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In late October, Mount Saint Mary’s University President Ann McElaney-Johnson, PhD, led a delegation of women’s college leaders in Washington, D.C. to advocate for and advance science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) opportunities at women’s colleges and universities.

President McElaney-Johnson, who is the Board Chair of the Women’s College Coalition (WCC), spearheaded meetings between WCC presidents, the U.S. Government’s Gender Policy Council and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to mark NASA's STEM-focused partnership with women’s colleges and universities that was launched earlier this year, which was also led by McElaney-Johnson.

NASA’s program, the Minority University Research & Education Project (MUREP) for Women’s Colleges and Universities, awarded seven women’s colleges $5 million to research and develop strategies that increase women's retention in STEM degree programs and careers.

President McElaney-Johnson said NASA’s initiative serves as a template for how to deliver tangible advancement for women’s colleges and universities through federal partnerships, internship programs, and expansion of federal hiring preference to include women’s college students.

“I am thrilled about this partnership,” she said. “Women's colleges and universities are critical to the promotion and success of women in STEM and are uniquely well situated to utilize their expertise to develop solutions to the persistent gender gap in these fields. This first-ever collaboration is a wonderful opportunity for all women interested in STEM.”

The MUREP project supports developing programs encompassing academics, research, student support, college prep, career preparation and mentoring. The program was created in response to President Joe Biden’s Executive Order 14035, “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce.”

“This initiative is a part of the President’s vision, one in which we empower women and girls, unlock opportunity, and advance gender equity and equality,” said Jennifer Klein, assistant to the President and director of the White House Gender Policy Council.

NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, a graduate of Wellesley College, a member of the WCC, knows firsthand the power of women in STEM.

“This is a very exciting first; we are making strides to close the pervasive gender gap in STEM, and women’s colleges and universities are well-positioned to help drive that positive change,” said Melroy.

The women’s colleges selected for funding are: Agnes Scott College (Decatur, Georgia); Alverno College (Milwaukee, Wisconsin); Cedar Crest College (Allentown, Pennsylvania); College of Saint Mary (Omaha, Nebraska); Salem Academy and College (Winston-Salem, North Carolina); Simmons University (Boston, Massachusetts); and Smith College (Northampton, Massachusetts).

President McElaney-Johnson and the WCC also met with Heidi Shyu, undersecretary of defense for research and engineering in the Department of Defense (DOD), to mark the SMART Scholars strategic partnership and explore other partnership possibilities. The SMART Scholarship program is part of the DOD’s Scholarship for Service program, which awards multi-year tuition, stipend, internship, mentorship and early career guarantee placement to selected students in undergraduate and post-graduate STEM fields.

“Partnering with the Women’s College Coalition helps deliver access and offer distinct perspective in the preparation and implementation of our national defense, all the while building the next generation of American global leadership,” said Shyu. “Together, working as one team, we will unlock the full potential of readiness and security for our nation’s future.”

The partnership with the country’s 30 women’s colleges will feature on-campus events, virtual webinars, and outreach through college career services and news channels.

“Our partnership with the DOD will allow us to drive diversity and provide our armed services and their contractors with the rich perspectives of qualified STEM women leaders,” said McElaney-Johnson.

The WCC represents 30 women’s colleges and universities nationwide, including the seven institutions selected by NASA. To learn more about the WCC, please .