About

Founded in 2019, the Massenberg STEM Institute is a two-week summer program designed to engage and excite rising 10th grade students about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

This residential program, housed in the Commonwealth Honors College on the UMass Amherst campus, is geared towards low-income, underrepresented students of color that might not otherwise have exposure to opportunities in these areas of study, or understand STEM’s importance and relevancy in their high school education.

Our goals

The overall goals of the Massenberg STEM Institute are to: 

  • build students’ confidence in their abilities in STEM
  • support self advocacy and resiliency
  • help students identify academic and personal goals. 

our founders

The institute was conceived and created by UMass Amherst alumnus Michael Weir ‘76 and Mirian Graddick-Weir in collaboration with Kumble Subbaswamy, chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Laura Haas, dean of the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences at UMass Amherst, and a team of interdisciplinary faculty representing the STEM disciplines and education.  

With a $1 million gift, the Samuel E. Massenberg Sr. Foundation that was created by Michael Weir and Mirian Graddick-Weir has enabled the program to expand, hire a full-time program director, and establish an endowment to ensure its future.