Island University Receives NEH Grant to Expand Resources of Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – In the midst of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the Coastal Bend Writing Project at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, in partnership with the Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures, is proud to announced receipt of a $70,000 National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant. The grant is part of the National Writing Project’s “Building a More Perfect Union” program.

The project’s key focus is to create open access and adaptable resources like lesson plans and activities pertaining to Asian cultures, particularly in history, to match up with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). The writing-focused expertise of the CBWP teacher consultants, in collaboration with museum experts, will help make these lessons both pedagogically sound and targeted to the diverse and underserved populations of local and regional schools, and their various learning needs. The project will also improve displays at the museum for the betterment of teachers, students, and museum patrons alike.

The CBWP, housed within the TAMU-CC English Department, is led by Dr. Susan Wolff-Murphy, TAMU-CC Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Professor of English.

“Our main goal is to use the project as an extension to reach our audiences and help educate the Coastal Bend region about the cultures of Asia,” Wolff-Murphy said. “Our mission is to help teachers use writing to help students learn. The more partnerships we can have in the community, the better education we’re going to provide to our students and the more we can improve the community as a whole. As the community is improved, everybody benefits.”

Wolff-Murphy said the project’s origins lay in a discussion she had with an Islander history major, Nick Medina ’19, who was especially passionate about Asian history.

Medina, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in History, has been involved with the Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures since summer 2019. He started as a volunteer and quickly took on higher positions that led to his current title as Board President. Medina is also working on his teaching certification while working as a substitute teacher for the Corpus Christi Independent School District, which makes the project even more special for him.

“When Dr. Wolff-Murphy first reached out to me in regard to the possibility of applying for this grant, I thought it would be a long shot,” Medina said. “When I got the call at work that we were approved for the grant, I nearly cried. It is by no means a small feat. We love serving our community, and this grant will give us even more capability to do so.”

As the sole museum dedicated to Asian cultures in Texas, Medina said it is important to support cultural treasures in order to better improve understanding of the rich history and cultures of Asia, which extend back many thousands of years. The museum receives zero funding from the state or the city; the organization relies financially on the university’s educational programs, tourism, donations, and on the generosity of the local community for support. Since becoming president/CEO in January 2021, Medina says his outreach efforts have led to increased revenue and attendance at the museum, which opened its doors in 1974 and is located in downtown Corpus Christi, near the Harbor Playhouse.

Museum Director Richard Hafemeister says the NEH funding will go a long way toward helping to modernize some of the programming in ways that will make the museum and its collection more readily available to the public, both for in-person and virtual education programs.

“Our partnership with the CBWP and TAMU-CC gives us the opportunity to connect with a wide range of communities around Texas that otherwise might not get to utilize these resources, due to time, distance, or budget constraints,” Hafemeister said.

For more information about the Coastal Bend Writing Project, visit https://www.tamucc.edu/liberal-arts/coastal-bend-writing-project/about-us/index.php.