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Women in Natural Sciences program becomes independent after Academy and Drexel exit

Women in Natural Sciences program becomes independent after Academy and Drexel exit

Rule Changes Philadelphia, PA local

The Philadelphia after-school science program for girls lost its institutional hosts and is now a standalone nonprofit.

Today: WINS spins off as independent organization

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

For 43 years, the Women in Natural Sciences program mentored Philadelphia girls inside the Academy of Natural Sciences. In 2026, the Academy and Drexel University stopped hosting it, and the program spun off as an independent organization.

The program reports a 100% high school graduation rate and more than 96% college attendance among participants. Now it must raise its own money, find a new home, and keep a federally funded study of its alumni going without the museum's staff.

Why it matters

A program with a 100% graduation rate now must fund and run itself, testing whether a proven mentorship model survives outside its museum.

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Key Indicators

100%
High school graduation rate
All WINS participants graduated high school, according to WHYY.
96%
College attendance rate
More than 96% of participants attended college, according to WHYY.
43
Years at the Academy
The program started in 1982 and ran more than 40 years at the Academy.
2018
Presidential award year
The White House and National Science Foundation honored WINS in 2018.

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People Involved

NB
Ninette Bennett
Interim executive director, Women in Natural Sciences
Leading the new independent program
BP
Betsy Payne
Former WINS manager
Longtime manager who oversaw the program budget
MI
Mazzi Ingram
WINS alum; special projects, Philadelphia Parks Department
Alum and program advocate

Organizations Involved

WN
Women in Natural Sciences
Youth science education program
Independent nonprofit

A free after-school science mentorship program for Philadelphia girls, now operating independently after 43 years at the Academy of Natural Sciences.
AN
Academy of Natural Sciences
Natural history museum and research institution
Closed its public museum on September 30, 2026; remains a research institution

Philadelphia natural history institution that hosted WINS for more than 40 years and closed its public museum in 2026.
Drexel University
Drexel University
Private university
Former host of WINS; closed Academy museum

Philadelphia university affiliated with the Academy of Natural Sciences since 2011; it stopped hosting WINS in 2026.

Timeline

1982 November 2026

5 events Latest: Today
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. WINS spins off as independent organization

    Today Spin-off

    The program becomes its own entity after negotiations with the Academy and Drexel.

  2. Academy of Natural Sciences museum closes

    Closure

    Drexel and Academy leadership shut the public museum after rising costs.

  3. Academy and Drexel stop hosting WINS

    Institutional

    Program organizers say Title IX compliance concerns led to the exit.

  4. WINS receives Presidential Award for mentoring

    Recognition

    The White House and National Science Foundation honor the program.

  5. WINS starts at the Academy of Natural Sciences

    Origin

    The after-school science program begins mentoring Philadelphia girls.

Scenarios

1

WINS opens a new cohort as an independent nonprofit

Possible Resolves by Sep 1, 2027

Discussed by: WINS interim director Ninette Bennett and program alumni

If WINS secures donations, grants, and a new home, it can recruit another class of Philadelphia high school students. The program's alumni network and 2018 award give it a base of support, but it must replace the Academy's staff and facilities.

2

WINS closes or pauses operations within two years

Unlikely Resolves by End of 2028

Discussed by: No named forecaster; risk scenario after host institutions exited

Without the Academy's grants and staff, WINS could run out of money or fail to find a new institutional home. A closure or indefinite pause would end a 43-year run.

3

WINS partners with another Philadelphia institution

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: WINS organizers

A university, museum, or nonprofit could host WINS, giving it space and administrative support. The Please Touch Museum's spin-off from the Academy shows such transitions can work.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1976

Please Touch Museum (1976)

The Please Touch Museum began as a pilot project at the Academy of Natural Sciences. It later spun off and became an independent children's museum in Philadelphia.

Then

The museum grew into a separate institution.

Now

It became a lasting example of an Academy program becoming its own entity.

Why this matters now

WINS follows a similar path: a program incubated at the Academy now has to survive on its own.

2011

Drexel-Academy affiliation (2011)

The Academy of Natural Sciences affiliated with Drexel University. The partnership created Drexel's Department of Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Then

The affiliation expanded research and education ties.

Now

It ended with the 2026 museum closure and WINS exit.

Why this matters now

The spin-off is part of the unwinding of that partnership.

2018

Presidential Award for WINS (2018)

The White House and National Science Foundation gave WINS a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring.

Then

The award recognized the program's mentoring record.

Now

It became a marker of the program's success as it sought independence.

Why this matters now

The award is evidence of the program's track record, which supporters cite as reason to keep it alive.

Sources

(2)
WHYY Drexel University