Here is this week’s news of grants to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.
Historically Black Virginia State University received a $748,465 grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development for research on fighting the invasive weed parthenium that reduces crop yields in East Africa. Wondi Mersie, associate dean and director of research in the College of Agriculture at Virginia State University will lead the project. Dr. Mersie is a graduate of Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia. He holds a master’s degree from the University of Reading in England and a Ph.D. in plant physiology and weed science from Virginia Tech.
New York University has been awarded a five-year, $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Service Administration. The grant will fund programs at the university’s College of Dentistry aimed at providing preventive dental services to children in underserved populations.
Grambling State University, the historically Black educational institution in Louisiana, received a $50,000 grant from AT&T for scholarships for students in STEM fields. One student will receive a $5,000 scholarship, two will receive $2,500 awards, and 20 other students will each receive $2,000.
Historically Black Tuskegee University in Alabama received a three-year, $7,181,671 grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration to support the university’s veterinary medicine program. The funds will be used to upgrade the veterinary school’s infrastructure and to provide mentors, counselors, and tutors for students.
Fort Valley State University, the historically Black educational institution in Georgia, received a three-year, $399,049 grant from the National Science Foundation for research into the effect of toxins on the environment and living organisms.
