Howard University Engineering Professor Awarded $900K ED Grant for Integrating Leadership Education in STEM Programs

Howard University mechanical engineering professor Mohsen Mosleh, Ph.D., was recently awarded a $900K grant by the U.S. Department of Education for the Integrating Leadership Education and Development (I-LEAD) into Minority STEM Education program. The I-LEAD program will span over the course of three years.

"I am confident that this program will not only provide participating Howard University students with an experience that will further prepare them for assuming leadership roles in the future STEM workplace but also will create a mentoring environment for the I-LEAD cohort that will help increase retention and significantly improve academic performance,” said John M. M. Anderson, Ph.D., dean of the Howard University College of Engineering and Architecture.

An interdisciplinary team of Howard University researchers, Delancy Bennett, Ph.D., assistant professor of marketing, Christi Cunningham, J.D., professor of law and director of the Education Law Institute, Lenora P. Gant, Ph.D., national security fellow and senior executive advisor, Lynne Kelly, Ph.D., associate professor of finance and international business, Hassan Salmani, Ph.D., associate professor of computer engineering, Sonya Smith, Ph.D., professor of mechanical engineering and director of The Atmospheric Science Program, and John Tharakan, Ph.D., professor of chemical engineering, will strive to equip STEM students enrolled in the I-LEAD program with leadership and business knowledge and skills and prepare them to assume leadership and management roles in the STEM workplace.

Devising innovative integrated approaches that will bring management and leadership skills development and training into STEM education is critical to preparing graduates to become the STEM leaders of tomorrow."

"I view the principal goals of the proposed I-LEAD proposal in alignment and support of the missions of the University and the School of Business.  Devising innovative integrated approaches that will bring management and leadership skills development and training into STEM education is critical to preparing graduates to become the STEM leaders of tomorrow,” said Anthony D. Wilbon, dean of the Howard University School of Business.

The team will also work to establish a cohesive leadership education and training module that can contribute to the leadership training component of the general education curriculum at Howard University.