Scott Levi's new $186,630 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH): The NEH Summer Institute 2016, “Central Asia in World History,” will provide an exceptional learning opportunity for middle and high school teachers next summer. This initiative is in partnership with the Center for Slavic and East European Studies and the Department of History.

Levi is thrilled.

“This NEH grant gives us the opportunity to identify 25 dedicated and enthusiastic teachers from across the country, bring them to the Ohio State campus, and give them a unique opportunity to study Central Asian history with some of the best scholars in the field,” Levi said.  

“Over an intensive three-week program, these teachers will develop an understanding of the many ways that Central Asian peoples have helped shape world history, and they’ll use this experience as they design new course plans for use in their own classes.  

“Through this grant, we stand to make a positive impact on the educations of tens of thousands of students across the country, and on our nation's understanding of an increasingly important geopolitical region.” 

Levi, associate professor, history, wrote the proposal and will serve as the institute’s director. Eileen Kunkler, assistant director of the OSU Center for Slavic and East European Studies, will serve as his associate director.

Between now and then, Levi will be doing a lot of work to nail down the many details of the three-week program — July 11-29, 2016 — not least of which is managing the selection of 25 outstanding teachers from around the country.

But Levi is no stranger to either the process of putting on such an ambitious program or to guiding folks along the history of the Silk Road. In 2012, Levi received a $137,252 NEH grant to hold a two-week program for middle and high school teachers. 

This time around Levi is planning an expanded program packed with leading scholars on Central Asian history, many of whom were with him on the first journey in 2012: Carter Findley, Ohio State; Adeeb Khalid, Carleton College; Nurten Kilic-Schubel, Kenyon College; Timothy May, North Georgia College and State University; Ron Sela, Indiana University Bloomington; Daniel Prior, Miami University of Ohio; along with Morgan Liu, Ohio State; Russell Zanca, Northeast Illinois University; Douglas Northrup, University of Michigan; Marianne Kamp, University of Wyoming.

Also in the works: an instructional Central Asian cooking demonstration and banquet, a day trip to the Cleveland Museum of Art for a private Silk Road exhibit, and a lecture and public concert by the Silk Road Ensemble. 

The journey promises to be amazing.

—Sandi Rutkowski