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.

Virginia Commonwealth University received a $3.2 million grant from the Office of Research on Women’s Health of the National Institutes of Health that will support eight to 10 junior faculty at the university with funds for research focused on five areas particularly relevant to women’s health: cancer, maternal child health, mental health and addiction, obesity and cardiovascular health, and neuro-musculoskeletal health. It will support three scholars at a time over two-year periods. The project is under the direction of Susan G. Kornstein, executive director of the VCU Institute for Women’s Health and a professor of psychiatry and obstetrics & gynecology in the School of Medicine.

Fayetteville State University received a $1.5 million grant from the state of North Carolina to support a one-of-a-kind pilot program at its School of Nursing to train approximately 20 sexual assault nurse examiners per semester, including the summer, for a total of 40 to 60 per year. At the current time, there are fewer than 100 sexual assault nurse examiners certified across the entire state. A SANE nurse certification requires a person to have been a nurse for at least two years, complete dozens of hours of training and clinical work, and then pass a written exam by the International Association of Forensic Nurses.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham is leading a $20 million research program funded by the American Heart Association that will be focused on advancing the understanding of the factors underlying the disproportionate impact of pregnancy complications and deaths among Black and Native American pregnant people and those living in rural areas. “We are thrilled to have this opportunity to transform maternal and infant health outcomes and equity, where all pregnant and birthing persons and their families thrive,” said Alan Tita, senior vice chair for research and innovation in the university’s department of obstetrics and gynecology, associate dean for Global and Women’s Health at the UAB School of Medicine, and director of the university’s Center for Women’s Reproductive Health. “We applaud the American Heart Association for this huge investment in the health of mothers and infants.”

The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh received a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation that will be used to create a web-based dashboard to build awareness and transparency and track progress related to gender inequities among faculty and instructional staff in the STEM disciplines across the university’s campuses. The project will also create training to address work climate issues; conduct an equity review of STEM department tenure, renewal, and promotion policies; and assist departments in creating and revising equitable policies and procedures.