Xavier has been awarded a three-year, $844,448 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop a systematic approach to increasing the participation and advancement of women in academic STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) careers.

The grant, the result of a proposal submitted to the NSF’s national ADVANCE Adaptation project, “Supporting Transformation: Intersectional Directions to Engender Success (XULA STrIDES),” is specifically designed to support the hiring, the retention, and the success of women of color in the STEM faculty at Xavier.

“Xavier has always embraced inclusive excellence as a core value and is committed to fostering a welcoming, affirming, diverse community in which all members feel central to our mission, called upon to realize their unique gifts, and are valued in their contributions,” said Dr. Anne McCall, XU Provost and Senior Vice President for Academics. “While this grant is focused on women of color in STEM, the breadth of engagement is such that we anticipate positive impact on personnel practices across identities and employment functions.”

Proposal co-writers Dr. Stassi DiMaggio and Dr. Mehnaaz Ali, both professors in the Department of Chemistry, will have responsibility for the overall direction of the grant. The major element of the grant is the funding of a Diversity Fellow, Dr. Payton-Stewart, a 1999 Xavier graduate now an associate professor of chemistry at the University. She will have broad responsibility for working with campus leadership to create sustainable policies and procedures that support hiring processes, retention practices, and cultural competency.