Current Grant Awardees
Learn about the spring 2026 grant awardees bringing new student-centered projects to campus this fall.
Women for UMass is proud to recognize the spring 2026 grant awardees. Donor support will help bring these six projects to life between July and December 2026, creating new opportunities for mentorship, professional development, creative practice, and community-building across UMass Amherst.
Read the full 2025–26 impact report
The report includes more details about the newest WFUM grant awardees below, plus the six grant-funded projects completed this spring.
Hampden Gallery - Women in Practice: Alumni
Hampden Gallery will foster interdisciplinary creative experiences that connect and center women artists, students, alumni, and the community through the gallery’s established model of hands-on engagement. This initiative will be the continued expansion of Hampden Gallery’s educational programming.
Workshops will provide alumnae artists with teaching and mentorship experiences while sharing their professional knowledge with current students.
Hampden Gallery operates under the umbrella of the Fine Arts Center with support from a core of 7–9 student gallery assistants who help guide daily gallery operations and programming.
Scholar Moms Network
The Scholar Moms Network will support UMass Amherst student mothers by fostering community, well-being, leadership, and professional growth.
Supporting single mothers in earning a bachelor’s degree yields a massive return on investment, increasing lifetime earnings by over $600,000.
The project will consist of four integrated events that include a large community reception, and three targeted, 20-person workshops focusing on professional development, wellness/stress restoration and community building.
The initiative aims to directly counter isolation and chronic stress by helping student mothers navigate campus resources, practice self-advocacy, and build a lasting network of peer support to increase their sense of belonging at UMass.
Smart Women Securities' Beyond Your Degree Conference
Smart Women in Securities will educate undergraduate women on finance investments through seminars, mentoring, and professional exposure. Their annual flagship event, the Beyond Your Degree Conference, will help UMass students explore financial careers and build professional skills.
Main takeaways from the conference will help students explore diverse career paths in finance; connect current students with successful UMass alumni and faculty; and, bridge classroom learning with real-world industry preparation.
Women in Cybersecurity Mentorship Program
The Women in Cybersecurity Mentorship Program will connect students through small mentor–mentee groups throughout the semester. Donor-supported grant funding will help this program offer guidance on what skills to prioritize, resumes, interviews, internships, and career paths in a field where women are still underrepresented.
By moving beyond one-time workshops, the program will create sustained mentorship connections that help students build confidence, make connections, and see a future for themselves in cybersecurity.
Women in Medicine
Founded in Spring 2025, Women in Medicine aims to foster mentorship, break barriers, and support women pursuing healthcare careers through professional development and networking. This work is especially important because, although women now make up the majority of medical school applicants and matriculants, they remain underrepresented across the broader physician workforce.
The organization provides resources such as clinical skills workshops, MCAT prep discounts, and planned large-scale conferences to help members become competitive applicants and future leaders.
Planned initiatives for the fall 2026 include career panels, networking events, and the Conference of Women in Medicine, featuring medical school admissions officers and students.
Women in Physics
Women in Physics will promote an inclusive environment for women and gender minorities in physics, addressing underrepresentation and bias in the field. This initiative fosters community and professional growth through events and mentorship opportunities.
The group will organize events featuring alumni, faculty, and students to share experiences and career paths, reinforcing belonging in physics. It aims to counteract feelings of isolation and inadequacy caused by stereotypes, enhancing retention of women and gender minorities. The project builds supporting networks across academic stages to empower participants and challenge gender-based biases in the sciences.
Help fund the next student-led project
Your gift to Women for UMass supports programs that build community, expand opportunity, and positively impact women and their communities at UMass Amherst.