Grants or Gifts Relating to Women in Higher Education

Here is this week’s news of grants and gifts that may be of particular interest to women in higher education.

High Point University in North Carolina received a $12 million gift from Elizabeth “Betty” Miller Strickland. This is the largest gift to the university’s endowment in the 96-year history of the educational institution. The funds will establish the Elizabeth Miller Strickland Women’s Leadership Fund and the Elizabeth Miller Strickland Endowed Scholarship Fund. Strickland’s husband Bob, who died in 2018, was chairman of the board for Lowe’s Companies.

Texas Woman’s University has been awarded a $2.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education for programs designed to provide services and support for students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are pursuing a college degree. One program will benefit 120 students in STEM disciplines and a second program will serve 140 students in other academic departments.

The University of Missouri–St. Louis received a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation to support programs to improve gender equity in academic careers in the fields of science – including the social and behavioral sciences – technology, engineering, and mathematics. The grant is under the direction of Kristin Sobolik, chancellor of the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

The United Negro College Fund received a $520,000 donation from the Olay products division of Proctor & Gamble. The funds will be used to support women of color pursuing degrees in STEM disciplines.