National Science Foundation awards TU nearly $1M for STEM education programs
Baltimore congressional delegation announces funding after competitive grant process
By Cody Boteler on December 17, 2020
With the full support of Baltimore's congressional delegation, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded $999,152 to Towson University to continue to expand access to STEM programs.
The funding will support 14 four-year scholarships for graduating seniors from Baltimore-area high schools and 18 two-year scholarships for students transferring from Harford and Howard community colleges. It will also expand undergraduate research opportunities for sophomore and junior mathematics majors.
“Towson University continues to provide opportunities for students to engage with our expert faculty in the STEM fields,” Towson University President Kim Schatzel said. “I sincerely thank Baltimore’s congressional delegation, Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Reps. Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes and Kweisi Mfume, for their recognition of TU’s growing role as a provider of diverse, prepared STEM professionals to our region. Their support furthers TU’s impact as an anchor institution for greater Baltimore through advancing STEM education and workforce development."
Towson University has a variety of programs designed to expand access to STEM education, including the Hill-Lopes Scholars Program, the Center for STEM Excellence and the STEM Residential Learning Community.
Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Reps. Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes and Kweisi Mfume—Baltimore’s congressional delegation— made the announcement Wednesday.
“Recruiting and mentoring a more diverse pipeline of students will help drive greater opportunity and economic success for communities throughout our state,” the lawmakers said in a statement. “We are committed to expanding access to higher education and supporting research institutions throughout Maryland.”
David Vanko, dean of the Jess & Mildred Fisher College of Science and Mathematics, called the NSF money “great news for the many future TU mathematics students who will benefit from this significant scholarship program.
“The Department of Mathematics is deeply committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, and they’re to be congratulated for winning this highly competitive NSF grant,” says Vanko. “Kudos to the principal investigators, Lindsey-Kay Lauderdale, Alexei Kolesnikov and Mike O’Leary.”
Other recent TU grants from the NSF include more than $400,000 to the department of geosciences and a grant that will support a TU alumna’s graduate research.
This story is one of several related to President Kim Schatzel’s priorities for Towson University: TU Matters to Maryland.