Monica Kim — a UW-Madison professor, historian, and author — was recently announced as a recipient of a MacArthur Foundation fellowship, also regarded as a genius grant.
The MacArthur Foundation supports creative individuals, iconic institutions, and influential networks in an effort to build a more just + peaceful world. The fellowship is described as “a small number of big bets,” in which the program funds around 25 nominated individuals who have the creativity, knowledge, and drive to make meaningful change in the world.
So, what happens now? Monica, along with her 24 fellow fellows , will receive quarterly payments over the next five years amounting to $800,000 intended to advance their expertise, help engage in new projects, or even alter their career path. This money is presented in a no-strings-attached way, there are no evaluations or expectations as this award is in support of people rather than projects.