It is possible that Freeman Hrabowski has done more to improve training and access to STEM careers (science, technology, engineering, and math) than anyone else alive at the moment. As President of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County from 1992 to 2022, he co-founded the Meyerhoff Scholars Program, which created resources and a campus environment where underrepresented students could thrive in some of the toughest majors on campus. The techniques that helped future African-American scientists, doctors, and engineers were eventually mainstreamed at UMBC and helped thousands of students of all backgrounds.

Inspired by his work, in 2022 the Howard Hughes Medical Institute launched the Freeman Hrabowski Scholars Program to support outstanding researchers, who have strong potential to become leaders in their fields. Access and high ach ...