Here is this week’s news of grants and gifts that may be of particular interest to women in higher education.
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s John R. and Kathy R. Hairston College of Health and Human Sciences, has received a four-year $545,686 grant from the National Institute of Health to study the impact social media has on the health of Black women. The study seeks to determine how social media use that emphasizes physical appearance affects the diet and fitness habits of Generation Z Black/African American women. The grant program is under the direction of Kalynda C. Smith, an assistant professor of psychology at the university.
Barnard College, a liberal arts educational institution for women in New York City, received a $3 million gift from American film producer and philanthropist Regina K. Scully. The gift will establish the creation of the Artemis Rising Foundation Filmmaker Fellowship. The grant will fund up to four established film industry practitioners or media experts to teach at the college every semester.
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences received a five-year, $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to improve maternal health care in Arkansas. The funding will help increase access to maternal and obstetrics care in rural communities. In 2018, Arkansas had the highest maternal mortality ratio. Multiple factors contribute to Arkansas’ poor maternal health outcomes, including relatively high rates of poverty and large rural areas with limited obstetric care.
Spelman College, a liberal arts educational institution for women in Atlanta, received a $5.7 million grant from the New York-based Simons Foundation. The grant will provide reduced teaching loads for 10 STEM faculty members, allowing them to increase the time spent conducting research and providing research opportunities to their students. The Simons Foundation grant will provide up to three years of support to faculty members – 7 junior and 3 senior faculty. The mix of junior and senior faculty will provide junior faculty with intellectual thought partners and opportunities for collaboration and mentorship within the college. Spelman College students will be able to participate in research projects during the academic year