Dr. Milton Muldrow was first introduced to NASA’s Space Grant Project when he was named chair of Wilmington University’s Science program six years ago. As he and his team developed science programs for WilmU, “Delaware’s Place for Earth and Space Science,” his goal was to align the university with the nationwide project through the Delaware Space Grant Consortium.
“The Space Grant’s mission is to produce the workforce of the future for NASA,” said Muldrow. “They do this through research engagement for college students, internships and fellowship programs.”
Several WilmU students who have participated in the Space Grant Consortium have gone on to make an impact in the scientific community. “We got involved to get more resources for our students,” Muldrow said. “Now, those students are doing amazing things.”
Through Muldrow’s leadership, research and involvement with NASA, science is now a top priority at WilmU. Just as important, students are continuing into various professions in science, environmental science, engineering and other related fields.
Three years after Muldrow joined WilmU’s faculty, the university had the state’s second-highest enrollment — 94 students — in an undergraduate Environmental Science program, a credit to Muldrow and his team’s efforts to open the science field to students who may not otherwise have had the opportunity.
At WilmU’s Brandywine location in North Wilmington, “we designed new, state-of-the-art laboratories,” said Muldrow. “We also gained funding from the NASA Space Grant to examine genomic engineering of corals and steered Wilmington University toward the science. This has changed the STEM landscape for Delaware as all new programs have succeeded in attracting Delaware students.” WilmU also has launched a bachelor’s degree program in Biology, which Muldrow chairs.
Before coming to Wilmington University, Muldrow worked as a biologist and program analyst for the National Science Foundation (NSF), where he helped write its first reports on climate change. His duties included making funding recommendations for research experiences for undergraduate grants, leading NSF-supported research projects in Florida involving marine invertebrate population studies and producing a climate change brochure.