Records of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)

"In 1974, Edward Coleman, Anthony Harris, Brian Harris, Stanley L. Kirtley, John W. Logan Jr., and George Smith the “Chicago Six”, along with a host of other Purdue Engineering students and professor Arthur J. Bond, Ph.D. formed the first chapter of the, then, Society of Black Engineers. After contacting the other 288 accredited engineering schools, the Purdue SBE held its first annual meeting in April 1975 with 48 students from 32 schools. It was at that meeting that they unanimously voted to form the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE).... In 1976, NSBE was incorporated as a 501 c(3) national non-profit, and John Cason became the first elected president of the organization. Two years later in 1978, Virginia Booth became the first female national chair and the first chair to serve two (2) terms. Since then, NSBE Alumni (now NSBE Professionals) was formed in 1989, and, in 1990, the first NSBE Jr. chapters were formed, setting a firm foundation to realize the NSBE mission [to increase the number of culturally responsible Black Engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community]." Society history and mission statement from the NSBE website, https://www.nsbe.org/about-us/history. As of 2016, the Northwestern University Chapter of NSBE had about 30 members, and its efforts include supporting incoming Black engineering students by "collecting class notes from older students, offering professional networking events and providing tips for job fairs and interviews," as well as conducting outreach and collaborative programming with Evanston Township High School students, where they have a NSBE Jr. chapter. In May 2012, the Northwestern University Chapter was honored by the national organization as the "Large Chapter of the Year" for their work in community outreach, professional development, and academic excellence. They also received the Highest Regional Chapter GPA award for the 2018-2019 year. Information from: "One McCormick Lecture Series Kicks Off with National Society of Black Engineers," lecture by Leah Payne, President of NSBE-NU, Northwestern McCormick School of Engineering - Engineering News https://www.mccormick.northwestern.edu/news/articles/2020/10/one-mccormick-lecture-series-kicks-off-with-national-society-of-black-engineers.html. Oct 8, 2020. "Northwestern's National Society of Black Engineers Named 'Large Chapter of the Year'." Northwestern Engineering. May 18, 2012. https://www.mccormick.northwestern.edu/news/articles/2012/05/NSBE-chapter-award-2012.html. Mariana Alfaro, "Facing underrepresentation, black STEM students find support in one another," The Daily Northwestern, 2016, October 20. https://dailynorthwestern.com/2016/10/20/campus/facing-underrepresentation-black-stem-students-find-support-in-one-another/.