RADNOR, Pa. (April 18, 2016)—The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded Cabrini College a $649,773 grant to support the Science Scholars for Social Justice (SSSJ) Program.
The grant—which will be applied to the fall 2017 incoming class and ends March 31, 2021—will be used to engage students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning through a framework of social justice, providing financial assistance, skills development, enhanced mentoring and community building.
SSSJ students will participate in academic support and community-building activities, such as cohort-based learning communities, peer and faculty mentoring, and early research experiences, and will receive career exposure through community engagement, workshops and activities.
The program will build upon Cabrini’s commitment to social justice and provide opportunities for students to engage with real-world issues beyond the classroom.
Under the direction of Caroline B. Nielsen, PhD, Associate Professor, Biology; Joyce Belcher, PhD, Assistant Professor, Biology; Kimberly L. Boyd, PhD, Associate Professor, Biology, and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs; Tamarah F. Smith, PhD, Assistant Professor, Psychology; and Melinda Harrison Krick, PhD, Associate Professor, Chemistry, the project will improve outreach systems that strengthen the interest in STEM disciplines and will engage students at the intersection of science and service, developing future scientists with a strong social justice ethos and commitment to serving the community, both locally and globally.
“The one-on-one mentoring offered through this program will help students to be successful, not only during their years at Cabrini, but throughout their careers as scientists,” said Nielsen, who will serve as SSSJ Program Director.
“We’re grateful to the National Science Foundation for giving us this opportunity to help cultivate a new generation of scientists with a deep understanding of social justice issues.”
“The Scholarships in STEM (S-STEM) program seeks to create more high-quality STEM employees for a marketplace in need of them, and the Cabrini College Science Scholars for Social Justice Program addresses an important aspect of that workforce development,” said Paul Tymann, Program Manager for S-STEM at the NSF Education and Human Resources Directorate.
“Furthermore, the program’s focus on recruiting female and minority students reflects NSF’s commitment to broadening participation in STEM education.”
About Cabrini University
Founded in 1957 by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Cabrini University is a Catholic institution that empowers students to become advocates of social change through an Education of the Heart, focusing on academic excellence, community engagement, and leadership development.
Cabrini enrolls approximately 1,300 undergraduates in more than 35 majors, pre-professional programs, concentrations, and minors on its serene 112-acre campus located 30 minutes from Philadelphia. The University also enrolls 900 students in graduate, doctoral, and professional studies programs at its main campus in Radnor, PA, and at five off-campus locations.