NSF Grant for diversity in STEM Education awarded to The W
Mississippi University for Women is one of four higher education institutions participating in the Tennessee Valley Tri-State LSAMP Alliance.
The new alliance is the result of a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to expand the number of historically under-represented minority (URM) students in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at these schools. The W’s grant as a member of the alliance is near $400,000.
“We are excited to be part of the LSAMP program, which for three decades has opened doors of opportunity to historically underrepresented students in STEM disciplines,” said Dr. Scott Tollison, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. “The support we provide through the tri-state alliance will no doubt have a cascading impact across our service region.”
The Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) is an NSF program that focuses on transforming STEM education through recruiting and retaining URM students. LSAMP’s central goal is to increase the number of STEM degrees awarded to African American, Hispanic/Latino American, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Native Pacific Islander students. Louis Stokes was an attorney, civil rights pioneer, and the first African American congressman elected in the state of Ohio.
The Tennessee Valley Tri-State LSAMP Alliance grant is led by University of North Alabama, and in addition to The W, other members include the University of Tennessee-Martin and Northwest-Shoals Community College. This is UNA’s inaugural LSAMP grant.
While promoting greater representation and inclusivity in STEM fields, the regional nature of the alliance also addresses the importance of developing STEM professionals from the region and meeting its growing STEM-related workforce demands.
Key program components include a Summer Bridge program, peer tutoring, faculty mentorship, student research opportunities and career development leading to the transition to graduate school or employment.
The first cohort of The W’s LSAMP participants will attend a Summer Bridge program in August at UNA, where they will focus on developing STEM skills and preparing for college. MUW will host the Summer Bridge program in 2026.
Students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents to enroll and will receive stipends upon completing the Summer Bridge program and after each semester they participate.
Questions regarding The W’s LSAMP program may be directed to lsamp@muw.edu.