“This grant will help us attract highly qualified STEM majors into the teaching profession, bringing content experts into classrooms through immersive residency preparation,” said Anna Brady, associate dean of education at Quinnipiac. “That means stronger preparation, better teacher retention and ultimately, better outcomes for K-12 learners in our partner school districts.”

The grant, funded by the National Science Foundation’s Noyce Program, will provide scholarships for 18 Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)  candidates with STEM majors to participate in an immersive Residency Program during their graduate year. This includes both secondary education candidates in biology, chemistry or mathematics - as well as elementary education candidates - who have an appropriate STEM major. The program will cover over 90 percent of program tuition and offer extensive hands-on classroom experience, followed by three years of support and mentorship.

Building on eight years of success with its MAT Residency, Quinnipiac’s new Noyce project will place each participant in a full-year co-teaching residency alongside an experienced mentor teacher in a local school district. Quinnipiac is partnering with the New Haven, East Haven and Hamden public schools to provide these intensive, real-world teaching experiences.

In addition to classroom teaching, residents will engage in professional development activities including workshops led by STEM experts, participation in STEM events for K-12 audiences and attendance at national STEM education conferences. The comprehensive training is designed not only to increase teaching effectiveness but also to improve student engagement and achievement in STEM subjects.

“Beyond the scholarship support, this program provides three years of induction and professional development, helping build a robust mentoring network among our graduates,” said Brady, who applied for the grant. “It is a model that does not just prepare teachers, it sustains them in the field.”

The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program is a national initiative that supports talented STEM undergraduates and professionals to become effective K-12 STEM teachers, particularly in high-need districts. The program also funds research on teacher effectiveness and retention in these areas.

“Being awarded the prestigious Noyce Grant is a significant milestone in the Quinnipiac School of Education’s commitment to advancing STEM education,” said Dean Anne Dichele. “To be awarded this highly competitive grant speaks volumes as to the quality and integrity of Quinnipiac’s School of Education programs. This grant award reflects our ongoing dedication to educational excellence, and we are thrilled to begin this transformative journey with our future Noyce scholars.”

The first cohort is set to begin in Summer 2026. For inquiries about applying for this unique opportunity to become a highly qualified STEM teacher, or for those considering the teaching profession more generally, you are encouraged to reach out to Quinnipiac’s Graduate Admissions Office. Quinnipiac’s 15-month Master of Arts in Teaching programs provide a variety of opportunities such as residencies, paid stipends and tuition offsets to complete licensure and certification in elementary, secondary and special education affordably.