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.

The University of Florida received a three-year, $412,000 grant from the National Institute of Nursing Research, part of the National Institutes of Health, to study a diverse group of mothers whose babies were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit for their first 14 days after birth. Gestational age, the length of time that an infant remains in the womb, may be a key factor influencing when a mother produces milk, as well as how much. As mothers get closer to giving birth, milk-producing mammary gland cells may mature with each passing day, resulting in greater milk volume. Lead investigator Marion Bendixen said: “We hope to observe whether breast pumps have any impact on how these cells develop, providing insight that will help clinicians ensure that these gland cells are fully activated and can produce enough milk for the baby in the months to follow.”

Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia, has been awarded a $288,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to study how gender, race/ethnicity, and other aspects of social identity affect the work lives of faculty in STEM disciplines. The ADVANCE Catalyst Award will fund a self-assessment of what advances or limits the professional success of women in STEM at the university. The atmosphere on campus will be studied and gauged by a survey that will be sent out to all faculty. In addition, the researchers will analyze institutional data, evaluate policies and practices and interview faculty.

Spelman College, the selective liberal arts educational institution for women in Atlanta, received a $104,000 grant from the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation. The funds will enhance the foundation’s scholarship program at the college to support six students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievements, leadership potential, and a commitment to community service.