$1.2 million NSF grant supports MSU’s advancement of STEM education in rural Mississippi

Contact: Sarah Nicholas

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State University faculty members are leading a statewide effort to advance science, technology, engineering and mathematics education in rural school districts with the support of a $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation’s Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program.

The team will focus on preparing STEM majors for careers in education, particularly in underserved areas. The NSF’s Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program is designed to encourage STEM majors and professionals to pursue teaching careers by providing financial support and specialized training.

Donna M. Pierce, associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, is leading the five-year grant with MSU colleagues Mohammad Sepehrifar, associate professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, and Dana Franz, professor of secondary mathematics education in the College of Education, who also is director of academic quality and professor with the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness.

“The project aims to serve the national need of enhancing STEM education in rural areas, targeting the shortage of certified educators in chemistry, physics and mathematics,” said Pierce. “Students selected for this scholarship will receive more than simply monetary scholarship support while at MSU—they will also receive specialized training in cross-disciplinary thinking and working in rural environments, and will continue to receive support from the MSU project team after entering their classrooms.”

In partnership with Louisville Municipal School District, the MSU team will begin recruiting, training and placing highly qualified teachers in high-need schools in Northern Mississippi.

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