For the first time in the 30-year history of the Sawyer Seminar Program, a team of Illinois faculty researchers have been awarded the prestigious grant, including College of Law Professor Jason Mazzone. The grant is given through Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to groups studying the challenges to democracy and academic freedom confronting US universities now. The Illinois initiative includes Susan Koshy (Asian American Studies and English), Rosalyn LaPier (History and American Indian Studies), Jason Mazzone (Law), and David Sepkoski (History).
The group’s work will examine risk and academic freedom through a series of case studies done in conjunction with a larger team of contributors from around the university. The Sawyer Seminar’s activities will span a two-year period, beginning in the spring of 2026.