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
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