Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.
The University of Virginia received a $15 million gift from the A. James and Alice B. Clark Foundation to establish the A. James Clark Scholars Program in the university’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The scholars program will provide financial aid to students who are from groups that are underrepresented in the engineering field.
Wayne State University in Detroit received a five-year, $4.2 million grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration to fund its five regional centers to improve healthcare access for people from underserved communities.
Virginia Commonwealth University received a grant of nearly $70,000 from the National Institutes of Health for a research project to develop a program to increase HIV testing among African American young adult women. The project is under the direction of Melanie Moore, a Ph.D. student in psychology at the university.
Washington University in St. Louis received a $1.1. million grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to support the university’s For the Sake of All program. The initiative will develop a toolkit for schools to implement programs to create inclusive, healthy school environments for all students. Jason Purnell, and associate professor at Washington University is the director of the For the Sake of All program.
Howard University received a $73,530 grant to conduct an intensive, eight-week Yoruba language program at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria. American students from several colleges and universities will travel to Nigeria to learn the Yoruba language. The program is under the direction of Bayo Omolola, a lecturer in the department of world languages and culture at Howard University. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of South Africa in Pretoria.
Historically Black Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina received a $597,283 grant from the Army Research Office for research on solar system analysis as it relates to polar regions on Earth. The project is under the direction of Gloria Payne, a professor and chair of the department of natural sciences at the university.
California State University, Los Angeles received a $467,977 grant from the National Science Foundation for programs to help first-year students from underrepresented groups succeed in STEM disciplines. The programs will provide peer tutors, faculty mentors, and research opportunities.
Clemson University in South Carolina received a $410,000 grant from the Greenville Health Authority for programs to increase diversity among students who hope to become nurse practitioners. For the next two years, 10 nurse practitioner students from underrepresented groups will receive scholarships.
Historically Black Tuskegee University received a $300,000 grant from the National Science Foundation for programs to increase interest in STEM degree programs in Alabama’s Black Belt counties. The grant will fund professional development programs for teachers in these areas who want to teach computer science curriculum in local schools.
