Jim Marino, Ph.D., an associate professor in Cleveland State University’s English Department, is the second professional in his household to earn a grant from the Summer Stipend Program of the National Endowment for the Humanities. He joins his wife Brooke Conti, Ph.D., also a professor in CSU’s English Department, who was awarded the grant a couple of years ago. 

“I’ve got to hold up my share of the family business,” joked Marino.

Having been with CSU since 2004, Marino is the author of Owning William Shakespeare and scholarly articles in leading journals such as Shakespeare Quarterly, English Literary Renaissance and English Literary History.  

The NEH, an independent federal agency founded in 1965, offers dozens of grant programs, awards and honors while providing significant funding toward humanities programs. The NEH Summer Stipends Program funds two months of research on scholarship in the humanities that the NEH feels is of public interest or importance.

“It's very nice to have my research recognized by a national grant with serious referees because doing research in the humanities means working mostly by yourself on projects that take years,” he said. “I first started work on the Shakespeare edition I'm doing in 2018, so you've got to really believe in your project, but it's a huge relief to hear that someone out there thinks you're on the right track.”

Marino says CSU helped put him in the best possible situation to be on the receiving end of this prestigious grant.

“Cleveland State's College of Arts and Sciences nominated me,” he said. “So, I literally couldn't have done this without CSU. But also, having to apply first within the college for the nomination made my final application to the NEH much better and more polished.”

Marino’s work will include what he calls “a summer of Shakespeare and nothing else,” and he’s pleased that the award is also bringing attention to the University and its excellent research faculty.

“I won this award this year,” he said. “But my colleagues do great work year in and year out.”