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.
North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina, has been selected to participate in the 2025 Association of College and University Educators Initiative, a faculty development program funded by the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. As part of their selection, the HBCU has received $174,750 to support faculty development activities, including the ACUE certification in effective instruction and a self-paced teaching series on using AI in the classroom.
Shirley Chao, a biology professor at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina, has been awarded a $1.1 million grant from NCInnovation to bring to market a non-toxic pesticide that can keep agricultural products safe from insect pests. Research at the HBCU will initially focus on the poultry industry, which is the largest agricultural sector in North Carolina. Dr. Chao’s patented biopesticides, derived from industrial hemp and other natural products, are non-toxic to birds and can therefore be applied inside poultry houses, resulting in a healthier farm environment and lower operating costs.
The department of nursing in the School of Community Health and Policy at Morgan State University in Baltimore has received a $1 million grant from the Bedford Falls Foundation to fund student scholarships and faculty development opportunities. Over the next three years, the grant will benefit 75 students per year pursuing a bachelor of science in nursing degree at the HBCU. Additionally, a portion of the grant will be used to develop student networking and mentoring programs, as well as continuing education and professional development initiatives for nursing faculty.
