The L’Oréal USA For Women in Science (FWIS) program has announced the winners of its Changing the Face of STEM Mentoring Grants (CTFS).

The newly established program was designed to support former fellows in their efforts to inspire the next generation of girls in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), with members of the US FWIS alumni network invited to apply for one of four $2,500 grants to help fund new or existing mentoring projects in their communities.

L’Oréal USA has awarded the grants to Dr M. Nia Madison, an Assistant Professor of Microbiology at Miami Dade College, Dr. Lauren O’Connell, a Bauer Fellow at Harvard University and 2014 fellow, Dr. Cindy Quezada, an international consultant for NGOs and startups and 2005 fellow, and Dr Luisa Whittaker-Boots, an assistant professor of Chemistry at the University of Utah and 2013 fellow.

Lauren Paige, Vice President of Public Affairs & Strategic Initiatives at L’Oréal USA, says, “The Changing the Face of STEM Mentoring Grants build upon the For Women in Science program’s commitment to inspiring the next generation of girls in STEM.
“We applaud all of our grantees for their innovative projects and on-going dedication to supporting STEM education in their communities.” 

Dr. Cindy Quezada, 2005 FWIS fellow and CTFS grant winner, said, “I graduated with a major in science, but didn’t fully realize how many career paths I could follow in this field. The Changing the Face of STEM Mentoring Grant has enabled me to create and fund a program that is exposing young women to the different career choices in science, especially those that can help solve some of the global challenges we are currently facing.”