Clare Boothe Luce was a playwright, journalist, U.S. Ambassador to Italy, and the first woman elected to Congress from Connecticut. In her bequest establishing the Clare Boothe Luce Program, she sought “to encourage women to enter, study, graduate, and teach” in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering. The CBL Program has become one of the single largest sources of private funding for women’s STEM higher education in the United States. Since 1989, the Program has awarded more than $217 million in support of 2,955 women through 807 grants to 204 colleges and universities, including 65 Minority-Serving Institutions.
At Le Moyne College, the Clare Boothe Luce Research Scholars program supports undergraduate women majoring in chemistry, computer science, mathematics, or physics. The program is designed to motivate and prepare high-potential women for success in graduate school and academic or research careers through engagement in mentored research, networking, and career preparation activities.
For more information about Ambassador Luce, please visit the Henry Luce Foundation website.
Current first-year students, sophomores and juniors may apply for summer 2023 or academic year 2023-24 awards; applications are due by March 8, 2023. Please review all of the Learn More information below and contact Dr. Dixie Blackley, CBL Program Director, to inquire about the program or to request an application (email: black_d@lemoyne.edu).
Meet our 2022-2023 CBL Scholars
Brittany Cripps '23 is a chemistry major and mathematics minor from Hilton, NY. She is continuing work she began as a
2021-2022 CBL Research Scholar with
Dr. Joe Mullins, her faculty mentor. Brittany's CBL project focuses on the urea functional group, a structural feature in many compounds that demonstrate promise for the treatment of neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. Her poster presentation at the regional meeting of American Chemical Society in October 2022 offered a valuable opportunity to share their results with other researchers. In addition to her CBL experience, Brittany participated in a summer 2022 Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at the University of Rochester and a summer 2021 REU at Syracuse University. Beyond her research interests, Brittany mentors first-year chemistry majors through the
Stempower program and participates in the different off-campus excursions that Le Moyne offers (e.g., visiting the Baltimore Aquarium, white water rafting in the Adirondacks). After graduation, Brittany would like to attend graduate school at the University of Rochester and then work in a chemistry lab or forensics lab.
Bryanna Howes '23 is a chemistry major and criminology minor from Gansevoort, NY. She is continuing work she began as a
2021-2022 CBL Research Scholar with
Dr. Anna O'Brien, her faculty mentor. Her research focuses on synthesizing a ligand and determining a reproducible procedure for purification with the goal of complexing it with chosen metals to create a thin film to coat electronic film chips for electronic devices. In addition to her CBL experience, Bryanna participated in a summer 2021 Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at Syracuse University where she contributed to two projects: (1) Air Force-funded research related gunshot wound technology that resulted in a
co-authored publication; and (2) research focused on a hydrogel for Crohn’s fistulas that also resulted in a
co-authored publication. Beyond her research interests, Bryanna engages with campus life through ERIE21,
Stempower, and several student clubs and also contributes to the Syracuse community through volunteer activities. After graduation, Bryanna plans to pursue a master’s degree in forensic science and a career in forensic toxicology.
Sadie Davis '24 is a chemistry major and Integral Honors student from Liverpool, NY. Her CBL project seeks to alkylate and purify different carbocyclic curcuminoids to obtain unique substructures that hold valuable properties in pharmacology. Sadie's faculty mentor is
Dr. Joe Mullins. In addition to her CBL experience, Sadie works as a laboratory assistant in the Chemistry department where she is gaining valuable experience in preparing solutions, setting up experiments, and following safety procedures for handling hazardous chemicals. Beyond her research interests, Sadie leads Organic Chemistry Workshops, participates in the ERIE21 program, and serves as a
Stempower mentor. After graduating from Le Moyne, Sadie plans to attend graduate school for organic chemistry and potentially pursue a career in research.
Zoe Genant '24 is a chemistry major and mathematics minor from Parish, NY. Her CBL project focuses on synthesizing biphenyl thioureas and guanidines to obtain molecules with modified substituents and studying their properties to determine whether they have pharmaceutical potential for the treatment of central nervous system disorders like Alzheimer’s disease. Zoe's faculty mentor is
Dr. Joe Mullins. In addition to her CBL experience, Zoe participated in a summer 2022 Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at Syracuse University where she synthesized short peptides, tested their capabilities to catalyze reactions, and studied the 𝛽-sheet amyloid structures of the self-assembling peptides, eventually finding a peptide capable of catalyzing a retro-aldol reaction. Beyond her research interests, Zoe serves as a
Stempower mentor and as treasurer of Dolphins Connect with Homeless Outreach, and participates in several other student clubs. After graduating from Le Moyne, Zoe would like to pursue a graduate degree and is considering a master's degree in chemical engineering or a doctoral degree, through a Ph.D. or a combined M.D.-Ph.D. progra