Academic Roundup
within six years, compared to only 7.7 percent of Black engineering students who were not NSBE members.
TALWAR COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCES
NSBE still strong after 16 years Indiana Tech’s chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) was founded in 2006 to provide a supportive community for Black engineering students so that they stay in school and graduate. Sixteen years later, Indiana Tech’s NSBE chapter is still successfully fulfilling its mission. In February, the chapter held its annual banquet; this event is a fundraiser, but it has also become a celebratory comingtogether for the members of this tight-knit student organization. “Within NSBE, students are able to provide the support to one another that is needed when you are part of a minoritized population, as there are additional pressures and stressors when one is not part of the majority population,” said chapter faculty advisor and professor of English, Dr. Susan McGrade. “Because of that, NSBE members form strong
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bonds, like family members. They always support and lift up one another.”
“It’s my sense that the stats have remained pretty consistent since our study,” Dr. McGrade said. “For the study, we interviewed alumni from the chapter and analyzed the transcripts to find the characteristics of NSBE that helped sustain them through their studies. The interviews always returned to themes of family, confidence and pride—themes that resonate with current members.” “Being a part of NSBE means being a part of a community that symbolizes growth, belonging and family,” said John Iluno, programs chair of Tech’s NSBE chapter. “My career as a mechanical engineer has been positively impacted by my experience with NSBE.”
One of the most active student organizations on campus, NSBE’s activities are guided by its mission statement: “To increase the number of culturally-responsible black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally “Being a part of and positively impact the NSBE means being community.” Its members meet weekly to engage in a part of a community professional development that symbolizes growth, programming, organize fundraising activities and belonging and family.” plan community service JOHN ILUNO, activities such as events NSBE PROGRAMS CHAIR with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne. “NSBE provides networks and opportunities to students who otherwise aren’t a part of existing networks,” Dr. McGrade said. “Members provide space for study groups, share helpful information about classes and create a network of alumni and current students who are aware of opportunities for internships, scholarships and jobs.” Most importantly, NSBE affiliation is helping Indiana Tech’s Black engineering students stay in school and graduate. In 2016, Dr. McGrade and Dr. Monique (Anderson) Ross, the academic advisor for Indiana Tech’s first NSBE chapter, did a research study on the chapter for a presentation at the American Society of Engineering Education conference. Their study showed that 82 percent of Black engineering students who were NSBE members graduated
Chapter president, Cherokee Bodell, has been positively impacted, as well. “I’ve been able to develop bonds with members of my chapter and see people who look like me experiencing success and being leaders in their fields,” she said.
While the themes that draw members toward NSBE remain constant, every class adds something new to the chapter’s legacy. “It is incredible to watch every chapter find an area of improvement and then make its mark,” Dr. McGrade said. “Sometimes it’s through fundraising. Sometimes it’s through recruitment. Sometimes it’s through achievements like having back-to-back debate champions (2017, 2018), or being the National Retention Chapter of the Year (2020). "Every year I am a part of this, I am fortunate enough to learn from students,” she added. “It is a different world when you begin to put yourself in a capacity to learn from those around you, especially those whose experiences, perspectives and positionalities are different from your own.”
