The University of the District of Columbia, a historically Black educational institution in the nation’s capital, has entered into a partnership with the Applied Research Laboratory at Pennsylvania State University. Under the agreement, researchers at the universities will work together on projects relating to advanced materials and manufacturing, as well as cybersecurity.
The Applied Research Center at Penn State does considerable research on grants from the United States Navy. The agreement calls for senior leadership with knowledge of Navy applied research to come to the University of the District of Columbia campus to help the historically Black university to compete for grant funding from the Navy’s applied research programs.
Ronald Mason Jr., president of the University of the District of Columbia, stated that “we are always enthusiastic about partnering with like-minded institutions. This agreement offers great promise to deliver vital improvements in manufacturing and cybersecurity technology while simultaneously educating bright students who are preparing for rewarding STEM-focused careers.”
Dr. Mason became president of the University of the District of Columbia on July 1, 2015. Earlier he served for five years as president of the Southern University System in Louisiana and for 10 years as president of Jackson State University in Mississippi. President Mason holds a bachelor’s degree and a juris doctorate from Columbia University in New York City.
