Mikulski, Cardin Announce Almost $1 Million NSF Grant for UMBC to Increase Minorities Completing Doctorates in STEM Fields

September 27, 2012

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) today announced that the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), under the direction of Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, has been awarded a $987,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for the Bridge to Doctorate Program (BD) to increase the quality and quantity of underrepresented minorities completing doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.  

Senator Mikulski is Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science, which funds the NSF.  

"Education is the opportunity ladder of this nation and higher education is a critical rung in that ladder," Senator Mikulski said. "STEM graduates are in demand to fill jobs now. Every student deserves a chance to excel in those fields. Maryland has the resources and the infrastructure to guarantee any student a rich experience, not to mention job prospects. I'm proud to put funds in the federal checkbook to ensure that Maryland continues to be a leader in preparing our future workforce for jobs today and jobs tomorrow."  

"America's future depends on our ability to embrace high-tech education and training needed for jobs in the 21st Century," said Senator Cardin. "Under Dr. Hrabowski's leadership, UMBC has become nationally recognized for its science, math and engineering programs and this grant will ensure that the university is able to provide more students with the tools they need to get the highly skilled, technical jobs that are needed in the future."  

The University System of Maryland Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) BD program is a collaborative effort with NSF to increase underrepresented minority students matriculating and completing doctoral degrees in STEM fields. The BD program provides 12 students who participated in the LSAMP program as undergraduates with funding and critical support including opportunities to participate in community meetings and individual advising meetings, serving as role models to current undergraduate LSAMP students in the process of applying for graduate school, presenting research at national and local conferences, participating in various seminars on campus in order to promote professional development and growth, and participating in joint University System of Maryland BD cohort events such as the Summer Success institute.  

Dr. Hrabowski is one of the nation's foremost leading educators in closing the gap for minority students. He recently was tapped by the prestigious National Academies to lead a committee dedicated to increasing minority students in math and science education, and was named as one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People.

UMBC is the lead institution of the University System of Maryland Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, along with University of Maryland, College Park and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.