Mississippi’s historically black colleges and universities are getting a boost from one of the state’s largest private employers.

Nissan North America announced a $250,000 grant to help support science, technology, engineering and math programs at Alcorn State University, Coahoma Community College, Hinds Community College-Utica Campus, Jackson State University, Mississippi Valley State University, Rust College and Tougaloo College.

Jeffrey Webster, director of diversity and inclusion at Nissan North America, said in a news release that the company “recognizes that STEM education is critical to developing the next generation of innovators.”

Nissan made a similar HBCU donation to Coahoma Community College in 2016, which helped promote STEM studies to 8 to 11-year-olds. The grant also helped pay for equipment, robotics and other materials.

All together, Nissan said the company has donated $1 million to HBCUs.

Ryan L. Nave, a native of University City, Mo., served as Mississippi Today's editor-in-chief from May 2018 until April 2020. Ryan began his career with Mississippi Today February 2016 as an original member of the editorial team. He became news editor August 2016. Ryan has a bachelor’s in political science from the University of Missouri-Columbia and has worked for Illinois Times and served as news editor for the Jackson Free Press.