Research Data Dive

DATA OF WCU’S RESEARCH PURSUITS

Total Proposals and Awards

Proposals Submitted Through June 30, 2026

Fiscal Year 2026 Last Fiscal Year 2025
Count $ Requested Count $ Requested
88 $35,307,422 102 $20,795,652

Awards Received Through June 30, 2026

Fiscal Year 2026 Last Fiscal Year 2025
Count $ Requested Count $ Requested
65 $9,152,061 72 $10,532,299

The Chancellor’s Office

 

Proposals Submitted Through June 30, 2026
Fiscal Year 2026 Last Fiscal Year 2025
Count $ Requested Count $ Requested
0 $0.00 0 $0.00

 

Awards Received Through June 30, 2026
Fiscal Year 2026 Last Fiscal Year 2025
Count $ Requested Count $ Requested
0 $0.00 0 $0.00

Administration and Finance

 

Proposals Submitted Through June 30, 2026
Fiscal Year 2026 Last Fiscal Year 2025
Count $ Requested Count $ Requested
2 $178,367 1 $49,149

 

Awards Received Through June 30, 2026
Fiscal Year 2026 Last Fiscal Year 2025
Count $ Requested Count $ Requested
0 $0.00 0 $0.00

Student Affairs

 

Proposals Submitted Through June 30, 2026
Fiscal Year 2026 Last Fiscal Year 2025
Count $ Requested Count $ Requested
0 $0.00 1 $246,419

 

Awards Received Through June 30, 2026
Fiscal Year 2026 Last Fiscal Year 2025
Count $ Requested Count $ Requested
0 $0.00 2 $1,050,135

Academic Affairs

 

Proposals Submitted Through June 30, 2026
Fiscal Year 2026 Last Fiscal Year 2025
Count $ Requested Count $ Requested
86 $35,129,055 100 $20,500,084

 

Awards Received Through June 30, 2026
Fiscal Year 2026 Last Fiscal Year 2025
Count $ Requested Count $ Requested
65 $9,152,061 70 $9,482,164

Proposals by College and Department

Provost
Proposals and Awards Through June 30, 2026
Fiscal Year 2026 Last Fiscal Year 2025
Department Proposals Submitted $ Requested Awards Received $ Awarded Proposals Submitted $ Requested Awards Received $ Awarded
Office of the Provost 0 $0.00 0 $0.00 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Educational Outreach 0 $0.00 0 $0.00 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Asst VC Student Success 0 $0.00 0 $0.00 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Advising and Student Success 0 $0.00 0 $0.00 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Disability Services 0 $0.00 1 $272,364 1 $272,364 0 $0.00
Writing and Learning Commons 0 $0.00 0 $0.00 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Office of Student Retention 0 $0.00 1 $272,364 2 $554,726 0 $0.00
Career Services 2 $2,613,904 1 $130,000 1 $110,000 1 $110,000
Cherokee Center 0 $0.00 0 $0.00 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Mountain Heritage Center 2 $77,551 0 $0.00 3 $55,946 2 $6,500
Service Learning 5 $18,494 3 $3,500 4 $34,544 4 $8,572
Associate Provost to Academic Affairs 0 $0.00 0 $0.00 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Coulter Faculty Commons 0 $0.00 0 $0.00 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Highlands Biological Station 1 $80,255 7 $206,651 5 $201,225 4 $73,000
International Programs and Services 2 $346,334 1 $4,125 0 $0.00 1 $55,500
Program for the Study of Dev Shorelines 1 $106,351 1 $350,000 1 $350,000 1 $106,350
WCU Programs in Asheville 0 $0.00 0 $0.00 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Total 13 $3,242,892 15 $1,239,004 11 $1,568,805 13 $359,922
Arts and Sciences
Proposals and Awards Through June 30, 2026
Fiscal Year 2026 Last Fiscal Year 2025
Department Proposals Submitted $ Requested Awards Received $ Awarded Proposals Submitted $ Requested Awards Received $ Awarded
College of Arts and Sciences 0 $0.00 0  $0.00 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Anthropology and Sociology 9  $417,312 3  $864,252 5 $1,350,988 3 $383,111
Biology 4  $471,560 3  $89,997 2 $214,771 2 $93,319
Chemistry and Physics 2  $38,514 1  $130,918 3 $321,476 1 $124,112
Communication 2  $17,500 2  $19,912 1 $9,912 0 $0.00
Criminology and Criminal Justice 5  $1,352,724 1  $30,000 4 $522,889 3 $346,289
English 2  $16,500 1  $1,500 2 $16,500 1 $15,000
Geosciences and Natural Resources 1  $4,999 3  $50,196 8 $235,960 10 $295,173
History 0  $0.00 0  $0.00 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Mathematics and Computer Science 1  $12,000 0  $0.00 0 $0.00 1 $1,499,913
Philosophy and Religion 0  $0.00 0  $0.00 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Political Science and Public Affairs 1  $81,672 0  $0.00 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
World Languages 2  $1,930 1  $930 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Total 29 $2,414,711 15 $1,187,705 25 $2,672,496 21 $2,759,917
College of Business
Proposals and Awards Through June 30, 2026
Fiscal Year 2026 Last Fiscal Year 2025
Department Proposals Submitted $ Requested Awards Received $ Awarded Proposals Submitted $ Requested Awards Received $ Awarded
Office of the Dean College of Business 0  $0.00 1 $100,000 0  $0.00 0 $0.00
Accounting, Finance, Information Systems and Business Law 2  $178,725 3 $201,438 2  $175,864 2  $235,593
Economics, Management and Project Management 0  $0.00 1 $13,882 3  $24,859 0 $0.00
Entrepreneurship, Hospitality and Tourism, Marketing and Sports Management 0  $0.00 0 $0.00 0  $0.00 0 $0.00
Small Business Technology Development Center (SBTDC) 0  $0.00 1 $278,647 1  $271,373 3  $499,337
Total 2 $178,725 6 $593,967 6 $472,096 5 $734,930
Education and Allied Professions
Proposals and Awards Through June 30, 2026
Fiscal Year 2026 Last Fiscal Year 2025
Department Proposals Submitted $ Requested Awards Received $ Awarded Proposals Submitted $ Requested Awards Received $ Awarded
Office of Dean Educ and Allied Prof 0  $0.00 0 $0.00 15  $4,272,295 0 $0.00
Human Services 2  $142,002 2  $512,514 3  $323,787 5  $760,619
Psychology 4  $613,805 0 $0.00 2  $730,103 1  $10,000
School of Teaching and Learning 3  $2,854,959 2  $1,260,000 5  $724,432 1  $10,000
Total 9 $3,610,766 4 $1,772,514 15 $4,272,295 7 $780,619
Engineering and Technology
Proposals and Awards Through June 30, 2026
Fiscal Year 2026 Last Fiscal Year 2025
Department Proposals Submitted $ Requested Awards Received $ Awarded Proposals Submitted $ Requested Awards Received $ Awarded
Office of the Dean – College of Engineering and Technology 0 $0.00 0 $0.00 2  $249,112 0 $0.00
Construction Management 0 $0.00 0 $0.00 8  $650,771 2  $26,133
Engineering and Technology 12 $22,333,782 7 $2,195,477 10  $5,367,848 3  $3,551,374
Center for Rapid Product Realization 0 $0.00 0 $0.00 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Total 12 $22,333,782 7 $2,195,477 20 $6,267,731 5 $3,577,507
Fine and Performing Arts
Proposals and Awards Through June 30, 2026
Fiscal Year 2026 Last Fiscal Year 2025
Department Proposals Submitted $ Requested Awards Received $ Awarded Proposals Submitted $ Requested Awards Received $ Awarded

Office of the Dean of Fine and Performing Art

0

 $0.00  

0

 $0.00  

0

 $0.00  

0

 $0.00  

School of Art and Design

2

 $25,000

0

 $0.00  

2

 $359,311

0

 $0.00

School of Music

0

 $0.00  

0

 $0.00  

0

 $0.00  

0

 $0.00  

School of Stage and Screen

0

 $0.00  

0

 $0.00  

1

 $0.00  

0

 $0.00  

Fine and Performing Arts Center

2

 $24,000

0

 $0.00  

1

 $5,000

0

 $0.00  

Fine Arts Museum

0

 $0.00  

0

 $0.00  

1

 $5,000

1

 $15,000
Total 4 $49,000 0 $0.00 5 $369,311 1 $15,000
Graduate School and Research
Proposals and Awards Through June 30, 2026
Fiscal Year 2026 Last Fiscal Year 2025
Department Proposals Submitted $ Requested Awards Received $ Awarded Proposals Submitted $ Requested Awards Received $ Awarded
Graduate School 0  $0.00 0  $0.00 0  $0.00 0  $0.00
Research Administration 0  $0.00 1  $5,000 0  $0.00 0  $0.00
Total 0 $0.00 1 $5,000 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Hunter Library
Proposals and Awards Through June 30, 2026
Fiscal Year 2026 Last Fiscal Year 2025
Department Proposals Submitted $ Requested Awards Received $ Awarded Proposals Submitted $ Requested Awards Received $ Awarded
Office of the Dean – Hunter Library 0  $0.00 0  $0.00 1  $755,404 1  $152,570
Digital, Access, and Technology Services 0  $0.00 0  $0.00 0  $0.00 0  $0.00
Research and Instruction Services 0  $0.00 0  $0.00 0  $0.00 0  $0.00
Content Organization Management 3  $55,181 3  $55,180 2  $10,000 2  $18,688
Total 3 $55,181 3 $55,180 3 $765,404 3 $171,258
Health and Human Sciences
Proposals and Awards Through June 30, 2026
Fiscal Year 2026 Last Fiscal Year 2025
Department Proposals Submitted $ Requested Awards Received $ Awarded Proposals Submitted $ Requested Awards Received $ Awarded
Office of the Dean – Health and Human Sciences 1  $783,384 0  $0.00 0

 $0.00

 0  $0.00
Communication Sciences and Disorders 1  $56,157 1  $20,000 0  $0.00 1  $10,000
Physical Therapy 0  $0.00 0  $0.00 0  $0.00 0  $0.00
School of Health Sciences 4  $982,308 4  $982,308 3  $289,776 5  $235,169
School of Nursing 6  $359,149 5  $410,185 0  $0.00 6  $185,949
Social Work 2  $1,063,000 4  $960,721 4  $3,822,170 3  $654,892
Total 14 $3,243,998 14 $2,103,214 7 $4,111,946 15 $1,086,011
Health and Human Sciences

Proposals Submitted by Health and Human Sciences

*As of December 10, 2025
# Proposals FY to Date$ Amount Requested FY to Date# Proposals Point-in-Time Last FY$ Amount Requested Point-in-Time Last FY$ Amount Requested Difference# Awards FY to Date$ Amount Awarded FY to Date# Awards Point-in-Time Last FY$ Amount Awarded Point-in-Time Last FY$ Amount Awarded Difference
Office of the Dean of Health and Human Science----------
Communication Sciences and Disorders156,157--56,157120,000110,00010,000
Physical Therapy----------
School of Health Sciences2850,0003289,776560,2243850,0183205,169644,849
School of Nursing-----1130,5343122,6747,860
Social Work-----264,520126,04438,476
Total3906,1573289,776616,38171,065,0728363,887701,185

Anthropology and Sociology

Sara Snyder Hopkins
Associate Professor

“WCU Cherokee Language Program”
Sponsor: Cherokee Preservation Foundation
$411,752

“Didinogisgesdi! (Let’s Sing!): New Works and Outreach for the Cherokee Language Choir”
Sponsor: Jackson County Arts Council
$2,500

“Scholarly Editions and Translations”
Sponsor: National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)

$450,000.00

Biology

Katherine Mathews
Professor

“Sagittaria secundifolia”
Sponsor: Georgia Department of Natural Resources
$34,997

Biology

Joseph Pechmann
Associate Professor

“Research on conservation and recovery of the endangered dusky gopher frog”
$30,000

“Research on conservation and recovery of the endangered dusky gopher frog”
$25,000

Sponsor: DOI US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

Chemistry and Physics

Eddy Duranty
Assistant Professor

“Development of Next Generation CO2 Capture Processes for Naval Applications”
Sponsor: DOD DN Office of Naval Research (ONR)
$130,928

Communication

Charles Vincent Russell
Assistant Professor

“Influencing Indigeneity: Impacts of Social Media in the Ecuadorian Amazon “
Sponsor: The Waterhouse Family Institute
$9,912

“Deliberative Citizenship Network”
Sponsor: Davidson College
$10,000

 

 

Communication Sciences and Disorders

Leigh Odom
Department Head

“Summer Language and Literacy Camp”
Sponsor: North Carolina Scottish Rite Masonic Foundation
$20,000

Criminology and Criminal Justice

Cyndy Caravelis
Professor

“Community Care Program”
Sponsor: Dogwood Health Trust
$30,000

English Studies

Jeremy Jones
Professor

“FY 26 Spring Lit Festival”
Sponsor: Jackson County Green Energy Park
$3,000

Geosciences & Natural Resources

Peter Bates
Emeritus Professor

“Monitoring Fire Effects in the Southern Appalachians FS No. 24-JV-013”
Sponsor: USDA National Forest Service
$34,047

Geosciences & Natural Resources

Shane Schoepfer
Associate Professor

“Coring Seymour Island (CSI) Antarctica: Evaluating Causes And Effects Of The End Cretaceous Mass Extinction”
Sponsor: University of Alabama
$4,999

College of Business

AJ Grube
Dean

“North Carolina Renewable NCI Pipeline Development Program
Sponsor: NCInnovation
$100,000

School of Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, and Business Law

Debra Burke
Professor

“NCAMP FY26″
Sponsor: USDA Farm Service Agency
$131,686

“FARMVA FY26”
Sponsor: US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
$86,545

“NCAMP FY26 Supplement”
Sponsor: USDA Farm Service Agency
$22,713

Human Services

Cathy Grist
Professor

“LEAF in ECE: Leadership, Equity, and Access Fellowship in Early Childhood ”
Sponsor: Dogwood Health Trust
$800,871

Human Services

Jess Weiler
Associate Professor

“Collaborative Strategic and Instructional Planning to Ensure Educational Excellence at NC School for the Deaf”
Sponsor: North Carolina Collaboratory
$70,000

School of Teaching and Learning

Charmion Rush
Associate Professor

“NC Sip ”
Sponsor: North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI)
$10,000

 

School of Teaching and Learning

Karena Cooper-Duffy
Professor

“Project ELEVATE: Empowering Leaders through Evidence, Vision, and Autism Training for Excellence”
Sponsor: Department of Education
$1,250,000

 

 

 

Engineering Discovery Program

Gretchen Dietz
Director

“Research Initiation: Exploring First Generation Engineering Technology College Students’ Acquisition of the Engineering Identity”
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
$100,428

School of Engineering + Technology

Abdallah Abdallah Abousheaisha
Associate Professor

“Advancing Smart Manufacturing Education”
Sponsor: University of North Carolina System Office (UNC SysOff)
$35,000

“Personalized Federated Learning Framework for Advanced Manufacturing Environments”
Sponsor: University of North Carolina System Office (UNC SysOff)
$500,000

School of Engineering + Technology

Bora Karayaka
Professor

“North Carolina Renewable Ocean Energy Program (NCROEP) FY26”
Sponsor: North Carolina State University
$25,947

“University Nuclear Leadership Program Scholarship and Fellowship Support ”
Sponsor: Office of Nuclear Energy, Science, and Technology/Department of Energy
$3,000,000

School of Engineering + Technology

Gretchen Dietz
Director, Engineering Discovery Program

“Research Initiation: Exploring First Generation Engineering Technology College Students’ Acquisition of the Engineering Identity”
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
$100,428

School of Engineering +Technology

Martin Tanaka
Professor

“Biodegradable Polymeric Stent”
Sponsor: NCInnovation
$999,102

School of Engineering +Technology

Yanjun Yan
Professor

“IDEAS: Establishing Faculty-led in Botswana and Revising the Trip in Bulgaria for WCU CET
Sponsor: US Department of State (DOS
$35,000

School of Health Sciences

Brook Alemu
Associate Professor

“Epidemiological Trends and Harm Reduction Studies – Phase II”
Sponsor: North Carolina Collaboratory
$112,308

School of Health Sciences

Brian Byrd
Director

“WCU La Crosse Encephalitis Epidemiology and Control Project:
Sponsor: North Carolina Collaboratory
$10,000

School of Health Science

Caitlin Torrence
Assistant Professor

“Health Policy Research Consortium”
Sponsor: Dogwood Health Trust
$840,000

School of Nursing

Jaclyn Bandell
Assistant Professor

“UNC System Office Rural Residency Medical Education and Training Fund: Innovation”
Sponsor: University of North Carolina System Office (UNC SysOff)
$199,651

School of Nursing

Allyson (Ally) Brown
Assistant Professor

“Nursing Education Mobility”
Sponsor: North Carolina Area Health Education Center (NC AHEC) Program
$50,000

School of Nursing

Terri Durbin
Director

“A Community-Driven Approach to Maternal Mental Health for Indigenous Women”
Sponsor: James Bell Associates
$130,534

School of Nursing

April Waddell Messer
Assistant Professor

“Nurse-Led Social Connection for Rural Older Adults”
Sponsor: Daisy Foundation
$10,000

School of Nursing

Kerri A Qualls
Assistant Professor

“Clinical Site Development”
Sponsor: North Carolina Area Health Education Center (NC AHEC) Program
$20,000

 

Social Work

Turner Goins
Distinguished Professor

“IHS Dementia Training and Education Resources (IDTER)”
Sponsor: University of Washington
$26,201

“Center for American Indian and Alaska Native Diabetes Translation Research (CAIANDTR)”
Sponsor: University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
$29,520

Social Work

Beth Harmer
Assistant Professor

“Project AWE: Addiction Workforce Education, Training, and Professional Development Program Serving Rural WNC”
Sponsor: Dogwood Health Trust
$35,000

Social Work

Patricia (Pat) Morse
Professor

“Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) for Professionals Serving the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian and Rural Western NC”
Sponsor: DHHS Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
$600,000

World Language

Yang (Grace) Li
Instructor

“Japanese Teaching Material Purchase Grant”
Sponsor: The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles
$930

Accessibility Resources

Wesley Satterwhite
Director

“WCU TRIO Disabled Student Support Services Project”
Sponsor: Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education
$1,361,820

Center for Career & Professional Development

Erin Waddell
Assistant Director of Experiential Education

“SECU Public Fellowships Internship Program”
Sponsor: State Employee Credit Union Foundation (SECU)
$130,000

Center for Community Engagement & Service Learning

Joy Mischley
Director

“Spark Connection”
$500

“FY 26 Food Pantry Capacity Grant”
$1,000

“MLK Day of Service”
$2,000

Sponsor: North Carolina Campus Engagement

Highlands Biological Station

Patrick Brannon
Education Specialist

“Highlands Biological Station”
Sponsor: North Carolina Science Museum
$30,688.32

 

Highlands Biological Station

James Costa
Executive Director

“American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Grant Highlands Biological Station Nature Center & Botanical Gardens”
Sponsor: North Carolina Science Museum
$3,500

“Developing protocols for the maintenance and rearing of Orfelia fultoni (Diptera: Keroplatidae) on experimental substrate under laboratory conditions”
Sponsor: Faraway Entertainment Limited
$62,559

“Hurricane Helene Economic Resilience Grant”
Sponsor: NC Science Network
$100,000

Hunter Library

Kimberly Carver
eResources Librarian / Assistant Professor of Practice

“Scholarship Grant”
Sponsor: State Library of North Carolina (SLNC)
$2,500

 

Hunter Library

Beth J Thompson
Assistant Professor

“Digitizing Reel-to-Reel Recordings of the Hubert Hayes Mountain Youth Jamboree (1954-1972)”
$15,555

“Safety and Security in Hunter Library”
$37,125

Sponsor: State Library of North Carolina (SLNC)

International Programs and Services

Robert (Robbie) Van Pelt
Assistant Director for Education Abroad and Exchanges

“American Passport Project – Phase II”
Sponsor: Institute of International Education
$4,125

Office of Research Administration

Suzanne Melton
Research Programs Coordinator

“Undergrad Research Support Award (URSA)”
Sponsor: University of North Carolina System Office (UNC SysOff)
$5,000

Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines

Robert Young
Director

“Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments for Coastal Infrastructure”
Sponsor: National Park Service / Department of the Interior
$350,000

Project Discovery

JennieV. Sorrells
Director

“Talent Search”
Sponsor: Department of Education
$442,514

Small Business & Technology Development Center (SBTDC)

Elena Gupta
Director

“SBA FY27”
Sponsor: North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center (NC SBTDC)
$278,647

Student Retention

Kristin Daiber
Director

“Western Carolina University Student Support Services STEM Project”
Sponsor: Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education
$1,361,820

research.wcu.edu