08-05-2025
Greenfield professor receives 2025 Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship
GREENFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Greenfield Community College is celebrating a major academic honor as Associate Professor of History Alyssa Arnell has been awarded a 2025 Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship.
The national award, granted by the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), recognizes 45 doctoral students across the country who are breaking new ground in humanities and social sciences research.
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Arnell's selection from a pool of nearly 900 applicants highlights the significance of her work, which examines the 1962 removal of Fazendeville–a historically Black community near New Orleans–to expand the Chalmette National Battlefield. Her dissertation focuses on how historical preservationists and political leaders invoked patriotic narratives to justify the displacement of a self-sustaining and politically active community, ultimately challenging conventional interpretations of democracy and historical memory in the U.S.
'We are incredibly proud of Alyssa's recognition and her contribution to both our academic community and historical scholarship,' said Dr. Michelle Schutt, President of Greenfield Community College. 'Her work embodies the college's commitment to equity and excellence in education.'
The Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship was launched in 2023 with a mission to support scholars who are taking risks and introducing novel approaches in their dissertation research.
In addition to a stipend, the fellowship provides funding for research expenses and professional development, enabling recipients to push boundaries in their academic fields. Alison Chang, ACLS Program Officer in US Programs, praised this year's cohort of fellows.
'ACLS is proud to support these fellows, who are poised to conduct groundbreaking dissertation research and broaden the audience for humanistic scholarship,' Chang said.
Arnell, who serves as both Associate Professor of History and Chair of the History Department at GCC, is widely respected for her emphasis on inclusive historical inquiry. Under her leadership, the college has expanded its curriculum to include courses in civil rights history, Indigenous studies, and queer history. She is also a participant in the Mellon-funded Five Colleges Building Academic Leadership in the Humanities initiative.
Her scholarly work and campus leadership have earned Arnell multiple accolades, including the African American Female Professor Award and GCC's Martin Luther King Jr. Living the Dream Award.
For more information on the Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship, visit
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