Building on its efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has been awarded $276,000 from the Henry Luce Foundation to support women starting their doctoral programs in computer science and physics—two areas in which women are significantly underrepresented. The grant, part of the Clare Boothe Luce (CBL) Program, will fund two graduate fellowships per year for two years. According to the CBL program, supporting PhD students at the beginning of their graduate studies is critical as funds for independent research are rarely available.
“Clare Boothe Luce was a pioneer in promoting women in STEM, and we are honored to receive this funding,” said Jean King, Peterson Family Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. “Supporting this effort at WPI shows we are a university that continues to be a vibrant academic and research environment with a campus culture that says that women can and do belong in STEM, and we are committed to specific initiatives offered to promote the success of women graduate students.”
The women selected as Luce Fellows will also receive a unique model of mentorship. By connecting with a community of accomplished female faculty in the fields of computer science and physics, mentors will help facilitate each student’s individual academic and professional success. In addition, Fellows will also become part of a wider cohort of scholars, including WPI Presidential Scholars, offering opportunities for professional development and networking.