Dr. David Morrow, Chair of the Music Department and Professor of Music, has recently secured a prestigious Faculty Collaboration Grant from the ASCEND Initiative (Alliance for Scholarship, Collaboration, Engagement, Networking and Development) sponsored by Yale University.
Recently, Dr. Morrow received the grant for the Gullah Geechee Spirituals Project (GGSP). This interdisciplinary initiative seeks to explore, preserve, and share the rich traditions of Gullah Geechee spirituals—an essential cultural legacy of African American history that connects music, faith, and community across generations.
Through this collaboration, Dr. Morrow will combine sociological inquiry with musical scholarship to deepen understanding of how spirituals function not only as artistic expression but also as a vehicle for cultural identity, resilience, and historical continuity. The project exemplifies the spirit of ASCEND by fostering meaningful scholarship and cross-disciplinary engagement.
This grant reflects Morehouse College’s commitment to advancing innovative faculty research while honoring the cultural traditions that continue to shape the African American experience. We applaud Dr. Morrow for his leadership and scholarship, and we look forward to the transformative contributions of the Gullah Geechee Spirituals Project.