Press Releases

BUFFALO, NY—Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26) announced $100,000 in federal funding has been awarded to Niagara University toward a project designed to expand Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education pathways.  The grant is awarded through the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Undergraduate Education. 

“Quality jobs in the STEM field continue to grow,” said Rep. Kennedy. “This effort, led by Niagara University, seeks to strengthen the STEM industry pipeline through the development of teachers available to nurture learning and ultimately support a system that makes STEM employment accessible to the next generation of innovators.”

“We know that the number of STEM jobs is growing twice as fast as non-STEM careers, but there is a shortage of qualified secondary education teachers within the STEM field,” said the Rev. James J. Maher, C.M., president of Niagara University. “I want to thank Congressman Tim Kennedy for his support of this work, and we look forward to building education and career pathways for secondary education teachers interested in STEM in high-need school districts.”

The project, co-led by Niagara University Department of Mathematics Associate Professor Dr. Maritza Branker and Department of Teacher Education Assistant Professor Dr. Caitlin Riegel, will focus on preparing highly qualified secondary STEM educators. Niagara University will partner with Niagara Falls City School District and Buffalo Public Schools to implement the program which aims to prepare college students to become secondary STEM teachers with hands-on training in culturally relevant teaching methods while inspiring STEM interest in a diverse population of middle and high school students.  

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