Lisska Center

The Lisska Center for Intellectual Engagement supports research and scholarship, fosters intellectual community and academic enrichment among all Denisonians, and provides an interdisciplinary space for the open exchange of ideas, perspectives, and arguments.

Diana Adesola Mafe , Professor, Director of the Lisska Center for Intellectual Engagement

Academic Funding Opportunities

We serve as a funding hub for student research and travel for academic enhancement purposes, and support Denison faculty in several ways.

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Student Fellowships & Scholarships

The Lisska Center staff assists students and alumni in identifying and applying for nationally competitive fellowships at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

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Scholar-Leader Program

Students in Denison’s scholar-leader programs develop as transformational leaders who will make major societal contributions in their respective fields.

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Summer Scholars

Denison’s flagship Summer Scholars program gives students in all disciplines a unique venue in which to experiment with ideas and artistic expression and pursue an intellectual passion.

Working closely with a faculty mentor, students may focus intently on the resolution of a question or exploration of a new idea over a sustained period of time, free from the pressures of grades and credit.

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Two students search for ticks for their summer research study in Denison's Biological Reserve

A student meets with a professor at the piano.

A student presents their research at the annual research symposium.

Minds Wide Open

Sponsored by the Lisska Center for Intellectual Engagement, Minds Wide Open (formerly Monday Musings) is a series of conversations and presentations by local, national, and international scholars and authors who are pushing academic boundaries, exploring diverse topics, and engaging in dialogue across difference on a variety of topics.

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Spotlights

Photo of two Denison students Huy Phan and Linh Bui stand next to a dry-erase board filled with observations and notes.

Students embrace challenge of processing, analyzing election data

Summer research provides valuable insights into voters’ decision making. It’s difficult work, but the process offers long-term scholarly benefits.

Making the most of a summer at Denison

Thinking of working on campus or taking part in the Summer Scholars program? Students say there’s plenty to occupy their free time.

Photo of Denison student Joe Teates ’28 standing at a lab table, looking at computer monitors.

Summer Scholar finds balance between research and fun

Using a type of AI known as reinforcement learning, a Denison student teaches a robot to problem-solve in real time.

Rumi Kang ’26 sits at a piano discussing his concerto with award-winning composer Professor Ching-chu Hu.

For Rumi Kang ’26, composing a piano concerto is a ‘natural next step’

Rumi Kang ’26 is challenging himself to write a piano concerto. It’s tedious but rewarding work aided by award-winning composer Professor Ching-chu Hu.

Duy Anh Nguyen ’27 and Alexandre Scarcioffolo meeting in a faculty office.

Reaching a World Cup goal with an assist from his professor

Duy Anh Nguyen ’27 took on ambitious summer research. It wasn't easy, but he completed the task with guidance from his data analytics professor.

Denison students Fernanda Anzures ’26 and Fafa Nartey ’28 look for ticks in the Biological Reserve.

For these Denison students, summer research is just the tick(et)

Partnership with Licking County Health Department has Summer Scholars scouring woods and fields for data in the fight against Lyme disease

Students viewing research with professor

Denison Magazine

A summer of discovery

Mosquito mating habits. Modern romance novels. The physics of Irish dance. Here are a few of the research topics tackled by our 2024 Summer Scholars.

A collage of five students in various settings that reflect the internships they worked over the summer, including the U.S. capitol and a science lab.

What did you do over summer break?

Denison students spent the summer of 2024 building their skills and resumes across the country and around the world.

Award-winning Summer Scholars program builds tomorrow’s researchers

Each summer, endowed funds support 120 to 140 students pursuing research under the supervision of a faculty member for up to 10 weeks

Denison Magazine

Ready for launch

There is sometimes a perception that liberal arts colleges are ivory tower academies that don't provide students with much in the way of career preparation