Henry Luce Foundation Awards Seton Hall $547,200 in 2026 to Support Women in STEM

The Henry Luce Foundation has awarded Seton Hall University $547,200 in 2026 through its Clare Boothe Luce (CBL) Program for Women in STEM. The award supports graduate fellowships and a professorship for the 2026–27 academic year, helping women pursue advanced study, conduct research and establish careers in science.

Founded in 1936 by Henry R. Luce, the Foundation supports education, research and the public exchange of knowledge. Its CBL program began in 1989 through the bequest of Clare Boothe Luce, whose will called for women “to enter, study, graduate, and teach” in science, mathematics and engineering. For 37 years, the program has supported women at different stages of academic study and scientific careers through scholarships, fellowships and professorships.

During its first 35 years, CBL awarded more than $241 million and supported nearly 4,000 undergraduate students, graduate students and early-career faculty. This year’s award continues the Foundation’s longstanding relationship with Seton Hall, one of 13 institutions designated to receive annual CBL support in perpetuity.

Graduate fellows receive full tuition, University health insurance, competitive stipends and professional development funds. Fellowships may be renewed for a second year based on satisfactory academic progress. This support gives scholars time to study, materials for experiments, opportunities to share findings and room to decide where a scientific education may lead.

“The CBL program at Seton Hall seeks to advance the role of women in the sciences by recruiting women into our STEM graduate programs and onto our STEM faculty,” said Jeffrey Togman, Ph.D., associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Arts and Sciences and professor of political science and film. He emphasized the importance of putting women “in a position to succeed and reach their full potential.”

“Expanding the graduate fellowship program has been an ongoing goal,” Togman added. The number of fellows increased from three in 2024–2025 to five in 2025–26 and reached a record eight in 2026–27, an increase of approximately 167 percent over two years. To extend this support further, the program aims to support 10 graduate fellows in 2027–28. It plans to continue identifying eligible applicants early in the admissions process while also considering students already pursuing their degrees.

CBL graduate fellow Nazende Zeren, a doctoral student in molecular biosciences, is investigating how fatty acids associated with obesity affect microglia, the brain’s resident immune cells, and their interactions with glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer. Her research examines how these cells move, send inflammatory signals and interact with tumor cells, with the goal of identifying possible targets for future treatments.

“The fellowship has helped me advance my doctoral research, take part in valuable professional development and obtain the specialized resources needed for my experiments,” Zeren said. “I am honored to be part of a program that supports women pursuing careers in STEM, and I look forward to continuing my research and contributing to the scientific community.”

The Foundation’s funding also helps fellows participate in professional communities where scientific knowledge is shared. Katherine Lefferts, a fourth-year doctoral student in molecular biosciences, received CBL fellowships during the 2024–25 and 2025–26 academic years. Her research examines the cellular processes that regulate bone formation and healing. With fellowship support, she presented this work at the Orthopaedic Research Society’s annual conference and attended several days of seminars and workshops.

“I was also able to attend a workshop specifically for women in musculoskeletal research, which provided valuable support, insight and a sense of community,” Lefferts said. “The fellowship supported specialized training, participation in research organizations and dedicated time for my research. This support was crucial to continuing my doctoral studies.”

Alongside the graduate fellowships, the CBL professorship extends the Foundation's support to women beginning faculty careers, with formal mentorship provided by the University.

Jasmyne N. Emerson, Ph.D., returned to Seton Hall in August 2026 as the Clare Boothe Luce Assistant Professor of Physics. As a first-generation college student, she received the Clare Boothe Luce Mid-Career Scholarship for Outstanding Female Scientists during her undergraduate studies in physics at Seton Hall. Later, she earned her doctorate in physics at Purdue University.

“The scholarship provided the financial support that made it possible for me to complete my undergraduate degree,” Emerson said. “Just as importantly, that support gave me the freedom to devote more of my time and energy to research and graduate school applications. I now have the opportunity to help women and students from historically underrepresented backgrounds become involved in research, develop confidence in themselves as scientists and engineers, and envision a future for themselves in STEM.”

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Categories: Research, Science and Technology