L’Oreal USA is continuing its mission to help girls get involved in girls in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The company’s For Women in Science program has announced the winners of a new program – Changing the Face of STEM Mentoring Grants.

The first round of winners were announced — and the girls will receive $2,500 grants to help fund new or existing mentoring projects in their communities. 

The awards will be administered by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), L’Oréal USA’s official FWIS partner. Members of the U.S. FWIS alumni network were invited to apply to win one of the four grants.

“The Changing the Face of STEM Mentoring Grants build upon the For Women in Science program’s commitment to inspiring the next generation of girls in STEM,” said Lauren Paige, Vice President of Public Affairs & Strategic Initiatives at L’Oréal USA.  “We applaud all of our grantees for their innovative projects and on-going dedication to supporting STEM education in their communities.” 

The Winners

The four fellows and projects awarded are:

• Dr. M. Nia Madison, 2010 fellow, who will create a two-day Microbiology Girls Club workshop for minority high school students.


• Dr. Lauren O’Connell, 2014 fellow, who will double her K-12 “Little Froggers School Program” that provides frog terrariums and educational tools for science classrooms


• Dr. Cindy Quezada, 2005 fellow, will develop a hands-on internship program for underrepresented community college students at a local hospital and botanical garden


• Dr. Luisa Whittaker-Brooks, 2013 fellow, will broaden a one-day Expanding Your Horizon STEM conference for disadvantaged middle and high-school girls.  

One of the winners, Dr. Cindy Quezada, said, “I graduated with a major in science, but didn’t fully realize how many career paths I could follow in this field. The Changing the Face of STEM Mentoring Grant has enabled me to create and fund a program that is exposing young women to the different career choices in science, especially those that can help solve some of the global challenges we are currently facing.”

The L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science program is a global philanthropy that recognizes and rewards women scientists around the world at critical stages in their career. 

Read more about the program and the winners’ projects here.