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Mount Saint Mary's University has received a $770,000 grant from the Fletcher Jones Foundation to modernize laboratory facilities and purchase new equipment for its Biology and Chemistry departments, strengthening STEM education and expanding research opportunities for students.

The grant will support a comprehensive upgrade of the University's science laboratories, including the replacement of aging infrastructure, acquisition of advanced scientific instrumentation and purchase of essential teaching and research equipment. The investment will enhance student learning while improving laboratory safety, efficiency and research capacity.

"At Mount Saint Mary's, we are committed to providing students with transformative educational experiences that prepare them to lead and serve in their communities," said ÿÈÕ´óÈüÈë¿Ú President Ann McElenay-Johnson. "This investment will strengthen our STEM programs, expand opportunities for hands-on learning and research, and ensure our students have access to the tools and technologies they need to thrive in today's scientific and healthcare professions."

The funding will support upgrades in three key areas:

• Critical infrastructure: replacement of outdated chemical ventilation hoods, installation of a backup generator to protect research materials during power outages and a new water purification system essential for laboratory experiments.
• Teaching and research equipment: a new autoclave, spectrophotometers, incubator shakers, laboratory computers, safety cabinets and other equipment used daily in science courses.
• Advanced scientific instrumentation: a benchtop scanning electron microscope, gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer, fluorescence spectrophotometer and XRF analyzer that will expand teaching and research capabilities.

"The Fletcher Jones Foundation is honored to support Mount Saint Mary's and the incredible work they are doing in STEM education," said Mary Spellman, EdD, executive director and treasurer of the Foundation.

The upgrades will benefit nearly every biology and chemistry teaching and research laboratory on the Chalon campus, serving STEM majors, student researchers and nursing students enrolled in required laboratory courses.

"This investment will have an immediate impact on our students' daily learning experience," said Sylvine Deprèle, PhD, chair of the Physical Sciences and Mathematics Department. "Much of our laboratory equipment and infrastructure has served generations of Mount students and is now decades old. These upgrades will create safer, more modern learning environments, improve access to industry-standard technology and ensure our students receive the hands-on scientific training needed for careers in healthcare, research and other STEM fields."

Science education has long been central to the University's mission. In Fall 2025, Mount Saint Mary's enrolled 174 STEM majors and nearly 800 students in healthcare-related fields requiring foundational laboratory coursework. Overall, nearly half of the University's undergraduate students complete laboratory-based science courses during their time at the Mount.

"When students walk into these laboratories, they should feel inspired by the space around them," Deprèle said. "These upgrades will transform how we teach and conduct research. This investment demonstrates a commitment to our students and to the future of STEM education at the Mount."

The modernization effort will also support emerging academic initiatives, including environmental science, exercise science, physician assistant education and enhanced pre-health pathways. New equipment will expand undergraduate research opportunities, strengthen graduate school preparation and help meet workforce needs in high-demand scientific and healthcare fields.

Mount Saint Mary's has earned national recognition for creating pathways to STEM careers for women. Among current STEM majors, 93% are women of color, 73% are first-generation college students and 77% receive Pell Grants.

Equipment purchases have begun, with installation continuing throughout the coming academic year.

The grant represents the latest investment from the Fletcher Jones Foundation, a longtime partner of Mount Saint Mary's University whose support has strengthened student success, STEM education and campus facilities.