Allison Pugh and Mark Christian Thompson, both faculty members at Johns Hopkins University, have been honored as 2026 Guggenheim Fellows. This prestigious fellowship, established in 1925 by Senator Simon Guggenheim and his wife, supports mid-career scholars and artists in their research. This year, out of nearly 5,000 applicants, 223 fellows were selected across diverse fields. Pugh, a sociology professor, will utilize her fellowship to research 'relational friction' for her upcoming book, focusing on how economic trends affect personal connections. Her previous works include *The Last Human Job* and *The Tumbleweed Society*. Thompson, an English professor, explores the intersections of African American expressive culture and European thought, with published works such as *Black Fascisms* and *Phenomenal Blackness*. Both scholars exemplify the fellowship's commitment to fostering innovative research that addresses significant cultural and social issues.