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.
Historically Black North Carolina A&T State University received a $1.05 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture to investigate the potential health benefits of introducing elements of the Mediterranean diet into traditional Southern fare, which often includes foods associated with heart disease, hypertension, and type-2 diabetes. Housed within the HBCU’s Center for Excellence in Post-Harvest Technologies, the project will include a four-week clinical trial in which half of the participants will eat a “Mediterranean South” diet, testing the feasibility, sustainability, and anti-diabetic effects of a Mediterranean-style diet adapted to Southern taste preferences.
The Howard University College of Medicine was awarded a $1 million grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to support a multiyear initiative aimed at addressing disparities in the healthcare workforce. The new funds will be used to expand several existing programs at the historically Black medical school, including the Mini-Med School, STEM outreach initiatives, and the Summer Health Professions Education Program. The grant will also support efforts relating to medical student retention and leadership development.
Florida A&M University received a $200,000 grant from the National Endowment for Financial Education and the FINRA Investor Education Foundation to study how financial education spreads through students’ communities. The “Ripple Effects” project, led by students in the HBCU’s Society for Financial Education Professional Development, will investigate whether financial education among students at FAMU and other HBCUs is associated with stronger financial habits across their peer and family networks.
Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina received a $50,000 investment from Cisco to help remove financial barriers for students and support AI training for faculty and staff. The investment includes a $30,000 allocation for the HBCU’s Bridging the Gap program, which provides funding to clear balances for graduating seniors. The remaining $20,000 will help faculty and IT staff strengthen their AI skills through workshops, hands-on training, and professional retreats.
T. Michael Todd, a Charlotte, North Carolina-based attorney, donated an art collection valued at $371,000 to the Hampton University Museum. The collection features several works from prominent Black artists, including Jacob Lawrence, Romare Bearden, and John Biggers – artists who are already prominently featured in the HBCU’s permanent galleries.
Historically Black North Carolina Central University is leading a nearly $1.1 million NCInnovation Partnership Grant to transform university research into real-world biosecurity solutions. Alongside partners from North Carolina State University and Orion Integrated Biosciences, the team at NCCU will work to develop an applied, scalable biosecurity platform that leverages advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and genomic data to assess biological risk before it causes harm.
