Atlanta's Spelman College has received a $2 million award from the US Department of Defense to strengthen and expand its science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs, the Root reports.
Spelman, a historically black college for women, is to establish a Center of Excellence for Minority Women in STEM that it says will serve as a "hub" for undergraduate STEM research and training activities. "The Center aligns with the College's strategic priorities and ensures that our students are empowered and equipped to enter competitive STEM fields," Mary Schmidt Campbell, the president of Spelman, says in a press release.
The school adds that it has seen an influx of students there seeking STEM majors. The new center will allow it to offer both students and faculty research support, academic enrichment, and professional development and host an annual Women in STEM Speaker Series.
"Spelman has a strong record of educating women in STEM disciplines; however, there is still a lack of representation among women of color in STEM-related careers," Tasha Inniss, the associate provost for research, in a statement.