Mount St. Mary’s Univeristy Awarded Clare Boothe Luce Grant to Help Fund Scholarships for Women in STEM

techfrederick member, Mount St. Mary’s University, has been chosen as a recipient of the Clare Boothe Luce Program for Women in STEM grant from the Henry Luce Foundation, thanks to the work of three dedicated faculty members in the School of Science, Mathematics & Technology.

The $275,000 award will help fund scholarships for undergraduates in STEM majors, in turn freeing up institutional aid funds for three goals: training in inclusive mentoring for STEM faculty, a STEM outreach program for elementary school students, and changes in the curriculum of MATH 211 (mathematical thinking, a Core course at the Mount) and CHEM 100, to help students overcome math anxiety.

Jonelle Hook, Ph.D., associate professor in and chair of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science; Ruth Lamprecht, Ph.D., assistant professor of mathematics and computer science; and Rachel Hartnett, Ph.D., assistant professor of science, jointly applied for the grant, with support from the Office of Sponsored Research and Grants,

“We are deeply honored and thrilled that the Mount has been selected for this prestigious grant. This funding will have a significant impact on dismantling barriers for women in STEM, both at our institution and within the broader community,” said Hook, who spearheaded efforts to secure the grant. “Having previously secured this funding in 2016, we saw firsthand how it supports the education and advancement of women in STEM.”

STEM faculty look forward to implementing the changes the grant enables. Hartnett explained that “we wanted to incorporate positive changes to [MATH 211] which will benefit all students at the Mount,” hoping that each student who completes the mathematical thinking course walks away with more confidence in their abilities, or even a newfound passion. The other cornerstone course of this initiative is CHEM 100, a new course that concentrates on math skills relevant to chemistry to build students’ confidence in quantitative skills.

“The professional development activities will help increase faculty understanding of the roadblocks that women in particular stumble on while working on a STEM degree, while the STEM Community Days will expose lower elementary students to fun and engaging activities related to the STEM fields and will give our student clubs an opportunity to also participate in this outreach,” noted Lamprecht.  “These are great opportunities to improve the mindset and engagement of our students, perhaps reminding them why they chose a particular major and why they can and should continue in their chosen field.”

The Henry Luce Foundation seeks to deepen knowledge and understanding in pursuit of a more democratic and just world. Established in 1936 by Henry R. Luce, the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Time, Inc., the Luce Foundation advances its mission by nurturing knowledge communities and institutions, fostering dialogue across divides, enriching public discourse, amplifying diverse voices, and investing in leadership development.

The Clare Boothe Luce Program for Women in STEM is named for Luce’s wife, Clare Boothe Luce, a prominent 20th-century author, politician and U.S. ambassadress.