Courtesy of Bowie State University
The Clare Booth Luce Foundation has awarded Bowie State University a $299,996 grant to support women undergraduate students majoring in computer science through the foundation’s Clare Booth Luce Program for Women in STEM.
The program is one of the single largest private sources of funding for women’s STEM higher education and is dedicated to increasing the participation of women in the sciences, mathematics and engineering at every level of higher education.
“This partnership with the Luce Foundation is transformational for the university, our computer science department, and most importantly, it is a game-changer for our students,” said Brent Swinton, Bowie State’s vice president of philanthropic engagement. “The funding will provide scholarships to women pursuing degrees in computer science as they prepare to fill critical jobs in cyber security across numerous industries.”
There are 9.9 million STEM workers in the U.S., but that number needs to grow considerably as both the private and public sectors digitize their operations and require highly trained workers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Women comprise 50% of the college educated workforce but account for only 34% of the STEM work force and can face a litany of challenges ranging from fewer potential STEM role models to workplace adversity.
“The investment from the Luce Foundation will enable Bowie State University to academically prepare more women for STEM jobs, but also help them deal with potential challenges presented by co-workers and work environments unaccustomed to women of color performing highly technical roles,” said Swinton.
Bowie State’s computer science program increased female enrollment from 36 to 88 between 2019 and 2022. The computer science program with a specialization in cybersecurity has been designated a National Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense.