Project Grant 20243841341456

This $247,500 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Higher Education - Multicultural Scholars Grant Program (CFDA 10.220) aims to expand and sustain long-term professional training to equip underrepresented minority (URM) students with the skills to become leaders and stewards in sustainable forest management. The key objectives of this 5-year award to Michigan State University include: 1) increasing enrollment of URM students in the forestry program, 2) establishing a faculty-mentored research training experience, 3) enhancing leadership skills through scholar-created outreach and peer mentoring, and 4) developing intercultural competence through a service-learning study abroad program. The funding will support a cohort of five multicultural scholars, providing tailored academic preparation, experiential learning, mentoring, and internship placements to successfully transition them to graduate programs or forestry careers upon completion.