Willie May Named President-Elect of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Since 2018, Dr. May has served as vice president of research and economic development and professor of chemistry at Morgan State University in Baltimore. Previously, he served as the U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Cato Laurencin Creates Institute for Regenerative Engineering at the University of Connecticut
The institute will integrate biology, medicine, surgery, chemistry, physics, engineering, and artificial intelligence/machine learning to create a powerful platform for addressing scientific and medical problems in the regeneration and healing of complex tissues, organs, or organ systems. Its goal is to achieve limb regeneration by the year 2030.
The First Black Deaf Woman to Earn a Ph.D. in Biochemistry
A native of Sierra Leone in Africa, Dr. Sankoh became deaf at the age of three. She was sent to live with a family friend in the United States at the age of 12. She struggled in school until she was able to master American sign language. She recently earned s Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Tennessee.
African Americans Making Progress in STEM Fields, But a Large Racial Gap Remains
A National Science Foundation report finds that blacks were 14 percent of the U.S. population between the ages of 18 and 34 in 2020. They earned 10 percent of the associate's degrees awarded in science and engineering fields, 9 percent of the bachelor's degrees, 11 percent of the master's degrees, and just 7 percent of the doctoral degrees.
Dartmouth College Commits $100 Million to Increase Diversity in STEM Fields
Dartmouth's STEM-X program will focus on student diversity in STEM programs, faculty recruitment, and research and scholarship. The program will include an undergraduate scholarship program with the goal of enhancing STEM participation by students from underrepresented groups.
15 HBCUs to Have the Opportunity to Design STEM Teacher Preparation Programs
The National Math and Science Initiative has received a planning grant from the Fund II Foundation to design UTeach STEM teacher preparation programs at up to 15 historically Black colleges and universities in six states and the District of Columbia.
Xavier University of Louisiana Debuts a Physician Assistant Degree Program
This new program makes Xavier one of four colleges in Louisiana, one of two in New Orleans, and one of only three historically Black colleges and universities in the nation to offer a physician assistant program. Xavier University now offers 12 master's degree programs.
University of Alabama at Birmingham Faculty to Train Nursing Students in Jamaica
The University of Alabama Birmingham School of Nursing has partnered with the World-Health Organization Collaborating Center at the University of West Indies-Mona Campus in Kingston, Jamaica, to improve how they train nursing students by using simulators.
School of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh Names Its Next Dean
Currently, Dr. Martin is the Bob Benmosche Professor, chair of the department of civil engineering, and the founding director of the Risk Engineering and Systems Analytics Center at Clemson University in South Carolina.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Makes Major Commitment to STEM Diversity
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) has selected 24 educational institutions to receive $1 million grants to promote STEM education. The initiative focuses on those undergraduates who come to college from diverse backgrounds and pathways.
A Shortage of African American Men in the Medical Profession
Today, African American men make up just 2.8 percent of all medical school applicants. Of all African American medical school applicants, men make up only 38 percent of the total.
Shaw University and Virginia Tech Create Pathway to Teaching Graduate Programs for HBCU Students
"This partnership aims to contribute to reducing disparities in the teaching profession, ensuring that every educator can deliver a quality education and that every student can access it without barriers," says Dr. Lezly Taylor, assistant professor of science education at Virginia Tech.
Xavier University of Louisiana to Launch the Country’s Fifth Historically Black Medical School
Once official accreditation approval is granted by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission, the new Xaiver University Ochsner College of Medicine will become the fifth medical school in the United States at a historically Black college or university.
UCLA and Charles Drew University of Medicine Receive Funding to Support Equity in Neuroscience
Through $9.8 million in funding, the Dana Foundation will establish the UCLA-CDU Dana Center for Neuroscience & Society, which aims to gain a better understanding of the neuroscience needs of historically underrepresented communities in Los Angeles.
American Academy of Physician Associates Launches Program to Increase Diversity in the Field
"Increasing the representation of healthcare providers from historically marginalized communities is of utmost importance for improving health outcomes in all patients,” said Jennifer M. Orozco, chief medical officer of the American Academy of Physician Associates.
Despite Equal Preparedness, Black Students Less Likely Than White Peers to Enroll in AP...
By using a novel statistical measurement of academic-preparedness, researchers from New York University have discovered Black students are less likely to enroll in AP math courses than their White peers who have a similar level of academic-preparedness.
Report Finds Strong Aptitude But Low Interest for STEM Careers Among Black Students
Educational technology company, YouScience, in partnership with the nonprofit organization, Black Girls Do STEM, have released a report that found despite Black students showing a strong aptitude for STEM fields, they have little interest in pursuing a career in STEM.
Charles R. Drew University Partners with Sutter Health to Address California’s Health Care Inequities
With $7.5 million in funding from Sutter Health, historically Black Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science's newly accredited medical school will expand its academic offerings and scholarship opportunities.
Georgia State University Launches Program to Support Black Women in Tech
While Black women account for roughly 29 percent of the Georgia State University undergradaute student body, they represent only 10 percent of the university's computer science majors and 18 percent of the computer information systems majors.
Center for Urban and Coastal Climate Science Research Established at Morgan State University
The new interdisciplinary research center aims to develop effective solutions to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change through collaboration with the global scientific community and policymakers.
Harriet Nembhard to Lead Engineering School at Oregon State University
Harriet Nembhard was appointed the director of the School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering at Oregon State University in Covallis. She will also serve as the Eric R. Smith Professor of Engineering at Oregon State.
Elizabeth City State University Partners With the University of Tennessee Health Science Center to...
"We are excited by this partnership with UT Health Science Center and the opportunities this brings to our students who wish to pursue advanced degrees," said Kuldeep Rawat, dean of the Elizabeth City State University School of Science, Health and Technology.
Virginia State University to Offer New Undergraduate Degree in Mechanical Engineering
"The approval of the B.S. in Mechanical Engineering is a testament to VSU's dedication to academic excellence and preparing our students for success in STEM fields," said Tia A. Minnis, interim provost and vice president of academic affairs at Virginia State University.
Universities Join the National Science Foundation to Boost Women of Color in Technology Fields
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has formed the Action Collaborative on Transforming Trajectories for Women of Color in Tech. This joint initiative aims to provide evidence-based insights and recommendations to enhance the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women of color in the tech industry.
Black Women Used Social Networks to Help Them Persist in STEM
The new study sought to shed light on how relationships and community support success for Black women as they pursue education in STEM fields.
Blacks Making Steady Progress in Medical School Enrollments
In 2023, there were a record 10,133 African Americans enrolled at U.S. medical schools. They made up 10.4 percent of total enrollments. In 2015, Blacks were 7.2 percent of total enrollments.
The Many Challenges Facing Black Students Pursuing STEM Doctorates
The research team at the nonprofit RTI International found that Black STEM Ph.D. recipients are considerably more likely to earn their doctorate from a private for-profit institution and that they also take significantly longer to complete their degree and borrow substantially more for their graduate education.
MasterCard Partners With the Atlanta University Center Consortium to Expand Data Sciences at HBCUs
Talitha Washington, a professor of the mathematical sciences at Clark Atlanta University and director of the AUC Data Science Initiative, will lead collaboration with other HBCUs to create new innovations in data science curricula and research.
The First Graduate of the UConn Medical School from the Rowe Health Scholars Program
The program, funded by the Aetna Foundation, is aimed at increasing the number of undergraduate students from underrepresented groups who pursue careers in the healthcare field.
STEM Alliance of Washington-Area HBCUs Is Producing Results
The Washington-Baltimore-Hampton-Roads Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation is a consortium of universities that is working to increase opportunities for underrepresented students in STEM fields.
HBCU Teams Up With the Army Corps of Engineers
The University of Arkansas Pine Bluff has signed an agreement to establish and participate in STEM enrichment programs, research projects, and paid internships for university students.
A Huge Racial Gap in STEM Degree Program Attrition Rates
New data from the U.S. Department of Education shows that almost two-thirds of Black students who start out in STEM-related bachelor's degree programs do not complete their studies in these fields.
Report Documents Huge Shortage of Black Women Faculty in STEM Disciplines
The gap between the percentage of Black women in STEM faculty posts and the percentage of Black women in the general working-age population is wider than for any other racial or ethnic group.
Census Data Shows Need for Further Efforts to Attract Blacks Into STEM Fields
New data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that while while Blacks are 10.8 percent of all employed workers, they make up only 6.4 percent of all employees in STEM occupations. Blacks make up an even smaller percentage of all workers in specific STEM jobs.
A Proven Track Record in Increasing Black Students in STEM Fields
The Virginia-North Carolina Alliance includes nine partner institutions, including four HBCUs. The program has been funded by the National Science Foundation since 2007. During this period the number of students who graduated with degrees in STEM fields is up 67 percent.
The New Class of Scholars of the UNCF-Merck Science Initiative
The 2013 UNCF•MERCK Fellows in the biological sciences receive awards ranging from $25,000 for undergraduate scholarship recipients to $92,000 for recipients of postdoctoral fellowships.
