2013 Convention - (Page 23)

back tofrom NSBE’s Founders Indiana Remembrances By Kevin M. Briscoe A s thousands of Smith says he believes engineering NSBE is a concept “built to students and last.” professionals “In my not-so-humble descend upon opinion, there are two reaIndianapolis this year for sons why NSBE has lasted,” the 39th National Society he says. “One, there is a of Black Engineers Annual need, and two, the memberConvention, some may ship is willing to work to know they are but a stone’s keep it alive. That says to throw from the birthplace of me that NSBE continues to NSBE, Purdue University. serve its purpose, and the “NSBE was designed members feel that they get five of nsbe’s founding “chicago six”: (left to right) edward using the American Society even more out of it than A. coleman, Anthony (“tony”) Harris, brian Harris, stanley L. of Mechanical Engineers they put in.” Kirtley and george A. smith. not pictured: John W. Logan as a model, so we expected And so, for the first time there would one day be chapters everywhere,” says Anthony “Tony” Harris, NSBE founder and current National Advisory Board chair. “(But) we certainly didn’t anticipate NSBE as it exists today.” since 2001, Indianapolis is the site of the NSBE Annual ConvenHarris is one of the “Chicago Six,” the group of African-Amerition: a fitting location to remember the Society’s roots in Indiana. can engineering students at Purdue who breathed life into NSBE. “I think it is most fitting that the Annual Convention is returnThe others were Edward A. Coleman, Brian Harris, Stanley L. ing to Indiana, which will be the perfect setting for a tribute to Kirtley, John W. Logan and George A. Smith. The students were our late mentor, Dr. Arthur Bond,” says Brian Harris. assisted by a Purdue faculty member, Arthur J. Bond, Ph.D. KirtLong considered as vital to the formation of NSBE as the ley, Logan and Dr. Bond are deceased. Chicago Six, Dr. Bond, who died this past December, was “Our time horizon was closer to a five-year outlook,” says Tony known as a tireless advocate for quality engineering education Harris, now president and chief executive officer of CSECO, a for minority students. In addition to his efforts to launch NSBE, manufacturer of detection equipment for contraband and exploDr. Bond held key administrative posts at Tuskegee University sives. “We never spoke about international impact at the time, and Alabama A&M University. nor did we envision moving our sphere of influence down to the At Dr. Bond’s first workplace, Purdue, at least one administhird-grade level. Our focus was mainly on getting more students trator is looking forward to NSBE’s “family reunion” in Indy. to enroll in engineering, getting more students to graduate in NSBE National Advisor Virginia Booth-Gleghorn attended engineering and getting more black engineering faculty. Purdue with the Chicago Six and was among NSBE’s first co“Funny though, we did joke about who would play us in the hort of members. She became the Society’s first female national NSBE movie.” chair in 1978 and now directs Purdue’s Minority Engineering From this core group of young men, NSBE has grown into a Program. 28,000-plus-strong organization with international reach. And, Booth-Gleghorn says NSBE has much work left to do. in the nearly four decades since NSBE’s founding, its mission “We have yet to achieve equity. Statistically, we are still vastly remains of paramount importance. underrepresented (in engineering), but I would hate to see the “Diversity in engineering is even more important today (bestatistics if NSBE did not exist,” she says. cause) the marketplace is extremely competitive and the economic In its next 40 years, she envisions NSBE “overcoming current climate affords (fewer) opportunities,” says Brian Harris, now a challenges and accomplishing the mission…. You will see NSBE general partner with Progressive Development and Associates, a businesses, schools, recreational parks and presidents!” ■ construction management firm. “Training in engineering provides all the necessary skills to function in any business setting, resulting Kevin M. Briscoe is a writer based in Baltimore, Md., and a former in more entrepreneurs and more start-up companies.” editor of NSBE Magazine. For the first time since 2001, Indianapolis is the site of the NSBE Annual Convention: a fitting location to remember the Society’s roots. www.nsbe.org nsbe magazine • convention 2013 • 23 http://www.nsbe.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2013 Convention

2013 Convention
Contents
Your 4.0…Guaranteed!
My Academic Comeback
THE PROGRAMS ZONE
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Inga Brathwaite: Empowered at Toyota
Jerome Brown: Stoking the Engines at Aerojet
Christina Barker: On Track at PGW
Leveling Up
SEEK 2013 Update!
Back to Indiana
NSBE Calendar
Honoring Our Past, Driving Our Community Forward
Passing the Golden Torch
The Professional’s Perspective
Trailblazers
Petroleum Engineering Digs Deep for Talent
Employer Profiles
Celebrating Academic Excellence
Advertisers Index

2013 Convention