Richmont Graduate University has been awarded a $372,281 grant from The John Templeton Foundation to fund pioneering research in human meaning-making and flourishing. The grant is part of Templeton’s new “Spiritual Yearning Research Initiative” which is committed to exploring the spiritual desires and flourishing of the nonreligious. This highly competitive grant, which recognizes outstanding innovation, will provide our own Dr. Preston Hill, Assistant Professor and Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program, with vital resources to advance the University’s cutting-edge work.
As Dr. Hill notes, “I am completely gratified and enthusiastic about the successful outcome of this grant proposal. With this prestigious award, Richmont enters an elite group of grantees funded by the world’s leading foundation for research in fields such as theology and psychological science.”
“My grant project entitled ‘The Spiritual First Responders Project’ explores how ancient spiritual practices from diverse theological traditions that can help those ‘deconstructing’ their faith feel less spiritually homeless and access mental health care that promotes well-being and spiritual meaning-making. Building off prior work from my Richmont colleagues, this grant will fuse evidence-based clinical mental health interventions with spiritual practice for an urgent public health need. I can think of no better project to capture the heart of Richmont’s legacy and commitment to faith and mental health for healing and transformation.”
President Timothy Quinnan adds: “A grant from the John Templeton Foundation is the absolute gold standard of recognition for frontier-pushing research in higher education. It sends a clear, powerful signal that Richmont has become a force for new knowledge generation.”
The grant provides research funding for a two-year period, starting in 2024 and lasting through 2025.
As a leading institution committed to fostering groundbreaking research, Richmont is thrilled and recognizes the significance of this grant in further strengthening its position as a hub for cutting-edge research and transformative practical application.