Arts, media and engineering professor awarded yearlong fellowship at Harvard Radcliffe Institute

ASU Associate Professor Grisha Coleman sitting on the floor teaching a group of students

Associate Professor Grisha Coleman (center)

By Megan Patzem |
June 02, 2021

Associate Professor Grisha Coleman of the ASU Herberger Institute’s School of Arts, Media and Engineering has been named a 2021–22 fellow by the Harvard Radcliffe Institute. The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University — known as Harvard Radcliffe Institute — is one of the world’s leading centers for interdisciplinary exploration. The acceptance rate for this fellowship class in particular, which includes members from nine countries, is only 2.4%, from over 1,000 applications.

“This opportunity to be in fellowship at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Studies is thrilling and timely, on multiple fronts,” Coleman said.

Building up to this moment, Coleman has been working closely on a project called “The Movement Undercommons: Motion Capture as Technology of Resistance,” which focuses broadly on underrepresented communities in Arizona.

“The project I proposed, ‘The Movement Undercommons,’ is spacious and needs the space and time to grow. This fellowship allows for that,” said Coleman. “After a year and some spinning in place, I am able to work in a focused way, in a place that encourages exploration and new hybrid ideas. It couldn’t have come at a better moment. I’m honored to be joining a cohort of folk with diverse perspectives that challenge and inspire the work I make. I anticipate wonderful potential.”

The Harvard Radcliffe Institute fellowship will allow Coleman to work full time on the proposed project, providing dedicated studio spaces, assistance and financial support.

“This is a great honor for Associate Professor Grisha Coleman, for the School of Arts, Media and Engineering, and for ASU,” said Pavan Turaga, the school's director. “The Harvard Radcliffe Institute has picked one of our own, from such a large pool of competitive and excellent applicants from across the world, to represent our community and interests as a whole. We are fully supportive of the opportunity afforded and look forward to continued engagement with the Harvard Radcliffe Institute.”

Other fellows in the 2021–22 class include astronomers, mathematicians, writers, economists and historians from around the world.