A grant has been awarded to the University of Iowa to establish one of only five University Centers of Exemplary Mentoring in the nation.

The centers are located at universities that have proven records of underrepresented minority graduate students in science, technology, engineering, and math — or STEM — disciplines.

Universities participating are expected to expand, strengthen, and institutionalize minority recruitment, mentoring, education support, and professional development.

Colleen Mitchell, mathematics associate professor and head of the Department of Mathematics Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, will be the center’s director.

The funding is a three-year, $1.2 million grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

— by Rebecca Morin