Elissa Braunstein
- Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs
- Professor of Economics
"The unique work we do will help CSU achieve its educational and research mission, enrich our nation, and connect people and communities around the world as we grapple with wicked problems like climate change, inequity, and political polarization. In the Research Associate Dean's Office, we are committed to elevating that work and providing all of you with the resources you need to keep doing it."
- Elissa Braunstein
The faculty of CSU's College of Liberal Arts conduct urgent research into national and global crises; engage in high-impact scholarship on the complexities and contradictions of human history and culture; and create art in myriad forms, genres, and modes.
The Rad Office team supports all this work. We offer pre and post-award support for funded research; individualized searches for fellowship and honorific awards; grant-writing; author resources; sabbatical preparation; and small-dollar funding. We also support our faculty in collaborations across campus, including with the Office of the Vice President for Research, the Office of Sponsored Programs, and the One Health Institute.
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.
Recent Faculty Stories
Peter Harris named 2026 Research Fellow at West Point’s Modern War Institute
CSU political science professor Peter Harris has been named a 2026 research fellow with the Modern War Institute at the United States Military Academy, a competitive, remote appointment recognizing his expertise in international security and U.S. foreign policy.
History Associate Professor Doug Yarrington publishes historical study of Venezuela in the first half of the 20th century
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.
Economics Professor Ed Barbier and Associate Professor Jo Burgess publish environmental economics textbook for students new to the field
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.
Research Conversations
CSU's The Audit
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.
Liberal Arts Impact
Colorado State University’s College of Liberal Arts is a vibrant community of artists, thinkers, storytellers, and scientists who examine the human experience. In these podcasts, our faculty share their areas of expertise and talk about why their work matters in our world today.
Faculty and staff recorded their podcasts with CSU's Center for Science Communication through the leadership of Associate Professor Jaime Jacobsen and her graduate students in the Department of Journalism and Media Communication.
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.