UTICA – Hinds Community College’s Utica Campus will be awarded $200,000 over the next five years from the National Science Foundation to help address a national demand for STEM workers. The grant is part of a partnership with Jackson State University (program lead) through the Louis Stokes Mississippi Alliance for Minority Participation (LSMAMP) Pathways Alliance.

Hinds Community College’s Utica Campus is the only community college participating in this alliance, led by Jackson State University. The National Science Foundation recently awarded JSU $4 million to help train minorities for careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).

Steven Jones

“We are very eager to join in this partnership with JSU and other institutions of the Alliance,” said Steven J. Jones, executive director of Title III and Sponsored Grants for Hinds Community College’s Utica Campus. “This is another great opportunity for the Utica Campus to demonstrate how we are making a large impact in educating minority students for STEM careers. There is more to come.”

Other institutions participating in the alliance are Alcorn State University, Delta State University, Mississippi State University, Mississippi Valley State University, the University of Southern Mississippi, Tougaloo College and University of Mississippi.

Dr. Martha Tchounwou of JSU is the statewide program manager of LSMAMP. Jonathan Townes, assistant director of Sponsored Grants, will serve as the program coordinator for the Utica Campus.

“I’m very excited that the Division of Title III and Sponsored Grants continues to aggressively seek external funding to assist in our mission of educating minorities at this grand HBCU. It is my hope that other institutions will take note of what the Utica Campus has accomplished (and continues to accomplish). We can serve as a model for STEM programming and much more,” said Utica Campus Vice President Dr. Tyrone Jackson.

As Mississippi’s largest community college, Hinds Community College is a comprehensive institution offering quality, affordable educational opportunities with academic programs of study leading to seamless university transfer and career and technical programs teaching job-ready skills. With six locations in central Mississippi, Hinds enrolls about 12,000 students each fall semester. To learn more, visit www.hindscc.edu or call 1.800.HindsCC.