Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Grant

The Inclusive Excellence 3 (IE3) Grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) aims to support equitable and inclusive learning environments for introductory-level STEM students from all backgrounds, hence to facilitate and enhance their academic success and eventual career in the science field. With a total of 14 institution-grantees, the Grant facilitates a learning community for the participants to share their experience and expertise in building institutional capacity. Pamela Cheek, Associate Provost for Student Success, is the Principle Investigator (PI) of the Grant. Vice President for Equity and Inclusion, Assata Zerai, is the Co-PI of the Grant.

The Division for Equity and Inclusion (DEI) received a six-year (2022-2028) sub-award from the IE3 Grant for the program Mentoring Black Student Excellence at UNM and Creating a STEM Equity Bank. Other collaborators of the sub-award are African American Student Services and the Department of Africana Studies. In addition to strengthening Black students’ retention, the program also aims to foster organic connections among African American Student Services (AASS), Africana Studies, and Black faculty and staff at UNM. Lastly, the program will give rise to a STEM Equity Bank, so that the best practices learned from the project can be shared across the region and nation.