Bringing Civic Ideas to Life: How SNF Agora Faculty Grants Support Scholarship and Public Engagement

For faculty across Johns Hopkins University, the SNF Agora Faculty Grants program provides a unique opportunity to bring innovative ideas related to democracy and civics to life. With a new  application cycle now open, two past recipients, Assistant Professor Lisel Hintz of the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and Associate Professor Richard Johnson of the Peabody Institute, reflect on how the program supported their work—and why faculty should consider applying.

Lisel Hintz: Examining Media’s Power in Politics
With her SNF Agora Faculty Grant, Hintz expanded the Media and Politics Initiative, a project she co-founded with Narges Bajoghli, Associate Professor of Middle East Studies and Faculty Lead of the Middle East Focus Area at SAIS, to examine the deep ties between media and politics.

“Social media is a powerful platform for organizing protests, but it is also a tool for surveillance and suppression by autocrats,” Hintz explains. “Governments are taking media very seriously, and so should we.”

With SNF Agora’s funding, Hintz organized an academic workshop, and a public-facing panel focused on how media diversity impacts democracy. The events brought together scholars, PhD and MA students, DC community members, and journalism and digital advocacy professionals, including representatives from GLAAD, The Smithsonian’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, The Economist, and experts on media bias in political reporting.

The impact? Meaningful connections among scholars, mentorship opportunities for graduate students, and deeper conversations on media’s role in shaping politics and societies. For Hintz, the grant reinforced the importance of her research and motivated her to continue pushing boundaries in political science.

“Media is such an important space when it comes to shaping beliefs about politics and influencing political participation,” Hintz says. “Media isn’t just news and entertainment. It’s a battleground where public perception is shaped, where narratives are controlled, and where democracy can either be strengthened or undermined. The grant allowed me to expand this conversation and bring more voices into the discussion.”

Richard Johnson: Building Community Through Culture
At the Peabody Institute, Richard Johnson is well known for his music, but his passion for community-building took center stage with his SNF Agora-funded project. He partnered with the Esperanza Center, a Baltimore-based nonprofit that supports immigrant communities, to organize a cultural event to amplify Hispanic voices and foster community engagement.

The event featured a Mexican dance performance, music lessons, and networking opportunities with local businesses like M&T Bank. Johnson’s goal was to help Baltimore’s Hispanic residents navigate resources, celebrate their culture, and make their voices heard in the broader civic landscape.

The impact of this grant extended beyond the event itself. Johnson is working on a follow-up initiative to support Hispanic workers affected by the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. This effort stems from relationships built through his SNF Agora-funded project.

“It wasn’t just a one-day event; it was about connecting people,” Johnson says. This grant helped me build a network that allows me to reach out and create meaningful change. If you have a goal, a vision, or a dream, apply for the grant.”

Why Apply?
The SNF Agora Faculty Grants program funds projects aligning with SNF Agora’s mission to reinvigorate democracy and the civic spaces that fuel it. Faculty can propose new projects or enhance existing ones, engaging with students, scholars, policymakers, and the public.

For Hintz and Johnson, the grants provided much more than financial support; they created opportunities to expand their reach, build interdisciplinary networks, and amplify important conversations.

Read more about past faculty grants here.