPEAKER

Click here to request an expert for media inquiries, peer discussions, speaking engagements,  and educational opportunities with the public.