NSBE - Convention 2010 - (Page 102)

DEGREES THE EXTR A EDGE By do n n a M. O we n s hen Troy Stovall graduated from Southern Methodist University with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, his heart was set on success. But he never imagined that the road to get there would take so many twists and turns. ADVANCED W women and 28.4 million men “I thought my career path was going to be very different,” aged 25 and older had a bachsays Stovall, chuckling. “I think God must have a sense of elor’s degree or higher. Women humor.” had a larger share of associate’s, Stovall is a longtime NSBE member and former national ofbachelor’s and master’s degrees, ficer who in January became the new COO and executive vice whereas more men had professionpresident of Howard University. His diverse career reads like al degrees (e.g., medicine or law) a handbook on the value of hard work, taking professional or doctorates. African Americans risks and the power of education. held 1.2 million advanced deStovall has held engineering and management positions at grees as of 2007, up from about major companies such as Southwestern Bell, cofounded an 700,000 degree-holders a decade investment firm with the former U.S. ambassador to Portugal earlier. and served in a top academic post at Jackson State University. “Even though I think you can Along the way, he’s earned a master’s in computer engineering do well without it, I recommend from Stanford University. Later, he graduated from Harvard getting an advanced degree. with an M.B.A. Stovall credits his engineering training “Even though I think you can do well without it, I recommend and the advanced degrees with giving his getting an advanced degree. Period. It does set you apart.” career that extra edge. “Being an engineer and having the ability — Novella Bridges, Ph.D., Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to problem solve, to gather data and test it is something that employers value,” he says. Graduate education, Stovall adds, “has allowed me to Period. It does set you apart,” says NSBE member Novella interface the tech and business sides. In my case, it’s given me Bridges, Ph.D., a senior research scientist at Pacific Northwest the ability to interpret technical needs for business, which is National Laboratory in Washington State. “It’s like a key that necessary in Corporate America.” helps you fast track through the system.” Dr. Bridges should know. After studying chemistry at Jackson State University, she earned her doctorate in chemiRELEvANT ChOICE cal engineering from Louisiana State University. Today, she’s In a changing, global economy that will need the skill sets among a handful of African-American scientists at one of the of engineers, other tech professionals, and scientists, the quesmost prestigious labs in the country. Her research projects tion of whether to obtain an advanced degree is perhaps more have run the gamut from creating therapeutic agents for relevant than ever. patients with cancerous tumors to developing technology that According to a U.S. Census Bureau report, “Educational Continued on page 98 can help Homeland Security officials screen Attainment in the United States: 2008,” some 29.4 million 102 • career engineer • convention 2010 • www.nsbe.org http://www.nsbe.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NSBE - Convention 2010

NSBE - Convention 2010
Contents
Get Involved
What Makes Us Great
Sandra Edmonds of Intel
Dr. David Freeman of MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Dwayne James of Jacobs
Jean Paul of Philadelphia Gas Works
Ernest Levert of Lockheed Martin
Bryan Agard of ITW
Bettye Moddy of Navair
International News
Chapter News
Region I Jobs Outlook
Engineering a Global Impact
Things To Do In Toronto
Career Fair Recruiters Speak
Golden Torch Award Winners
Save Our Kids 2010
CE Cover: Advanced Degrees
Employer Profiles
AE Members On the Move
Advertisers Index

NSBE - Convention 2010