NSBE - Winter 2010/2011 - 16

NsBE NEWS

Dr. Mike Moves On

fter 10 years of employment and 23 years of involvement with the National Society of Black Engineers, NSBE’s beloved Michael D. Smith, D.Eng. (“Dr. Mike”) left his position as NSBE director, Programs in October to become deputy executive director of GEM, the National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science, Inc. His new role, supporting GEM Executive Director and former NSBE Executive Director Michele Lezama, won’t separate him from NSBE’s mission or take him far from NSBE World Headquarters. GEM is headquartered two blocks from NSBE’s offices in Alexandria, Va. “On behalf of the entire (National Executive Board) and NSBE, I thank Dr. Mike for his many years of dedicated service to this organization and its members,” NSBE National Chair Calvin Phelps wrote in an e-mail on Oct. 13. “… His work has touched us all. Dr. Mike has truly been a fixture at NSBE and a tremendous resource, and we wish him the greatest of success in his new role at GEM.” Dr. Smith hails from Kansas City, Mo., where he decided to become an engineer during his junior year in high school. “I wanted to be a chemist or a chef,” he Michael D. smith, D.eng., longtime NsBe director, Programs, resigned in october to join recalls. “Then I learned about the application of the National geM consortium. chemistry through chemical engineering and went WHQ accounting manager also groomed me and advised that route. I said, ‘I can finance my culinary school interest me when I was national treasurer. So many more could be in retirement with the money I make as an engineer.’ ” named.” Dr. Smith first encountered NSBE during his freshman In August 2000, Dr. Smith gave up his post as national fiyear at the University of Missouri–Rolla in fall 1987. His nance chair of NSBE’s Alumni Extension to join the Society’s first NSBE Annual Convention in Washington, D.C., in 1988, headquarters staff as executive programs manager. He later hooked him on the organization, he says. Over the next 12 moved up to director, Programs and also served for a time as years he served as a NSBE officer on the chapter, regional interim deputy executive director. and national levels and met many positive role models. Dr. Smith holds a B.S. and M.S. in chemical engineering “Dr. Gary May (now a member of NSBE’s National Advifrom UM–Rolla and an engineering doctorate in chemical sory Board) was the first national chair I saw. He was very engineering and engineering management from Texas A&M professional, almost regal. I wanted to be where he was,” Dr. University. Smith relates. “Norris Hite, past NSBE publisher, gave me a “Just know that as a lifetime member (#69), I will now and lot of guidance as a student leader. There was also Charles allows be a supporter of NSBE and will continue to work Walker, who was executive director then and a dynamic and serve to guide and promote our mission…,” he wrote in speaker. Marion Blalock, now an NAB member, was there October. “I know no other purpose in life but to serve. And with the founders. She has been a wealth of knowledge. AdI am blessed to have been given the opportunity to serve at visors on the regional level such as Milton Lee, Marvin Love NSBE.” ■ and Oscar Polk helped groom me. Chandler Clary, past NSBE
www.nsbe.org

16 • nsbe magazine • winter 2010/11

NSBE - Winter 2010/2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NSBE - Winter 2010/2011