2026 grant recipients represent universities across the United States
Grand Rapids, Mich., May 6, 2026 – The Acton Institute has selected seven professors and administrators from colleges and universities across the United States to receive funding through its Mini-Grants on Free Market Economics program, supporting faculty research and course development.
The program accepts proposals from faculty members at colleges, seminaries, and universities in the United States and Canada to promote the scholarship and teaching of market economics. It supports collaboration between faculty from different institutions and helps the next generation of academic leaders to emerge, strengthening and expanding the existing network of scholars within economics. Entrants may submit proposals in two broad categories: course development and faculty scholarship.
The 2026 grant recipients and their projects are:
Course Expansion and Development: “Justice, Social Justice, and the Common Good”
Chad Bogosian, professor at Clovis Community College, will redesign an existing course to integrate free-market economics with philosophical inquiry into justice, the common good, and contemporary issues such as artificial intelligence, labor, and human dignity. The project emphasizes accessibility and equips students to think critically about building a free and flourishing society.
Course Development: “Markets, Morality, and Meaning”
Joshua Hollinger, associate professor at Dordt University, will develop a capstone course titled “Markets, Morality, and Meaning.” Open to students of all majors, the course introduces students to the fundamentals of free-market economics while exploring how a Christian worldview informs moral and meaningful participation in economic life, equipping participants to think critically about markets, ethics, and their roles as economic actors.
From the Escuela de Salamanca to Modern Political Economy: Jovellanos as a Bridging Figure
Felipe Julián Mosquera Blanco, Ph.D. student and teaching fellow at The Catholic University of America, will conduct research and develop curriculum examining the intellectual roots of modern political economy. The work traces continuity between the Escuela de Salamanca and Adam Smith, highlighting the role of Christian thought in shaping economic ideas and advancing understanding of the moral and historical foundations of market economics.
Free Markets, Illiberalism, and National Conservatism
Coyle Neal, faculty member at College of the Ozarks, will research and develop course content focused on the shifting landscape of free markets and classical liberalism. The project examines the rise of illiberalism and national conservatism while articulating a Christian defense of ordered liberty, market institutions, and the common good.
A Global History of Economics Before Adam Smith
Nicholas O’Neill, assistant teaching professor at Arizona State University, will develop a new course exploring the evolution of economic thought across cultures, from antiquity through the Enlightenment. The course highlights the interplay between religion, politics, and economic life, giving students a deeper understanding of the historical foundations of free-market economics and the global traditions that shaped it.
Support for the Development and Teaching of an Economics and Philosophy Undergraduate Course
Enrique Pallares, research director at the University of Pennsylvania, will develop and teach an undergraduate course integrating economic analysis with philosophical inquiry. The interdisciplinary course aims to equip students to better understand how markets and social institutions shape civic life and contribute to human flourishing.
Faith-Based Organizations and Human Flourishing
Rachel Steiner, director for the Center for Enterprise and Community Engagement at Friends University, will examine how faith-based organizations contribute to human flourishing through community engagement and free-market principles. The project will produce teaching case studies, a scholarly publication, and instructional materials for integration into business and economics courses.
The Mini-Grants program is part of a range of academic grants and awards from the Acton Institute that support serious reflection and research on religion, the free market, limited government, and the rule of law. Details on these academic scholarships are available at acton.org/grants-awards.