An interdisciplinary team, led by Illinois State University faculty members Dr. Lea Cline and Dr. Kathryn Jasper, has been awarded a third year of funding through the Advancing Research and Creative Scholarship (ARCS) program, recognizing their continued excellence in interdisciplinary research.

Cline, a professor of art history in the Wonsook Kim School of Art, and Jasper, a professor of history, co-direct the Northwest Bolsena Archaeological Project in central Italy. Their work at the Valle Gianni site has uncovered a monumental Roman fountain and evidence of wine production, offering rich insights into Roman imperial life.

The ARCS award, funded by the Office of the Provost and administered by Illinois State University’s Office of Research, supports bold, cross-disciplinary projects that tackle complex global challenges. Cline and Jasper’s project was in the first cohort of recipients of the ARCS Track I award, which funds fully developed collaborative research initiatives.

“The granting of a third year of support underscores the significance and impact of their work, in both scholarship and student engagement,” said Dr. Craig C. McLauchlan, associate vice president of research. “Having ISU lead a successful, collaborative project involving scholars and students from around the world is definitely a point of pride.”

“We are incredibly grateful for the support of the ARCS program and are thrilled to both expand and intensify our work on this project,” Cline said. “The project not only advances archaeological scholarship but also provides transformative field experiences for ISU students abroad.”