Faculty and Staff Grants March 2026

Development of a Group-Based Social Intervention to Support Responsible Gaming in Colorado

• Robin Leake & Shauna Rienks, Graduate School of Social Work
• Funder: Colorado Department of Revenue
• Abstract: Online sports betting (OSB) has rapidly expanded across the United States, with young men aged 21–34 disproportionately engaging in high-risk gambling behaviors. Despite the proliferation of responsible gaming (RG) tools—such as deposit limits, time caps, and self-exclusion features—there is little understanding of why these tools remain significantly underutilized. Butler in partnership with the Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado (PGCC) seeks to address this gap by conducting a community-driven research project to develop and test a novel, peer-led, group-based intervention aimed at increasing RG tool uptake and reducing stigma among young male OSB users in Colorado.

Competency and Behavioral Health Data Hub

• Courtney Everson, Colorado Evaluation Action Lab
• Funder: Office of Administrative Services for Independent Agencies
• Abstract: Senate Bill 23-228 established the Office of Administrative Services for Independent Agencies (ASIA) in the judicial department. The Fiscal Year 2025–2026 budget for ASIA passed with an appropriation of $100,000 to launch a Competency and Behavioral Health Data Hub (Competency‑BH Hub). The data hub will include an ongoing data collection initiative led by CEAL intended to provide evidence-based policy recommendations using data points across state and local agencies to track outcomes for individuals with behavioral health challenges at risk of entering or already involved in the competency process in the State Courts.

I‑Corps: Continuation and Expansion of Training and Evaluation Support

• Daniel Paredes & Goncalo Fernandes Pereira Martins, Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging
• Funder: VentureWell (subaward National Science Foundation – NSF)
• Abstract: The primary objective of this project is to conduct extensive customer discovery to facilitate the commercialization of a rapid, portable blood-based diagnostic test that flags acute neurovascular injury, including intracranial bleeding and other sudden vascular insults for rapid triage. By providing an early “red-flag” signal, it can help clinicians decide when urgent neuroimaging or transfer is warranted, particularly in settings where CT scanners are unavailable or distant.

The impact of COVID‑19 related school closures on children's weight status

• Emily Melnick, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
• Funder: Arizona State University (subaward National Institutes of Health – NIH)
• Abstract: Dr. Melnick will collaborate with the project team at Arizona State University (ASU), led by Dr. Punam Ohri‑Vachaspati, to analyze and disseminate findings from this R01‑funded project assessing the impacts of school closures during the COVID‑19 pandemic on students’ weight status and the mitigating potential of food assistance programs implemented during closures.

Opportunity Now Closeout Data Collection

• Elysia Versen, Colorado Evaluation Action Lab
• Funder: Common Group (subaward United States Treasury – UST)
• Abstract: The purpose of this work is to support high quality data collection for close‑out Opportunity Now Grant programs.

Newman Center Presents International Programming

• Aisha Ahmad‑Post, Newman Center for the Performing Arts
• Funder: Bonfils‑Stanton Foundation
• Abstract: Funding from the Bonfils‑Stanton Foundation will support Newman Center Presents international programming. Newman Center Presents showcases renowned artists and emergent voices from around the world. Featuring jazz, dance, cabaret, world music, and more, the series is one of the region’s only nonprofit platforms for nationally and internationally touring companies.

Tour West Grant

• Aisha Ahmad‑Post, Newman Center for the Performing Arts
• Funder: Western States Arts Federation (subaward National Endowment for the Arts – NEA)
• Abstract: The 2025–26 NCPA season featured a diverse array of artists across dance, jazz, global music, and theatrical performances. Funding from TourWest will directly support artist fees, making it possible to host residencies that deepen engagement between artists and the metro‑Denver community while fostering cultural exchange with Colorado’s increasingly diverse communities.