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.
Ram Ray, professor in the College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources at Prairie View A&M University in Texas, secured a nearly $600,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to support a new initiative to prepare the HBCU’s students for careers in agricultural trade. The project blends research and hands-on learning opportunities to equip students with the skills needed to address the most pressing agricultural challenges, including food security, resource management, and international trade.
The Center of Excellence for Research and Program Innovation at historically Black Voorhees University in Denmark, South Carolina, was awarded a Faculty-Student Research Grant from the South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities to support research in biology and artificial intelligence. The project focuses on using computational tools to evaluate AI-generated bacteriophage sequences, an emerging approach aimed at addressing the global challenge of antibiotic resistance.
Charles D. McCurry, interim associate dean of the College of Engineering at Tennessee State University, was awarded a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of War to establish a Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Visualization, and Simulation (RAIVS) Laboratory. Through integrating advanced robotics and artificial intelligence into the HBCU’s existing curricula, the initiative aims to provide students with human-machine teaming skills, preparing them for successful careers in a technology-driven workforce.
Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina received a $235,482 grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Project SERV initiative to support recovery efforts and strengthen the HBCU’s wellness services following the campus shooting that took place in April 2025. In addition to direct services with licensed counselors, the grant will go towards campus-wide wellness programming, trauma-informed training for faculty and staff, and outreach initiatives designed to help students reconnect with academic and social supports.
