With funding from the Henry Luce Foundation, Simmons has named five rising juniors pursuing accelerated dual-degree engineering and STEM-related bachelor’s degrees as the second cohort of Clare Boothe Luce Scholars.
In December 2024, Simmons University received a $645,000 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation to support women’s education and professional development in STEM. According to the Foundation’s website, “The Clare Boothe Luce Program for Women in STEM and STEM Convergence [aspires] to close the gender gap in the field, broaden the participation of women from diverse backgrounds, and advance women-led STEM innovation for positive social change.”
The Clare Boothe Luce Program is a key component of the Foundation’s Women in STEM initiative. It is named in honor of Clare Boothe Luce (1903–1987), an American writer, politician, and diplomat who was married to Henry R. Luce, co-founder of Time and Life magazines.
As part of this grant, Simmons’ 3+2 dual degree engineering program names rising juniors each year as Clare Boothe Luce Scholars, recognizing their valuable contributions and commitment to academic excellence. The selected Clare Boothe Luce Scholars for the 2026–2027 academic year are:
- Maya McCabe ’27
- Artemisa Angjeli ’28
- Kayla Serverius ’27
- Wenli Gong ’28
- Isabella Wong ’27
“Being named a Clare Boothe Luce Scholar will enable me to further my academic research at Simmons while continuing to build my confidence and technical skills in the wet lab,” says Angjeli, upon learning about the recognition. “Through this opportunity, I hope to strengthen my ability to design and carry out independent experiments, as well as contribute to meaningful research in my field. I am especially grateful for the connections I have made and the mentorship I have received from professors and peers.”
Clare Boothe Luce Professorship
In addition to scholarships supporting women students in STEM, the grant funding also supports the Clare Boothe Luce Professorship for a woman faculty member in a scientific discipline. Dr. Shreya Bhattacharyya, an associate teaching professor in the Department of Chemistry and Physics, holds this distinguished position.
“At Simmons, we provide an equitable, inclusive, and supportive environment for women in STEM, and our faculty is deeply committed to mentorship and empowering students to reach their full potential,” Bhattacharyya says. “The Clare Boothe Luce grant not only opens doors to cutting-edge research and education but also fosters a community where women can thrive. It has been a great honor to be a part of this vibrant community and advance the representation of women in engineering by supporting students in our 3+2 engineering program.”