HBCU Spelman College Partners With SMASH To Launch Program To Increase The Number Of Women Of Color In STEM
SMASH, a STEM racial justice nonprofit focused on addressing inequities in education, and the nationally renowned HBCU Spelman College have announced a partnership to offer programming and support to young women of color interested in academic and professional careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
With this partnership, Spelman College joins a network of several universities around the country, in addition to Atlanta’s Morehouse College, that offers programming through SMASH to historically underrepresented groups in STEM.
The cohort will comprise 25 female high school students, who will have the opportunity to participate in multi-year immersive educational programming focused on preparing them to drive social change at scale, using technology.
This includes building computer science skills, accessing career mentorship, completing college preparatory workshops, and more for the full duration of their high school career in SMASH Academy, according to a press release.
“As a proud Spelman College Alumna and graduate of the Dual-Degree Engineering Program from Georgia Tech, I know the power of being immersed in Black excellence for a young Black woman, particularly in STEM, and it is a privilege to partner with the country’s leading producer of Black women who complete Ph. D.s in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM),” Danielle Rose, CEO of SMASH said.
“As we see a worsening racial divide in terms of education quality and access across the U.S., creating spaces that prioritize identity, community impact and culturally relevant coursework are critical to systemically diversifying the STEM fields,” she added.
SMASH impact data shows over 99% of SMASH alumni graduate high school and 85% graduate college within five years of matriculation, which is reportedly significantly higher than the national average (55%).
Similarly, 79% of SMASH alumni graduate with a degree specifically in STEM, as compared to 35% of their peers nationally.
Interested applicants who are entering the ninth grade as of Fall 2022 and meet the program criteria can apply to the program now by visiting smash.org/apply. The deadline for applications is March 1, 2022.
