AMIE 2023 Annual Conference

Advancing equity. Promoting Black leadership.

Congratulations to AMIE on 30 years of achieving diversity in engineering through sustainable partnerships.

OURMISSION

Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering (AMIE) is a catalyst that forges Industry/ Government/Academic partnerships that support programs to advance minorities interest in engineering.

OURVISION

AMIE is the premier organization that develops industry, government and university partnerships to achieve diversity in the engineering workforce.

OURVALUES

As a coalition of Industry, Government Agencies and the ABET accredited Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Engineering Schools, AMIE is committed to:

• Promoting and encouraging minority students to pursue engineering degrees

• Facilitating the recruitment of HBCU engineering coops, interns and graduates to member organizations

• Providing a forum for member organizations to exchange ideas on “Best Practices” and “Issues” related to developing a diverse engineering workforce

• Facilitating the forging of Engineering Research and Technology Transfer partnerships between the AMIE HBCU’s and the AMIE non-academic members

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GREETINGS FROM THE AMIE CHAIRMAN

On behalf of the AMIE Board of Directors, industry, government, and academic partners, I want to personally welcome you to our 30th Annual Conference and extend my thanks and appreciation to the The Mayflower Hotel, here in beautiful Washington D.C..

Thirty years ago, key leaders from Corporate and Governmental Communities, who had a vested interest in ABET accredited HBCU Engineering Schools, sat down with several HBCU’s Leaders and developed key strategies that would enhance their engineering programs. These stakeholders challenged the status quo and looked beyond the traditional methods of recruitment, hiring programs and activities. They focused their efforts on long term measures that provide innovative academic programs of excellence at both the undergraduate and graduate levels to attract and graduate a greater number of minorities and women in engineering. AMIE was formed to fulfill this mission. To that end, AMIE’s goal is to expand corporate, government, and academic partnerships to implement and support programs geared toward supporting underrepresented minority students in engineering careers.

Our 2023 conference theme is “30 Years of Achieving Diversity in Engineering Through Sustainable Partnerships”. We believe by working together we can advance AMIE to the next level of partnership and strategic engagement. AMIE is committed to developing strategies that will increase workforce diversity for the mutual benefit of our AMIE institutions, the students, member corporations and government agencies. Therefore, we are utilizing this conference as an opportunity to bring together all stakeholders that will further enhance our vision and mission and prioritize our key strategic objectives.

My call to action for this conference is simple – ACTIVELY ENGAGE AND PROVIDE YOUR INPUT. By getting to know the incredible talent and capabilities of our HBCUs and understanding our recent accomplishments and exciting new initiatives around technology innovation, talent development and research. I am confident you will see the immense opportunity in front of us all to address workforce diversity and make a sustained difference for our country.

I am grateful for all you who took time out of your busy schedules to spend a few days with us. Let’s take advantage of this opportunity to engage. For those attending our conference for the first time, welcome and I look forward to meeting you in person. For our returning attendees, thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Gary M. Schneider, AMIE Chairman

GARY SCHNEIDER AMIE CHAIRMAN

VERONICA L. NELSON AMIE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

WELCOME FROM THE AMIE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Welcome to our 30th Anniversary and Annual Conference in Washington, DC. We are excited to celebrate and recognize “30 years of Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering”.

30 years ago, AMIE was created to represent a coalition of industry, government agencies and ABET accredited Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Schools of Engineering who saw a diversified workforce as a competitive advantage and an essential business need.

Today, our Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) represent less than 3 percent of the 300+ accredited engineering schools in the country and they graduate almost a third of minority engineers each year. A diverse workforce is within reach if strong alliances between corporations, HBCUs and government agencies are in place. AMIE is the organization that makes this happen. AMIE continues to act as a catalyst that forges Industry-Government/ Academia partnerships that support programs to advance minorities’ interest in engineering.

This year’s conference will be an innovative and interactive experience that will bring together the Council of Engineering Deans of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), students, engineering professionals and leaders from top corporations and government agencies to discuss strategies to develop sustainable partnerships with the HBCU School of Engineering and increase diversity in the engineering workforce. We will feature prominent speakers and inspiring panel discussions focused on Innovation, Technology, Research and Best Practices to attract, educate, graduate and place minority students in engineering and computer science careers.

I would like to thank our conference sponsors and the members of the 2023 Annual Conference Planning Committee. This year’s conference would not be possible without their continued support, vision, hard work, passion and dedication. I would also like to thank all of our conference speakers and attendees. Our conference would not be successful without your commitment and support. Thank you and have a great 30th Anniversary and Annual Conference!

Sincerely,

Veronica L. Nelson Executive Director Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering (AMIE)

GREETINGS FROM THE CHAIR DEANS COUNCIL

Dear AMIE Conference Attendees:

On behalf of my colleagues on the HBCU Council of Engineering Deans, it is my pleasure to extend sincere congratulations to AMIE as you celebrate your 30th Anniversary. This special milestone gives us the opportunity to reflect upon AMIE’s proud history of accomplishments while honoring the ties of fellowship that have contributed to your success.

Thank you to the AMIE staff members, and to the many industry and government supporters who are making positive contributions to improve the demographics and representation of African American and minority professional engineers. We are truly honored to have the umbrella of support and the foundation that you have provided for the HBCU Council of Engineering Deans to meet, strategize and collaborate for our students and future engineers.

Please accept our deepest gratitude for 30 years of continuous partnerships with our HBCU engineering programs, and for all of the work that you have done and continue to do. Enjoy the celebration of this special anniversary and best wishes for continued success.

With appreciation,

Dr. Joyce T. Shirazi, Chair, HBCU Council of Engineering Deans Dean, School of Engineering, Architecture and Aviation Hampton University

DR. JOYCE T. SHIRAZI THE CHAIR DEANS COUNCIL

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September 10-12, 2023

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10th (THE MAYFLOWER HOTEL)

12:00 PM – 5:00 PM REGISTRATION

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM WELCOME RECEPTION

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11th (THE MAYFLOWER HOTEL)

7:00 AM – 9:00 AM BREAKFAST

7:00 AM – 4:00 PM REGISTRATION

9:00 AM – 9:30 AM OPENING SESSION

The Mayflower Hotel Washington, DC

Welcome Gary M. Schneider, Chair, AMIE Board of Directors and Vice President & Managing Executive, Global Wipro Alliance, IBM WW Ecosystems, IBM Corporation

Dr. Joyce Shirazi, Chair, HBCU Council of Engineering Deans and Dean, School of Engineering, Architecture and Aviation, Hampton University

Keynote: Dr. Eugene M. DeLoatch, Dean Emeritus, Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. School of Engineering, Morgan State University, 2017 Black Engineer of the Year

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM

EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AND THE FUTURE WORKFORCE

MODERATOR: Gary M. Schneider, Chair, AMIE Board of Directors and Vice President & Managing Executive, Global Wipro Alliance, IBM WW Ecosystems, IBM Corporation

PANELISTS:

Gerome Burrell, Divisional Vice President of Product Security, Abbott

Reynold D’Sa, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft’s Silicon, Cloud Hardware and Infrastructure Engineering , Microsoft

Rhom Erskine, Vice President, Global Diversity & Inclusion, Lockheed Martin Corporation

Ben Gianni, Vice President, Chief Technology Officer, General Dynamics Information Technology

Dr. Ave. K. Kludze, Jr., Senior Technical Advisor, Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy, NASA Brittany Masalosalo, Chief Public Policy Officer, HP Inc

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

INNOVATION AND RESEARCH – THE ROAD TO AN R1 INSTITUTION

MODERATOR: Dean Dawit Haile, College of Engineering and Technology, Virginia State University

PANELISTS:

Dean John M.M. Anderson, College of Engineering and Architecture, Howard University

Dean Oscar Barton, Jr., Clarence M Mitchell Jr. School of Engineering, Morgan State University

Dean Suvranu De, College of Engineering, Florida A&M University/Florida State University

Dean Derrek Dunn, School of Business and Technology, University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Dean Lin Li, College of Engineering, Technology & Computer Science, Tennessee State University

Dean Wei Wayne Li, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Texas Southern University

Dean Stephanie Luster-Teasley, College of Engineering, NC A&T State University

Dean Pamela Obiomon, Roy G. Perry College of Engineering, Prairie View A&M University

Dean Wilbur Walters, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Jackson State University

11:45 AM – 1:00 PM LUNCHEON SPONSORED BY APPLE

1:15 PM – 2:15 PM SHIFTING THE PARADIGM: DEVELOPING SUCCESSFUL RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT, GRANT AND CONTRACT PARTNERSHIPS

MODERATOR: Terrell Reid, Corporate Supplier Diversity Programs Manager, Northrop Grumman Corporation

PANELISTS:

Dr. La Rhonda B. Nicholas, Deputy Director, Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity

Dr. Craig Scott, Professor and Chair, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Morgan State University

Derrick Stanley, Director of Engineering, RTX

Dr. Ty V. Wamsley, Director, Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center

2:15 PM –3:15 PM 2023 AMIE DESIGN CHALLENGE PRESENTATIONS

MODERATOR: Avalyn Pace, Strategic Program Manager, Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering

SPEAKERS:

Anthony C. Steele II, Department Manager, Leidos

Kenneth McKee, Director, Human Resources, Boston Scientific

PRESENTERS:

Alabama A&M University Team – 1st Place

University of the District of Columbia Team – 2nd Place

Prairie View A&M University Team – 3rd Place

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM AMIE BUSINESS MEETING

PRESENTERS:

Gary M. Schneider, Chair, AMIE Board of Directors and Vice President, Strategic Partnerships

GSIs, WW Ecosystems, IBM Corporation

Veronica L. Nelson, Executive Director, Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM 30TH ANNIVERSARY AND ANNUAL CONFERENCE INDUSTRY SHOWCASE

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM DEANS RECEPTION SPONSORED BY ABBOTT

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12th (THE MAYFLOWER HOTEL)

7:00 AM – 9:00 PM BREAKFAST

7:00 AM – 12:00 AM REGISTRATION

9:00 AM – 9:30 AM OPENING SESSION

Welcome Gary M. Schneider, Chair, AMIE Board of Directors and Vice President & Managing Executive, Global Wipro Alliance, IBM WW Ecosystems, IBM Corporation

Veronica L. Nelson, Executive Director, Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering

9:30 AM – 10:30 PM

DEAN’S ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION - STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH HBCU ENGINEERING SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES ARE FUNDAMENTAL: THE ABCS

MODERATOR: Dean Joyce Shirazi, School of Engineering, Architecture and Aviation, Hampton University

PANELISTS:

Dean Heshmat Aglan, Director, Campus Recruiting, Capital One

Dr. Patrick Mensah, College of Sciences and Engineering, Southern University and A&M College

Dean Zhengtao Deng, College of Engineering, Technology and Physical Sciences, Alabama A&M University

Dean Michael Keeve, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Norfolk State University

Dean Devdas Shetty, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of the District of Columbia

10:30 PM – 11:30 PM

DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIPS WITH HBCU SCHOOLS OF ENGINEERING

MODERATOR: Jacklyn Wynn, Vice President, Strategic Programs, Federal Health Division, General Dynamics Information Technology

PANELISTS:

Dr. Nathan Brooks, Senior Technical Fellow, Electromagnetics & Antenna Systems, The Boeing Company

Cora Buckner, Senior Manager, Talent Acquisition, Abbott

Torry A. Johnson, Program Manager, Minority University Research and Education Project, NASA

General Lester Lyles, United States Air Force (Retired)

Michael Smith, Hardware Technologies and University Engagement, Apple Desira Stearns, Strategic Diversity Outreach Director, Leidos

11:45 PM – 1:00 PM

LUNCHEON: PREPARING FOR YOUR CAREER - THE TRANSITION FROM COLLEGE TO CORPORATE AMERICA AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

MODERATOR: Reginald E. Humphrey, Director of DEI Partnerships, Officer of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, General Motors

PANELISTS:

Alabama A&M University

Howard University

Prairie View A&M University

University of the District of Columbia

1:15 PM – 2:15 PM FIRESIDE CHAT: PERSPECTIVES ON CAREER ADVANCEMENT IN BUSINESS AND STEM

MODERATOR: Dr. Mark Vaughn, Director, STEM Partnerships and Early Talent Pipeline Development

SPEAKER: Theodore (Ted) Colbert III, Executive Vice President, President and Chief Executive Officer, Boeing Defense, Space & Security, The Boeing Company, 2022 Black Engineer of the Year

2:15 PM – 3:15 PM THE VALUE OF INCREASING DIVERSITY IN THE ENGINEERING WORKFORCE

MODERATOR: Candice M. Smith, Director, Engineering Excellence, The Boeing Company

PANELISTS:

Dr. Ursula Christian, Divisional Vice President, Product Development, Hematology/Core Diagnostics, Abbott

Dr. Tracie Ellis, Inclusion and Diversity, HBCU Partnerships, Apple Titilayo Ogunyale, Social Innovation Principal, MITRE Corporation

Edgar Perez, HBCU/HSI Strategist, Global D&I Team, Oracle Jocelyn Williams, Director, Human Resources, RTX

5:30 PM – 6:30 PM BUS TRANSPORTATION TO SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12th 30TH ANNIVERSARY GALA SPONSORED BY IBM CORPORATION

6:30 PM – 7:15 PM SELF-GUIDED TOUR AND RECEPTION

7:30 PM – 9:00 PM DINNER AND AWARDS CEREMONY

9:00 PM – 10:30 PM DESSERT RECEPTION AND ENTERTAINMENT

10:30 PM – 11:30 PM BUS TRANSPORTATION TO THE MAYFLOWER HOTEL

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13th (THE MAYFLOWER HOTEL)

7:30 AM – 9:00 AM BREAKFAST

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM AMIE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING (BOARD OF DIRECTORS ONLY)

DISTINQUISHEDGUESTS

THEODORE (TED) COLBERT III

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, BOEING DEFENSE, SPACE & SECURITY, THE BOEING COMPANY 2022 BLACK ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

Ted Colbert is executive vice president of The Boeing Company and president and chief executive officer of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, which provides solutions for defense, government, space, intelligence and security customers worldwide. Beyond the United States, Defense, Space & Security has prominent operations in Australia, India, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom. Colbert is a member of Boeing’s Executive Council.

Previously, Colbert was president and chief executive officer of Global Services with responsibility for leading Boeing’s aerospace services development and delivery model for commercial, government and aviation industry customers worldwide, focused on global supply chain and parts distribution, aircraft modifications and maintenance, digital solutions, aftermarket engineering, analytics and training. Prior to that role, Colbert was chief information officer (CIO) and senior vice president of Information Technology & Data Analytics. In this role, he led all aspects of information technology (IT), information security, data and analytics. He also supported the growth of Boeing’s business through IT- and analytics-related revenue-generating programs.

Before his role as CIO, he led the Information Technology Infrastructure organization and was responsible for developing and maintaining network, computing, server, storage, collaboration and infrastructure solutions across the enterprise. Before that, he led the IT Business Systems organization, where he managed the computing application systems that support Boeing Finance, Human Resources, Corporate and Commercial Capital business units as well as the company’s internal systems.

Before joining Boeing in 2009, Colbert was senior vice president of Enterprise Architecture at Citigroup. Before that, he spent 11 years in Ford Motor Company’s Information Technology organization, where he held roles of increasing responsibility in the areas of program management, infrastructure engineering and operations, application development, portfolio management and process reengineering.

Colbert is a member of the Executive Leadership Council and serves on the board of directors of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus Advisory Board, and New Leaders, where he serves as board chair. He has completed two terms on the Georgia Tech President’s Advisory Board and is a non-executive board member of Archer Daniels Midland. He is also a member of the National Space Council’s Users Advisory Group, which is chaired by Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris.

In 2022, The Black Engineer of the Year Awards named Colbert Black Engineer of the Year, the organization’s top honor. Colbert’s additional notable accomplishments include receiving the 2021 Capital CIO of the Year ORBIE award for leadership; recognition as one of the Most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America by Savoy magazine in 2020 and 2021; becoming the first recipient of the Fisher Center prize for Excellence in Driving Transformation from the Fisher Center For Business Analytics at Berkeley; winning the 2018 Forbes CIO Innovation Award; recognition as one of the Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America by Black Enterprise magazine in 2017; 2017 Morehouse College Bennie Leadership Award for Excellence in Business; recognition as the 2016 National Society of Black Engineers Golden Torch Legacy Award winner; recognition as the HMG Strategy 2016 CIO of the Year; and, being named a 2015 Ebony Power 100 honoree.

Colbert completed the Dual Degree Engineering Program at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Morehouse College with bachelor’s degrees in industrial and systems engineering and interdisciplinary science.

DR. EUGENE M. DELOATCH

DEAN EMERITUS, CLARENCE M. MITCHELL, JR. SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY 2017 BLACK ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

Prior to beginning his service as Professor and Inaugural Dean of the Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. School of Engineering at Morgan State University (1984–2016), Dr. Eugene M. DeLoatch completed twenty-four years of affiliation with Howard University in Washington, D.C. During his last nine years at Howard. He led a department that granted baccalaureate degrees to more African American engineers than any school in the country. He has a baccalaureate degree in Mathematics and Electrical Engineering (E.E.) from Tougaloo College and Lafayette College, respectively. He also holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the New York Polytechnic University. In recognition of his many years of effective service to engineering education, Dr. DeLoatch has been awarded Honorary Doctorates by Lafayette College (1984), Binghamton University (2004), and Tougaloo College (2017).

Dr. DeLoatch became the first African American to serve as President of the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE), the world’s most prestigious engineering education organization, during the ASEE’s 2002-

ADVANCING MINORITIES’ INTEREST IN ENGINEERING

DISTINQUISHEDGUESTS

2003 activity year. He is a Life Member and Fellow of the Society, founded in 1893. Of his most cherished recognitions, Dr. DeLoatch lists the 2017 Black Engineer of the Year Award, the 2016 Tau Beta Pi Distinguished Alumnus Award, the 2015 AMIE Lifetime Achievement Award, and the 2014 ABET Claire L. Felbinger Award for Diversity. In 2017, Dr. DeLoatch became a 2017 National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame Inductee. In 2019, he was selected as one of the inaugural recipients of the NSBE/BMAC Legacy Achievement Award at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum - (National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Baltimore Metropolitan Area Chapter (BMAC).

DR. JOYCE T. SHIRAZI

DEAN, SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY, HAMPTON UNIVERSITY

Dr. Joyce T. Shirazi, Dean of the School of Engineering, Architecture and Aviation at Hampton University has a long and distinguished career in higher education and in industry. She leads a skilled team of faculty and staff, to ensure Hampton is a leader in STEM related fields. She has a diverse mix of business and academic experience and has managed projects in each sector with a span of career experience that comprises senior vice president, chief of staff, chair, program director, professor, specialist and engineer. This includes twenty years with Fortune 500 corporations and two decades in higher education leadership. She served in both faculty and staff positions in the University System of Maryland, including senior vice president and chief of staff in the Office of the President, Chair of Information and Technology Systems, Program Director and Professor for Engineering Management, MBA, Management of Information Systems, and Technology Management in the Graduate School at University of Maryland Global Campus. She has design experience in multinational corporations which includes offshore oil platform structures, airplanes, and environmental systems in countries around the world. She is a licensed, professional civil engineer (PE) with a BS in Civil Engineering, Howard University, MS in Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, D.SC. in Environmental and Engineering Management, George Washington University, and executive leadership training from the Institute for Educational Management, Harvard University.

GARY M. SCHNEIDER

VICE PRESIDENT AND MANAGING EXECUTIVE, GLOBAL WIPRO ALLIANCE, IBM WW ECOSYSTEMS AND CHAIR, ADVANCING MINORITIES’ INTEREST IN ENGINEERING BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Gary Schneider has been in the technology industry since 1988, when he joined IBM as a software developer at the IBM Toronto Lab. He held positions with progressively increased responsibility within Development, Business Partner Enablement, Marketing and Business Development.

In 1999, he ventured into the entrepreneurial space, leading a startup technology company that specialized in digital media distribution for in-store advertising.

In April 2001, he returned to IBM as Worldwide Director of Channel Development, responsible for worldwide strategic alliances and technical enablement for IBM’s Information Management (IM)division.

In March of 2003, he was named Director of Linux Competitive Technology for IBM’s Information Management business, responsible for business strategy and execution on emerging Linux platforms.

In January 2006, he was appointed Worldwide Director of Field Technical Presales and Sales Enablement, responsible for the Field Technical Sales community, and overall sales training for all IBM sellers on the IM portfolio. In February 2010, Mr. Schneider was named CTO & Vice President of Technical Leadership for IBM’s Growth Markets Unit, based in Shanghai, China, responsible for driving technical sales, innovation, and technical & professional skills development across the eight growth market regions.

In 2015 he returned to the US as Global Vice President of Technical Sales for IBM Global Markets, leading a global community of 1000 technical professionals covering IBM’s top enterprise clients.

He is currently Vice President & Managing Executive for the Wipro strategic alliance, responsible for the global strategic relationship and revenue of IBM technology to, through and with Wipro.

Mr. Schneider has an engineering degree from the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, and an M.B.A. from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada.

GEROME BURRELL

DIVISIONAL VICE PRESIDENT OF PRODUCT SECURITY, ABBOTT

Gerome Burrell, Divisional Vice President of Product Security for Abbott, leads the company’s medical device cybersecurity team, focusing patient safety, global regulations, and works closely with the healthcare community to develop and mature cybersecurity policies and procedures.

Gerome has over 23 years of IT/Cybersecurity experience in the highly regulated federal government and

defense industry where he led global teams responsible for delivering full-spectrum cyber capabilities and cyber resilient systems for our nation’s defense, intelligence community and global security partners. Serving in a variety of government positions with increasing roles of responsibility at several counterintelligence and security agencies, Gerome focused on safeguarding national security assets.

Prior to joining Abbott, Gerome was responsible for all cybersecurity operations and strategy for a diverse portfolio at Lockheed Martin Corporation. He is also a 10-year veteran of the US Navy, where he served as a member of the Information Warfare Community.

Gerome attended South Carolina State University while active duty and received a B.S. degree in Information Computer Systems from Strayer University, followed by a M.S. degree in Management from Florida Institute of Technology. Gerome also attended Carnegie Mellon and Cornell University, where he obtained executive leadership certificates.

REYNOLD D’SA

CORPORATE VICE PRESIDENT, SILICON, CLOUD HARDWARE AND INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING, MICROSOFT

Reynold D’Sa is the Corporate Vice President of Microsoft’s Silicon, Cloud Hardware, and Infrastructure Engineering team, which is chartered to architect, develop, and manufacture the cloud hardware stack powering Microsoft’s Azure fleet. He specializes in building global, high-performing engineering organizations across disciplines and has significant experience transforming the development lifecycle for growth and scale.

Before joining Microsoft in 2018, Reynold spent 27 years at Intel where he held a variety of engineering roles including leading silicon product development to deliver a portfolio of innovative computing products into various segments like servers, desktops, notebooks, tablets, phones, and the Internet of Things.

Throughout his career, Reynold has served as an ally and advocate for diversity and inclusion in the tech industry, leveraging his position to help drive awareness of the systemic, institutional, and cultural factors shaping the experiences of marginalized communities.

Reynold is Microsoft’s Executive co-sponsor for Howard University and has strong connections with the School of Engineering, particularly with the EE/CS Department, that began more than a decade ago. He currently serves on the Howard University Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) Department Industry Advisory Board (IAB).

RHOM ERSKINE

VICE PRESIDENT, GLOBAL DIVERSITY & INCLUSION LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION

Rhom is a consultative senior leader with over 20 years of experience in large, mid-size, and small business environments, where he has demonstrated success in strategic Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) planning and growth, D&I Council leadership, Business Resource Groups, change management, employee engagement strategies, diversity recruiting, and product/program management.

Rhom supports a number of community and professional organizations, including past/present Board of Directors positions with the National Black MBA Association’s Atlanta Chapter, the Clark Atlanta University School of Business, the Center for the Visually Impaired, and Zoo Atlanta.

Rhom holds a B.A. in Psychology from Morehouse College, an MBA with a Marketing concentration from Clark Atlanta University, and has received executive training in Diversity & Inclusion from Georgetown University and the American Institute for Managing Diversity. He has been selected as one of the Top 40 Under 40: Georgia’s Best and Brightest by Georgia Trend Magazine, as well as a member of the Top 100 Under 50 Emerging and Executive Leaders by Diversity MBA Magazine. He and his wife Danielle reside in Atlanta, GA and are the proud parents of three sons.

BEN GIANNI VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Ben Gianni is GDIT’s Chief Technology Officer and vice president reporting to President Amy Gilliland. Ben leads the company’s evolving development and application of solutions, key capabilities and contributions on behalf of GDIT’s many valued alliance partners. He also leads customer delivery on a key GDIT program. Ben previously served as GDIT’s Defense CTO. Prior to GDIT, Ben served as the vice president for delivery within the intelligence division at CSRA as well as vice president for the civil group and various leadership roles at CSC.

Ben earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s degree in computer science from Johns Hopkins University.

ADVANCING MINORITIES’ INTEREST IN ENGINEERING

DISTINQUISHEDGUESTS

DR. AVE. K. KLUDZE, JR.

SENIOR TECHNICAL ADVISOR, OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY, POLICY, AND STRATEGY (OTPS), NASA

Dr. Ave. K. Kludze, Jr, is a senior technical advisor within the Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy (OTPS) at NASA Headquarters where he leads and manages various agencywide multi-disciplinary, multi-directorate activities and studies, including the NASA OTPS University Capstone program, NASA Quantum Strategy, and the Mars Transportation Assessment Study, that inform NASA’s strategic decision-making.

Dr. Kludze has held positions at various NASA centers including the NASA Langley Research Center and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

While at NASA Langley, Dr. Kludze was selected to join the NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC), an organization created after the Columbia incident, as a Systems Engineering expert. Before joining the NESC, he was Langley’s verification and validation manager for Shuttle Return to Flight-EVA Infrared Camera, an additional damage inspection tool.

Prior to joining NASA Langley, Kludze worked at NASA Goddard as a senior spacecraft analyst and systems engineer where he gained extensive knowledge in spacecraft mission operations and ground systems, flying spacecrafts. He was also the technical advisor to the NASA Inspector General.

Dr. Kludze also led NASA Rocket Study, the interagency Hypersonic Study, and Mars Long Poles for Getting Humans to Mars effort for the agency. He has been profiled on CNN and BBC for his accomplishments. He holds a doctoral degree in Systems Engineering from the George Washington University, a Master of Science in Systems Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Rutgers University.

BRITTANY MASALOSALO

CHIEF PUBLIC POLICY OFFICER, HP INC

Brittany Masalosalo is the Chief Public Policy Officer at HP Inc. The work that the Government Affairs team does is vital to HP, delivering value by proactively identifying, quantifying, and assessing geopolitical trends, influencing government policies, and coordinating HP’s public policy position.

Prior to joining HP, Brittany worked at 3M as the Head of International Government Affairs, representing 3M’s positions before the international diplomatic community. She also spent time working at the White House in the Office of the Vice President as a senior advisor for National Security and Foreign Policy. While she was originally hired by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, she continued to serve with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence until deciding to join 3M. Her portfolio includes both regional and functional policy areas such as trade, international economics, and global health security.

Prior to working at the White House, Brittany worked for several years at the Pentagon in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. While serving in the U.S. Army, Brittany deployed twice to Iraq and is a decorated veteran.

She holds a M.A in International Relations from Harvard University, an M. Ed from North Central University and a B.A. from American Military University.

TERRELL REID

CORPORATE SUPPLIER DIVERSITY PROGRAMS MANAGER, NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

Terrell has served in the role of Corporate Supplier Diversity Programs Manager at Northrop Grumman since late 2020. Earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering from Morgan State University and a Master’s Degree in Technical Management from Johns Hopkins University, Terrell spent over 12 years as a Systems Engineer supporting Navy programs in a variety of technical roles at The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL). During this time at JHU/APL, he also developed into leadership roles in both line management and project management.

In 2018, Terrell joined Northrop Grumman as the East Region Pathways Program Manager for Software and Digital Technology Strategy and Performance. He has since moved into the Global Supply Chain Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) organization to manage Supplier Diversity programs.

Currently, Terrell is responsible for corporate oversight and administration of the company’s Mentor-Protégé, Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR), Historically Black Colleges/Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI), and Indian Incentive and Ability One programs.

DR. LA RHONDA B. NICHOLAS DEPUTY DIRECTOR, INTELLIGENCE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS ACTIVITY (IARPA)

Dr. La Rhonda Nicholas joined IARPA in July 2023 as the Deputy Director, to partner with the Director in leading the implementation of high-risk, high-payoff technically viable research programs that address the IC’s most challenging intelligence gaps. Coming from industry as a polymeric materials research engineer, Dr. Nicholas joined the CIA in 2001 as a Materials Engineer, amassing multiple positions to advance R&D efforts in biometrics, biomaterials, data integration, and cyber over the course of her career. Her previous assignments include a variety of notable positions across the IC, to include a dual-hatted position as the DNI and DCIA Senior Representative to the Department of Defense, where she ensured effective communication and collaboration on sensitive operational and intelligence matters. Dr. Nicholas also served as the DNI appointed Program Manager for the JASONS corporate program and a Legislative Assistant on the personal staff of a Congressman in the US House of Representatives. As a member of the CIA Senior Technical Service, she has a proven record of leading change, implementing strategic direction and collaborative teambuilding. Dr. Nicholas received her Ph.D. and M.S. in Materials Engineering from University of Maryland College Park and her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Hampton University.

DR. CRAIG SCOTT

PROFESSOR AND CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING, MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Craig J. Scott was born in Monterey California, USA. He received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Howard University, his M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University, and his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Howard University.

He joined the Westinghouse Electric Corporation in 1983 as a VLSI process engineer and in 1983 joined the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington DC as a microwave engineer. In 1982, he became a member of the faculty at Morgan State University. He currently serves as a Professor of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Morgan. He has also served as Interim Dean of the Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. School of Engineering for three years, and as the Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering since 2007. His research interests are in the areas of engineering education, machine learning, and visual analytics. He is an Advanced Manufacturing Policy Fellow at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office (AMNPO). At AMNPO, Craig serves as the Assistant Director for Research Partnerships. In this role, he works collaboratively with Federal agency staff to plan, design, and develop formal documents for announcements and solicitations for Manufacturing USA and ensure that the alignment of Manufacturing USA formal requirements and program structure supports industrial development and global market competitiveness.

He is a member of the Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society and is currently the President of the Inclusive Engineering Consortium (IEC). The IEC is a consortium of HBCU electrical engineering departments operating as a “super department”. He was the inaugural recipient of the ECEDHA Diversity Award in 2013 and has been named a NASA/ASEE Fellow and an Army Science Board consultant. He is also a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

DR. TY V. WAMSLEY

DIRECTOR, COASTAL AND HYDRAULICS LABORATORY, U.S. ARMY ENGINEER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER

Appointed to the Senior Executive Service in October 2018, Dr. Ty Wamsley serves as Director of the Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory (CHL) at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). Headquartered in Vicksburg, Mississippi, CHL performs ocean, estuarine, riverine and watershed regional scale systems analyses work in support of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Department of Defense, and other federal agencies, as well as state and municipal governments and private industry. Areas of expertise include hydrologic analysis, hydraulic structures, coastal engineering, flood risk reduction, dredging, navigation, and military logistics.

As director, Dr. Wamsley leads a team of more than 275 researchers, support staff and contractors. He is responsible for planning, directing and coordinating a multi-million dollar research program, and developing new and strategic research program areas in coastal and hydraulics technical disciplines. He manages and maintains over one million square feet in physical facilities, including the Field Research Facility in Duck, North Carolina. Ongoing projects execute field data collection, laboratory analysis, physical modeling, and numerical modeling to produce design guidance and cutting-edge products to support successful coastal and inland water resources management.

DERRICK STANLEY DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING, RTX

Derrick Stanley serves as the Director of Engineering for Advanced Technology within the Advanced Structures business unit for Collins Aerospace, a RTX business. RTX is one of the world’s largest aerospace and defense companies, with 195,000 employees and $74 billion in annual sales. Stanley received a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics and Masters in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Master of Science Systems Engineering from Iowa State University and Master of Science

DISTINQUISHEDGUESTS

Industrial Engineering from Mississippi State University. Stanley is also a current PhD student in Industrial and Systems engineering at Mississippi State University.

AVALYN PACE

STRATEGIC PROGRAM MANAGER, ADVANCING MINORITIES’ INTEREST IN ENGINEERING

Avalyn currently serves as the Strategic Program Manager for AMIE (Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering). She is responsible for identifying and implementing transformational initiatives that are aligned with the mission of AMIE and support the organization’s strategy. Avalyn initially joined AMIE in 2016 as part of the IBM Partnership with AMIE. She was responsible for identifying and engaging resources across IBM to support the AMIE-IBM partnership and facilitate AMIE’s mission. She was part of the AMIE Program Committee that initiated the AMIE Design Challenge, a strategic collaboration between the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and AMIE Partners to engage students in industry challenges and processes, and introduce emerging technologies through collaboration with corporate business, government agencies and technical leaders. She served as the AMIE Design Challenge Program Manager for the past 6 years.

Avalyn gained over 37 years of experience at IBM in Information Technology in the areas of organizational management, software and services development, business partner integration, technical skills development and certifications, client engagement and operations. Avalyn spent most of her career in IBM Global Markets leading client engagement and transformational technical initiatives across IBM software, hardware, sales, and service.

Avalyn earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Bishop College. She earned an MBA from the Southern Methodist University (SMU) Cox School of Business, Executive Program. Avalyn is committed to the mission of AMIE and leverages her experiences in STEM to prepare the next generation. Avalyn is married to Daron Pace. They have two daughters, Afton and Aniya.

ANTHONY C. STEELE II

DEPARTMENT MANAGER, LEIDOS

Mr. Anthony C. Steele II works as a Department Manager at Dynetics, a Leidos company where he’s responsible for the leading a team of engineers and technicians in addition to execution of multiple projects for various Department of Defense customers. He also serves as an Employee Resource Group Chairperson as well as a Campus Champion to Alabama A&M University on behalf of Leidos. Prior to joining Dynetics in 2019, Anthony worked for the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center (DEVCOM AvMC).

He has over 14 years’ experience in project management missile systems development. Anthony received his BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Alabama, an MS in Engineering Management from the University of Alabama Huntsville and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration from The University of North Alabama. Anthony is passionate about creating a diverse workforce by partnering with HBCUs and developing a pipeline of talented STEM professionals from underrepresented backgrounds.

KENNETH MCKEE DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES, BOSTON SCIENTIFIC

Ken is currently the Human Resources Director for Boston Scientific’s manufacturing operations located in Maple Grove, Minnesota, where he is responsible for HR site operations supporting corporate, divisional, and manufacturing teams to improve and sustain the quality of human lives.

In this role, Ken is responsible for compliance and the human resources strategy and delivery for a ~3000-employee manufacturing site. Leadership strategy includes direct labor staffing, diversity and inclusion, employee engagement, and organizational development. Ken and his team have partnered to focus on growth and building a diverse, high-performing team. Ken is an experienced Human Resources professional with a proven track record in multiple industries, including medical devices, automotive, aerospace, energy, pipe, and petrochemical. He has global work experience with companies such as Ford Motor Company, Honeywell, and General Electric.

Ken is a strong advocate for serving underrepresented communities. He is most proud of his accomplishments in supporting the AMIE Board and BEYA conferences to attract and recruit HBCU students for meaningful internships in the medical device industry. He also was a founding member of the Sales Bridge ERG and a Boost Mentor. Ken co-leads a tiger team to provide scholarships to HBCU students. In 2021, $100K was awarded to 40 students. In 2022, he led the effort to establish an endowment with NACME for a named scholarship to provide annual scholarships to deserving students.

Ken is a native Detroiter. He attended Michigan State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in

Employee Relations and a Master of Arts degree in Human Resources. He is married to LaFonda McKee, a father of one daughter, India, and twin sons, Israel and Isaiah. Ken currently lives in Maple, MN.

JACKLYN WYNN

VICE PRESIDENT, STRATEGIC PROGRAMS, FEDERAL HEALTH DIVISION, GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Jackie Mitchell Wynn is the Vice President, Strategic Programs for the Federal Health division. In this role, she helps to build innovative solutions and bring entrepreneurial and agile solutions across federal health agencies. Previously, she was a vice president in the Center for Enterprise Modernization at The MITRE Corporation which operates federally funded government research and development centers. Jackie has spent over 15 years in global executive leadership positions overseeing the public sector consulting services divisions of several technology companies such as Digital, Compaq, and Hewlett-Packard.

Jackie serves on the executive board of the nonprofit National Center for Children and Families in support of homeless children and their families. She also serves on the boards of NASA Advisory Council and Howard University’s Board of Visitors. She is a founding member of the Strategy Board for the International Consortium of Minority Cyber Professionals. She has received the Federal 100 IT Achievement Award, the Women in Technology Distinguished Achiever Award, the Women of Color in Technology Distinguished Achiever Award and the 2022 FedHealth IT 100 Achievement Award. She was named among the Top 100 Executives by Uptown Professional/NAACP and the Top 100 Blacks in Corporate America. She holds bachelor’s degrees with honors in economics and mathematics from the University of Denver, and a MBA in finance and accounting from the Simon Graduate School of Business, University of Rochester. Jackie has attended executive leadership programs at Babson College, the Wharton School of Business, and the Anderson School of Business, University of California Los Angeles.

DR. NATHAN BROOKS

SENIOR TECHNICAL FELLOW, ELECTROMAGNETICS (EM) & ANTENNA SYSTEMS, THE BOEING COMPANY

Dr. Nathan Raen Brooks is a Boeing Senior Technical Fellow in Electromagnetics & Antenna Systems. He currently leads the Assured Operation with 5G+ team of Executive Technical Fellows providing strategic and technical support to task forces across the Boeing enterprise and throughout aerospace industries concerning aviation interference from current and future telecommunications. Beginning his industry career in 2007, he provides technical expertise and leadership for Boeing’s Signal Intelligence capabilities. He also leads and consults in architecture and algorithm development of Electronic Warfare antenna systems. Additionally, he is University Innovation Lead within Boeing’s Enterprise Technology Office where he specifically targets developing relationships and funding research with Historically Black College and Universities (HBCU).

Dr. Brooks has over 20 years of experience in electromagnetics and numerical optimization including graduate and postdoctoral research at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL), the Center for Advanced Power Systems (CAPS), and the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). He has received multiple awards at the Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA) conference over the years; the 2019 NSBE Golden Torch Lifetime Achievement in Industry Award; and is the 2020 Boeing Defense Engineer of the Year.

Nathan and his wife began raising their family as freshman at Florida A&M University (FAMU) and both graduated with degrees in Electrical Engineering. Dr. Brooks was FAMU’s first doctoral graduate in Electrical Engineering. He is an active member of the Boeing Black Employee Association, Howard University Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Industry Advisory Board, other FAMU boards, Boeing’s Focal teams for multiple HBCUs, AMIE (Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering) Board of Directors, and other committees concentrating on increasing diversity in STEM fields. He spends the majority of his personal time volunteering within his church and with various organizations, focused on bettering his communities through service, example, and mentorship.

CORA BUCKNER

SENIOR MANAGER, TALENT ACQUISITION

Cora has been part of the Talent Acquisition team at Abbott for 15 years. She has been a Senior Manager in University Relations since 2013. In 2019, she transitioned from the Global University Relations & Intern Programs group to Strategic Alliances where she manages the Abbott Co-op Program and STEM partnerships. Cora began her career with Abbott as a Search Consultant. As a Search Consultant, Cora supported commercial sourcing for all businesses in the US. In that role, she built strong alliances with her business partners and external organizations. She later became the Manager of Commercial Sourcing. After four years, Cora moved to Diversity Recruitment. In that role, she continued to strengthen the Abbott brand within diverse communities by developing strategic marketing programs. Prior to joining Abbott, Cora worked for GE Commercial Finance as a Recruiter.

She spent over 10 years in the search and staff augmentation industry prior as a recruiting manager supporting the technology industry prior to joining GE Commercial Finance. Cora is a Duty Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering (AMIE) board member. Cora holds a Bachelors’ degree in Communication from Trinity College.

ADVANCING MINORITIES’ INTEREST IN ENGINEERING

I played competitive basketball through high school and increased my focus on academics in college. Little did I know the skills I developed on the court would be just as critical as those I gained in the classroom. Only at Lockheed Martin can I combine my finance expertise with a game-time mentality to drive my team to excel, grow as a leader, and support a mission that matters. Now that’s a slam dunk. Learn more about careers at www.lockheedmartin.com/college

Only here does double down on defense take on a whole new meaning.

DISTINQUISHEDGUESTS

TORRY A. JOHNSON

PROGRAM MANAGER, MINORITY UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROJECT, NASA

Torry A. Johnson is the Program Manager for the Minority University Research and Education Project within NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement. There he engages underrepresented, underserved communities about STEM opportunities at conferences, competitions, & workshops around the country. Torry is focused on developing strategic partnerships that lead to institutional capacity building, competitiveness and overall student success at Minority Serving Institutions.

For 15+ years Torry worked at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. As an Assistant Deputy Director within the Earth Science Division, his purview extended to multiple, research-based agreements and contracts, office space & technical facilities, education & public outreach and broad information technology efforts. Torry was appointed and served as an organizational Ombudsman to aide colleagues with conflict resolution, mediation and problem solving. Before joining the federal government, Torry worked for companies like Allstate, USA Today and the TriZetto Group.

Outside of the office, Torry is a board member for a non-profit focused on developing low-income housing for seniors and supports multiple community-based organizations with academic consulting and leadership development. Torry received his bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University and his master’s degree from University of Maryland, College Park. Torry and his wife Jodie live in the Washington, DC. area. They are the parents of three adult children.

DESIRA STEARNS

STRATEGIC DIVERSITY OUTREACH DIRECTOR, LEIDOS

Desira Stearns is the Strategic Diversity Outreach Director for Leidos. In this role, she is responsible for building and sustaining external diversity partnerships with Minority Serving Institutions, national diversity organizations and conferences, and community outreach organizations. As a trusted partner and leader supporting a corporation of more than 45,000 employees, she provides enterprise-wide solutions and her expertise to senior executives, managers, talent acquisition, and human resources teams to execute inclusion and diversity strategies.

She has more than 26 years of experience within a variety of disciplines including software engineering, human resources, and project management. She spent the first 11 years of her career at Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Solutions (IS&GS) where she was a graduate of the Engineering Leadership Development Program and worked in various technical roles including Database Architect. Near the midpoint of her career, she made the pivot into human resources where she held several leadership roles including diversity program manager, human resources business partner for the IS&GS Chief Technology Office and lead facilitator for first-line leadership development training. She also has a wealth of experience launching, managing and growing Employee Resource Groups.

Stearns holds a Bachelor of Science degree, Magna Cum Laude, in Computer Science from Tennessee State University and a Master of Science degree in Engineering Science from The Pennsylvania State University, Malvern, PA. She has received national recognition as an award winner across multiple platforms including Women of Color STEM Conference and Modern Day Technology Leader. She is a proud member of the Board of Directors for Career Girls – a nonprofit that creates opportunities to help girls explore, expand, and learn about career options.

REGINALD E. HUMPHREY

DIRECTOR, DEI PARTNERSHIPS, OFFICE OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION, GENERAL MOTORS

Reggie Humphrey serves as the Director of DEI Partnerships in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He is responsible for increasing the collective impact of GM’s inclusion initiatives across the enterprise, as well as cultivating external partnerships that will further the company’s commitments to develop a diverse talent pipeline and reduce societal inequities. Prior to this role, Reggie led the growth and development of GM’s supply chain inclusion efforts for many years, driving innovative programs and high-value partnerships. Reggie began his career journey in 1995 as a Production Supervisor at the Moraine Assembly Center in Moraine, OH. In 1998, he relocated to the Detroit metro area and has since worked in several operational and strategic planning roles within multiple organizations including Order Fulfillment, Logistics, Purchasing, Supply Chain, and Global Business Solutions.

In addition to Reggie’s core responsibilities, he serves as a voluntary board member for the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council and as the Advisory Board Chair for the Tuck Diverse Business Executive Education Programs at Dartmouth College.

Reggie holds a B.S. in Finance from Alabama A&M University and a M.S.A. from Central Michigan University.

DR. MARK VAUGHN

DIRECTOR, STEM PARTNERSHIPS AND EARLY TALENT PIPELINE

DEVELOPMENT

Dr. Mark D. Vaughn is the manager of Technical Talent Pipelining for Corning’s Technology Community and is the Lead for the Technology Community Office of STEM. In this role, Vaughn develops, implements, and manages PK-20 science and engineering programs and initiatives to meet the Technology Community’s near-term and long-term technical talent needs.

Dr. Vaughn began his 32-year career with Corning in 1988 as a Research Technician. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Alfred University, a Master of Science degree in Optics from the University of Rochester, and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. Prior to his current role, Vaughn was a Research Associate in Modeling and Simulation, where he was a noted expert in Optical Network Traffic Demand Modeling and Access Network Cost Modeling.

In addition to his primary role, Vaughn is a sought-after training program designer and facilitator and is a highly regarded diversity champion and community leader.

Dr. Vaughn, who is also an ordained minister and a 2007 Black Engineer of the Year Award winner, is a native of Elmira, New York. He and his wife, Jeanette (an educator and entrepreneur), reside in Painted Post, New York and are the proud parents of 5 children (and have one son-in-love, one daughter-in-love, and two grandchildren).

CANDICE M. SMITH

DIRECTOR, ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE, THE BOEING COMPANY

Candice M. Smith is currently director of Engineering Excellence responsible for Boeing’s Design Practices and Processes and Technical Excellence strategies. She’s served in several engineering leadership capacities including Chief of Staff to Boeing’s Chief Technology Officer, Director of Global Engineering & External Technical Affiliations, and deputy chief engineer within Boeing Global Services. Candice began her Boeing career as a co-op student, joining full time as an integration engineer on the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System in St. Louis. She’s held various engineering roles including systems architect on the Future Combat Systems program; systems engineer in Boeing Research & Technology St. Louis, lead systems engineer on Boeing Defense Special Projects Team in Dallas, and a project engineer managing defense technology offset projects for customers in India. Candice served in the Illinois Army National Guard Military Police Battalion while earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She’s also earned a Master of Science in Systems Engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology and achieved a professional project manager certification. Candice is passionate about serving her community. She also loves to dance and roller-skate with her family.

GENERAL LESTER L. LYLES

RETIRED FOUR-STAR GENERAL, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

General Lester L. Lyles is a retired four-star general in the United States Air Force (USAF). He served as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, and Commander, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

After retirement from the USAF in 2003, he became a company director for General Dynamics, DPL Inc., KBR, Inc., Precision Castparts Corp., MTC Technologies, Battelle Memorial Institute and USAA. Lyles is also a trustee of Analytic Services and a managing partner of Four Seasons Ventures, LLC.

MICHAEL SMITH

HARDWARE TECHNOLOGIES AND UNIVERSITY ENGAGEMENTS, APPLE

Michael is a technical lead with the Hardware Technologies team responsible for Apple’s HBCU New Silicon Initiative (NSI). He has over 20 years’ experience in consumer imaging systems, data analytics and emerging education programs. Prior to Apple, he held technical leadership roles with Intel and France Telecom R&D. During his breaks from industry, he has served as an advisor for engineering research and education programs at universities in Colombia, France, Trinidad and Tobago, India and South Africa.

Michael received a B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Tuskegee and North Carolina A&T State University, a M.S. in electrical engineering from Stanford University and a Ph.D. in computer engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.

ADVANCING MINORITIES’ INTEREST IN ENGINEERING

DISTINQUISHEDGUESTS

DR. URSULA CHRISTIAN

DIVISIONAL VICE PRESIDENT, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, HEMATOLOGY/CORE DIAGNOSTICS, ABBOTT

Ursula is Divisional Vice President Product Development, Hematology / Core Diagnostics with Abbott in Santa Clara, California. In this role she leads a team of engineers and scientists in the research, design, development, integration, and verification of diagnostic products for global hematology. Ursula joined Abbott in 2017 as Director Systems Engineering Immunoassay/Clinical Chemistry (IA/CC) / Core Diagnostics.

Prior to her current role, she was Senior Director Systems Development IA/CC.

Prior to joining Abbott, Ursula held several positions at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company and Motorola. She has product development and system integration experience in three (3) different industries: aerospace and defense, telecommunications, and in vitro diagnostics.

Ursula is passionate about developing and mentoring the next generation of engineers and championing employee organizations within Abbott, including Women in STEM, the Black Business Network (BBN), the Asian Leadership and Cultural Network (ALCN) and the Scientific Governing Board (SGB).

Among her many accomplishments are earning an Abbott President’s Award, being named Women in STEM — Technology All-Star and Black Engineer of the Year — Modern Day Technology Leader.

Ursula is a published author and avid sports fan. When she is not working, Ursula enjoys spending time with her adult children, hiking and ministry.

TITILAYO OGUNYALE

SOCIAL INNOVATION PRINCIPAL, MITRE CORPORATION

Titilayo Ogunyale is a Social Innovation Principal at the MITRE corporation. She is responsible for developing and overseeing the execution of initiatives and programs that strengthen and expand MITRE’s social impact in underserved communities through innovative business models and practices. Prior to her current role, Titilayo helped convene cybersecurity experts in government, academia, and industry to strengthen the cybersecurity posture for small and medium sized community organizations at the MITRE operated National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE). She also supported the operation of MITRE’s newly established Social Justice Platform, which focuses on creating equity through data driven systems thinking.

Prior to MITRE, Titilayo served as a Presidential Appointee at both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Energy where she leveraged her passion to serve communities with a focus of creating impactful, innovative, policy change. Titilayo credits her international experiences in London, Costa Rica, and Nigeria as her foundation to broadening her understanding of diverse social challenges and innovations across various cultural landscapes.

As a native Washingtonian, Titilayo is most proud of her work with Community Club, a volunteer- led organization dedicated to increasing educational opportunities for underserved students living in the District of Columbia.

Titilayo received her B.A. in Political Science & Communications from the University of Pittsburgh. Titilayo’s favorite way to experience different cultures is through food. She lives at home with her two daughters Jade, Lana, and her husband Emmanuel. They are a proud serving military family.

DR. TRACIE ELLIS

INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY, HBCU PARTNERSHIPS, APPLE

Dr. Tracie Ellis leads HBCU partnerships on Apple’s Inclusion and Diversity team. She works alongside Apple’s Hardware Technologies team to support the implementation of Apple’s New Silicon Initiative (NSI), designed to increase pathways into careers in Hardware for students of HBCU and AMIE institutions. She also oversees its NSI Faculty Fellows.

Additionally, Tracie manages the Apple HBCU Scholars Program and the Engineering and Innovation Scholars program, which provide scholarships, mentorship and internship opportunities for HBCU students. Prior to joining Apple, Tracie worked with HBCU Math, Science and Education faculty to support programs preparing high school STEM teachers.

EDGAR PEREZ

HBCU/HSI STRATEGIST, GLOBAL D&I TEAM, ORACLE

Edgar Perez (he/him/his) is the HBCU/HSI Strategist for the global D&I team at Oracle. His goal is to help lower barriers to entry in tech and provide resources to underrepresented students. Edgar works with executives and various Oracle stakeholders to ensure authentic and impactful engagement at HBCUs and HSIs.

Edgar also manages the leadership academy program at Oracle, which strives to help grow students’ technical, interpersonal, communication, strategic, and corporate skillset, which will help them prepare for future internships and careers in tech. He also manages the Oracle - UNCF partnership, which provides paid summer internships and scholarships to underrepresented STEM students.

Before joining Oracle, Edgar spent 15 years working in academia. His academic experiences include admissions, business faculty, career coaching, employer relations, experiential learning, recruiting, student advising, and university marketing. His academic and student affairs experiences have allowed him to work at various institutions, including small private nonprofit schools, large state systems, and R1 universities.

Edgar received his MBA in organizational leadership from Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles. He currently resides in the Nashville Tennessee area with his wife and daughters.

JOCELYN WILLIAMS

DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES, RTX

Jocelyn Williams serves as a Human Resources Director for Raytheon, a RTX business.

Jocelyn Williams is formerly a Business Diversity and Inclusion Leader for Raytheon Intelligence and Space at Raytheon Technologies. RTX is one of the world’s largest aerospace and defense companies, with 195,000 employees and $74 billion in annual sales.

Prior to joining Raytheon, Williams was the HR Senior Site Manager, serving several functions within the military aircraft systems division of Northrop Grumman’s Aerospace Systems in Palmdale, CA. She provided talent management strategies, leadership development, organization effectiveness support, delivery of HR initiatives and leadership consulting to support the company’s talent and growth initiatives. Williams was also responsible for developing, collaborating, implementing and measuring people strategies to support Global Operations, Mission Assurance, Facilities, Global Supply Chain, Engineering and Security.

Williams was an Adjunct Faculty member in the Human Resources Management Graduate program at Claremont University. She taught Employee and Labor Relations, Human Resources Development, International HR and Diversity, and Performance Management courses. She has been a featured guest speaker and panelist at leadership conferences and diversity councils for graduate students; including international attendees.

Williams received a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration from San Diego State University and a Masters of Arts in Human Resource Design from Claremont Graduate University.

LYDIA LOGAN

IBM GLOBAL VICE PRESIDENT FOR EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

IBM CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Lydia Logan leads IBM’s community and university skilling initiatives that create more inclusive and effective schools and workforces. Her programs help fulfill IBM’s pledge to skill 30 million people worldwide by 2030, particularly those from historically underresourced, underserved, and underrepresented communities. Ms. Logan develops and manages strategic global partnerships with IBM’s clients, non-profit organizations, government, and content and curriculum developers that relate to education and career readiness. For this role, she applies her decades of leadership and programmatic expertise in the realms of philanthropy, education, public policy, and economic development.

These experiences inform Ms. Logan’s strategic development and execution of acclaimed global career readiness programs such as IBM SkillsBuild. Prior to IBM, Ms. Logan successfully spearheaded education initiatives while serving in senior leadership roles at Verizon, the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, and Kimsey Foundation. Ms. Logan holds a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania.

ADVANCING MINORITIES’ INTEREST IN ENGINEERING

SPECIALTHANKS

Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering

WOULD LIKE TO THANK

OUR CONFERENCE SPONSORS whose financial and in-kind contributions helped to make the virtual conference possible.

OUR GUEST SPEAKERS AND PANELISTS who have shared their valuable insights and experience on issues of critical importance to the progress of Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering (AMIE).

THE AMIE 30 TH ANNIVERSARY AND ANNUAL CONFERENCE PLANNING COMMITTEE. This year’s conference and celebration would not be possible without their hard work, passion and dedication.

AND TO ALL OUR ATTENDEES who share a common belief in our mission and participated in countless ways to make our 30 th Anniversary and Annual Conference a success.

careers.microsoft.com

careers.microsoft.com

You have big dreams. We can help you reach them.

You have big dreams. We can help you reach them.

At Microsoft, we share your ambition. Bring your skills, bring your passion, bring your whole self. Be a part of something special. Empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

At Microsoft, we share your ambition. Bring your skills, bring your passion, bring your whole self. Be a part of something special. Empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

STAFF

Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering

Strategic Program Manager

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!

“ADVANCING DIVERSITY THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS”

VERONICA L. NELSON Executive Director

PATRICIA BURGESS Office Manager (Retired)

AVALYN PACE

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF ACHIEVING DIVERSITY IN ENGINEERING

COUNCIL OF HBCU ENGINEERING DEANS (8 of 9 Original HBCU Deans of Engineering)

2023 COUNCIL OF HBCU ENGINEERING DEANS (14 of 16 HBCU Deans of Engineering)

THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO DEVELOP THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENGINEERS

HISTORICALLYBLACK COLLEGES&UNIVERSITIES

ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL UNIVERSITY NORMAL, ALABAMA

DR. ZHENGTAO (Z.T.) DENG

DEAN, COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES

FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL UNIVERSITY TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA

DR. SUVRANU DE

DEAN, FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY-FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY (FAMU-FSU) COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

The FAMU-FSU College of Engineering began in 1982 with the mandate to produce underrepresented minority engineers from both Florida A&M and Florida State universities. In its 37 years, the joint college has demonstrated great success, becoming the highest-ranked college of engineering in the public HBCU space and helping make FAMU a leading producer of African American Ph.Ds. nationally. The campus is situated three miles from both universities, adjacent to and associated

Alabama A&M University reflects the uniqueness of the traditional land-grant institution, which combines professional, vocational and liberal arts pursuits.

The university provides baccalaureate and graduate studies compatible with the times to all qualified, capable individuals interested in further developing their technical, professional, scholastic skills and competencies. It operates in the three-fold function of teaching, research, and public service including extension.

The College of Engineering, Technology, and Physical Sciences at AAMU is organized into three departments, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering and Civil Engineering and Construction Management, Physics, Chemistry, and Math.

The BS degree in Computer Science program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) of ABET, and the BS degrees in Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering programs are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Graduate degrees are offered in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems and Materiel Engineering (MEng), and Physics (MS and Ph.D.).

with several acclaimed research centers and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. These facilities have become the academic home for more than 2,800 undergraduate and graduate students who study at a highly research-active engineering institution unlike any other in the nation.

HAMPTON UNIVERSITY HAMPTON, VIRGINIA

DR. JOYCE T. SHIRAZI

DEAN, SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE AND AVIATION

Hampton University was founded in 1868 and comprises seven schools: Business, Engineering, Architecture and Aviation, Journalism and Communications, Liberal Arts and Education, Nursing, Pharmacy and Science and two colleges: Graduate College and University College. Hampton University

offers 60 bachelor’s degree programs, 38 master’s degree programs, and doctoral or professional degrees in nursing, physics, physical therapy and pharmacy. The School of Engineering, Architecture and Aviation was established in 1995, although an engineering department has existed since 1986. The school currently offers programs leading to the baccalaureate degree in aviation, chemical engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, and a master’s degree in architecture. These programs are designed to provide students with a professional education appropriate to enter their professions, with a general educational background that facilitates awareness of the professional’s social responsibilities to the community.

HOWARD UNIVERSITY

WASHINGTON, DC

DR. JOHN M. M. ANDERSON

DEAN, COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

The College of Engineering and Architecture (CEA) is one of Howard University’s 14 schools and colleges. The CEA is comprised of the five departments of Architecture, Chemical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical

HISTORICALLYBLACK COLLEGES&UNIVERSITIES

Engineering and Computer Science, and Mechanical Engineering. Our Master of Architecture degree program and all of our Bachelor of Science engineering degree programs are fully accredited. Doctoral degrees are offered in biomedical and chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering. Moreover, Master of Science degrees are granted in chemical engineering, computer science, and mechanical engineering. A certificate in Cybersecurity is also offered.

JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI

DR. WILBUR WALTERS

DEAN, COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

is Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University, newly elevated to R2 classification. Enrolling students across all racial and ethnic backgrounds, the Mitchell School of Engineering (MSOE) at MSU serves the world as an intellectual and creative resource by supporting, empowering and producing wellprepared graduates to grow the future and lead the world as global citizens. Enriching our curricula with experiential learning and research opportunities, we have competitive graduates ready to practice engineering upon graduation.

of Engineering (see weee.ncat.edu/coe) has EAC ABET-accredited undergraduate programs in Architectural, Bio, Biological, Civil, Chemical, Computer, Electrical, Industrial and Mechanical Engineering, as well as a Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) ABET-accredited program in Computer Science; plus 8 Master of Science Degree programs and 5 Doctoral programs. The College continues to be a top producer for the nation of African American engineers at every level and is proud of the achievements of its faculty, staff, students, and alums in education, research and innovation.

Since 1877, Jackson State University has provided young men and women opportunities that will empower them to succeed in an increasingly complex world. As the Urban University of Mississippi, Jackson State emphasizes public service programs designed to enhance the quality of life and seek solutions to urban problems in the physical, social, intellectual and economic environments. The College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET) at Jackson State University is committed to implementing its mission and focusing its intellectual, experience, and other resources on improving the quality of life for its students, the surrounding community, and the state, nation and the global community. CSET has 16 Bachelor of Science, 9 Masters’ and 4 Ph.D. level degrees, many of which have several specialized tracks from which to choose.

MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

DR. OSCAR BARTON, JR.

DEAN, CLARENCE M MITCHELL JR. SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

Morgan State University (MSU), designated a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation,

The MSOE has 3 EAC-ABET-accredited programs in Civil, Electrical, Industrial Engineering, an ANSAC ABET-accredited program in Transportation Systems, and a new Mechatronics Engineering program that started in Fall 2021. The MSOE also offers the following graduate programs: Master of Engineering, Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, Master of Science in Transportation, Doctor of Engineering, Ph.D. in Transportation and Urban Infrastructure Studies, Ph.D. in Secure Embedded Systems, and Post Baccalaureate Certificates in Urban Transportation and Cyber Security. Located on the north side of the Morgan State University campus, the MSOE is based in an expansive threebuilding complex, which houses several research centers and laboratories that investigate research of consequence using a multidisciplinary framework.

NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL & TECHNICAL STATE UNIVERSITY GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA

DR. STEPHANIE LUSTER-TEASLEY

INTERIM DEAN, COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is an 1890 land-grant doctoral high research university dedicated to learning, discovery and community engagement. The university enrolls over 13,000 students and emphasizes preeminence in STEM and a commitment to excellence.

North Carolina A&T fosters a climate of economic competitiveness that prepares students for global society. Its College

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY NORFOLK, VIRGINIA

DR. MICHAEL KEEVE

DEAN, COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

Norfolk State University is a public, urban, comprehensive institution founded in 1935. With a solid track record of producing outstanding graduates, the university currently serves approximately 5,600 students, of which more than 1,900 are enrolled in the College of Science, Engineering, and Technology (CSET). The college offers a master’s program in engineering, computer science, materials science, cybersecurity and a doctoral program in materials science and engineering. The departments of biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, nursing and allied health, technology, computer science, and engineering are in CSET. The Department of Engineering offers BS degree programs in electrical, electronics, and optical engineering. The optical engineering program is among

the few offered nationally and the only one offered at a Historically Black College and University. The programs provide challenging and rigorous curricula, excellent faculty and a state-of-the-art infrastructure. This includes the Marie V. McDemmond Center for Applied Research which offers a Class 100/1000 Cleanroom for micro and nanofabrication, the Cybersecurity Complex, Smart Optics Laboratories, and many others.

PRAIRIE VIEW AGRICULTURAL & MECHANICAL UNIVERSITY PRAIRIE VIEW, TEXAS

DR. PAMELA OBIOMON

DEAN, ROY G. PERRY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Founded in 1876, Prairie View A&M University is a state-assisted institution, a land-grant institution by Federal statute, and a “statewide special purpose” institution

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA

DR.

PATRICK CARRIERE

DEAN, COLLEGE OF SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING

degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees.

TSU is a comprehensive research-intensive institution with an R-2 Carnegie designation and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee State University provides students with a quality education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alums to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit Tennessee State University online at tnstate.edu.

TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY HOUSTON, TEXAS

DR. WEI WAYNE LI

by legislative designation serving a diverse ethnic and socioeconomic population prominent among those who are unserved and underserved. With slightly over 6,500 students, the Texas Constitution designated the university as one of three “institutions of the first class” (1984).

The Roy G. Perry College of Engineering continues to sustain an infrastructure that will attract and maintain a world-class faculty and produce graduates with the highest professional ethics and standards through its engineering programs. It comprises six departments: chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, engineering technology, and mechanical engineering. We offer nine bachelor’s degrees, four master’s and one doctorate. Our Master of Science in Engineering degree program allows concentrated study in either chemical, civil, environmental, or mechanical engineering.The Roy G. Perry College of Engineering perfectly balances classroom theory and research application.

While students concentrate on basic science, mathematics, and engineering courses, they are also exposed to a broad range of humanities and social sciences classes, keeping them in touch with the world around them. Students’ research experiences also have real-world applications, such as the many funded projects focused on threats to homeland security.

Southern University and A&M College System is the only Historically Black College/University System in the world, with five academic campuses and over 14,000 students. Founded in 1880, the Southern University System is dedicated to being a laboratory for exploration and experimentation. The College of Sciences and Engineering offers nine bachelor’s degree programs: biology, chemistry, computer science, physics, electronics engineering technology, civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and mathematics; five master’s degree programs: engineering, computer science, biology, mathematics, and physics; and two doctoral degree programs: environmental toxicology and science and math education.

Former students have made significant contributions in the national and international economic, political, social, and cultural arenas. The institution can also claim nine (9) U.S. Military Generals. The engineering programs are housed in a new 117,000- foot P.B.S. Pinchback Engineering facility with state-of-the-art educational and research laboratories, the latest computing facilities, and multimedia-ready classrooms.

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

DR. LIN LI

INTERIM DEAN, COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY & COMPUTER SCIENCE

ACTING DEAN, COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university and is a premier, historically black university and land-grant institution offering 39 bachelor’s

Texas Southern University (TSU) is a student-centered comprehensive doctoral university with high research activity committed to ensuring equality, offering innovative programs that are responsive to global challenges, and transforming diverse students into lifelong learners, engaged citizens, and creative leaders. TSU offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs in 12 academic colleges and schools. It is staffed by approximately 1,000 faculty members and support personnel. More than 9,500 students, representing ethnically and culturally diverse backgrounds, are currently enrolled at the university. It is one of the nation’s preeminent comprehensive urban universities recognized by the excellence of our programs, the quality of our instruction, and our innovative research. We are committed to being a contributing partner to our community, state, nation, and world. The College of Science, Engineering and Technology (COSET) is dedicated to integrating sciences and contemporary technologies, through education, scholarly activities, and community service; meeting the needs of a diverse graduate and undergraduate student population while addressing critical urban issues within a global economy. Our College is a vibrant and creative place to pursue many fields of study in the following nine academic departments: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Environmental & Interdisciplinary Sciences, Industrial Technologies, Mathematics, Physics, and Transportation Studies & Aviation Science and Technology. COSET has various undergraduate and graduate programs

HISTORICALLYBLACK COLLEGES&UNIVERSITIES

including a Ph.D. program in Environmental & Interdisciplinary Sciences. Moreover, we have various research centers, Special Academic and Research Programs, and over 40 research and teaching laboratories. There are also two new state-of-the art facilities where our faculty and students participate in scholarly activities such as teaching, critical learning, and scientific research in an exemplary diverse cultural environment.

TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY TUSKEGEE, ALABAMA

DR. HESHMAT AGLAN DEAN, COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

City College, and the Washington Technical Institute. UDC comprises a Community College, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, School of Business and Public Administration, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences, and the David A. Clarke School of Law.

of Maryland, and the nation. The mission of the Engineering Program is to provide a quality engineering degree program; to establish close partnerships with industry and government facilitating technology transfer; to contribute to economic development within the State of Maryland, specifically in the Eastern Shore region; and to provide related service to the campus community and the community at large. Graduates are prepared for careers in a much needed locally, in the state, nationally, and globally. The Engineering Program at UMES earned initial accreditation by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) in August 2013.

VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA

DR. DAWIT HAILE

One of the most famous universities in the United States, Tuskegee University was founded in 1881 by Booker T. Washington. Although a majority of its 3,000 students come from the Southeast, its enrollment represents 43 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. possessions, and 21 countries. Tuskegee University is a comprehensive institution with substantial outreach service programs and impressive research facilities. The highly respected College of Engineering offers Bachelor of Science degree programs in aerospace science, chemical, electrical and mechanical engineering; Master of Science degree programs in chemical, electrical, material sciences, and mechanical engineering; and a Ph.D. in Materials science and engineering. The college leads the country in graduating African American Aerospace Engineers and Materials Science and Engineering PhDs. It also houses Tuskegee University Center for Advanced Materials, Nucor Education and Research Center, and Chevron Additive Manufacturing Center.

UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WASHINGTON, DC

DR. DEVDAS SHETTY

DEAN, SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND APPLIED SCIENCES

The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) was founded in 1977 with the merger of three institutions: the District of Columbia Teachers College, the Federal

We are one of only four universities in the nation’s capital providing ABETaccredited undergraduate degrees in several engineering, computer science, and information technology areas and graduate degrees in selected areas. The world is a different place than in 1977, and so is the school, which has grown in terms of students, faculty, and laboratories. Our students continue to win numerous awards and scholarships and tackle challenging, real-world problems to develop innovative solutions. We have recruited highly qualified faculty who have expertise in specialized areas. The school is moving to a higher level, not only in the number and quality of graduates but also in the value, quantity, and impact of our research.

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE PRINCESS ANNE, MD

DR. DERREK DUNN

DEAN, SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY

DEAN, COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

The Engineering Program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering with specializations in the areas of Aerospace, Computer, Electrical, and Mechanical. The program is designed to support the growing technological demands of the Eastern Shore, the State

Virginia State University (VSU) is a comprehensive coeducational institution founded in 1882 as the Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute making it the first fully state supported four-year institution of higher learning for African-Americans in America. Today, the University is one of Virginia’s two land-grant institutions and enrolls approximately 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students. VSU is committed to education on a personal level, and to public service, research, and economic and leadership development activities in the region, state and nation. The University offers 52 baccalaureate and master’s degrees, as well as two doctoral programs. The College of Engineering and Technology offers Bachelor of Science degree programs in computer engineering, manufacturing engineering, computer science, mechanical engineering technology, electrical and electronic engineering technology, information logistics technology, mathematics, and economics. All of the engineering and engineering technology programs are ABET accredited, as well as the computer science program. The college also offers master’s degrees in computer science, economics, and mathematics.

GDIT is committed to advancing diversity in engineering.

Learn more about our commitment at gdit.com/diversity.

Justin develops cutting-edge applications that impact the nation.

Justin R. INTELLIGENCE

AMIE BOARDOFDIRECTORS

GARY MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

VICE PRESIDENT AND MANAGING EXECUTIVE, GLOBAL WIPRO ALLIANCE, IBM WW ECOSYSTEMS, IBM CORPORATION AND CHAIR, AMIE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

responsible for driving technical sales, innovation, and technical & professional skills development across the eight growth market regions.

In 2015 he returned to the US as Global Vice President of Technical Sales for IBM Global Markets, leading a global community of 1000 technical professionals covering IBM’s top enterprise clients. He is currently Vice President & Managing Executive for the Wipro strategic alliance, responsible for the global strategic relationship and revenue of IBM technology to, through and with Wipro.

Manager, Engineering Manager, Director of Production, and Multi-site Director of Materials prior to his current role. During his tenure with Boston Scientific, Matt has worked in three locations and supported all six of the company’s business divisions.

Matt has served as an active member of the AMIE Board of Directors since 2017 and is honored to serve as the AMIE Vice-Chair. In addition, Matt is a member of the AMIE Governance Committee and the Research Committee.

Gary Schneider has been in the technology industry since 1988, when he joined IBM as a software developer at the IBM Toronto Lab. He held positions with progressively increased responsibility within Development, Business Partner Enablement, Marketing and Business Development.

In 1999, he ventured into the entrepreneurial space, leading a startup technology company that specialized in digital media distribution for in-store advertising.

In April 2001, he returned to IBM as Worldwide Director of Channel Development, responsible for worldwide strategic alliances and technical enablement for IBM’s Information Management (IM) division.

In March of 2003, he was named Director of Linux Competitive Technology for IBM’s Information Management business, responsible for business strategy and execution on emerging Linux platforms.

In January 2006, he was appointed Worldwide Director of Field Technical Presales and Sales Enablement, responsible for the Field Technical Sales community, and overall sales training for all IBM sellers on the IM portfolio.

In February 2010, Mr. Schneider was named CTO & Vice President of Technical Leadership for IBM’s Growth Markets Unit, based in Shanghai, China,

Mr. Schneider has an engineering degree from the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, and an M.B.A. from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada.

MATT LAVELLE VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS, BOSTON

SCIENTIFIC AND VICE-CHAIR, AMIE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Before joining Boston Scientific, Matt served as an Infantry officer in the US Army for six years in multiple command and staff assignment locations around the world.

Matt earned a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Washington and an MBA in Operations Management and Finance from the University of Minnesota. Matt enjoys spending time with his family, running, reading, and having new life experiences outside work.

VERONICA L. NELSON

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ADVANCING MINORITIES’ INTEREST IN ENGINEERING

Matt Lavelle is a Vice President of Operations at Boston Scientific, responsible for leading a global manufacturing plant that leverages innovative technology to produce life-enhancing medical devices.

Matt has over twenty-one years of progressive leadership experience within Boston Scientific’s Global Supply Chain organization and has served as a Production Supervisor, Production

Veronica Nelson is the Executive Director of Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering (AMIE). AMIE is a coalition of corporations, government agencies, and the sixteen (16) ABET-accredited Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Schools of Engineering. She leads AMIE in the development of strategies to expand corporate, government, and academic partnerships to implement and support programs to attract, educate, graduate and place minority students in engineering careers and increase diversity in the engineering workforce.

Veronica has over 18 years of experience in process engineering developing Automated Assembly Processes and over nine years of experience in Engineering Management and Human Resources, where she managed Career Pathways Programs, Diversity Recruiting, Professional Development Rotational Programs, Interns Programs, and

University Relations & Recruiting at Northrop Grumman Corporation. Veronica served as Senior Associate at Booz Allen Hamilton, responsible for developing, managing, and implementing firm-wide Strategies for University and Diversity Recruiting.

Veronica was awarded the 2007 Women of Color in Technology Award for Educational Leadership – Corporate Promotion of Education and the 2009 Black Engineer of the Year Award for Educational Leadership – Promotion of Higher Education for her passion and dedication to promoting STEM.

Veronica earned her Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Fairleigh Dickinson University and her Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Robotics from Howard University. She received the National GEM Consortium Fellowship and was the first female to obtain her Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Howard University.

Veronica is the proud mother of two sons who have followed her passion and pursued degrees in Mechanical Engineering at Prairie View A&M University and Computer Science at North Carolina A&T State University.

EVERETT TUCKER

DIVISIONAL VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER, HEMATOLOGY, ABBOTT

Everett is Divisional Vice President and General Manager, Hematology within Abbott’s Core Diagnostics Division. He was appointed to this role in May 2021. Everett is leading teams to develop and deliver innovative technologies to improve patient care.

Since joining Abbott in 2015, Everett has held two other global leadership positions in Core Diagnostics: DVP Operations Strategy and Engineering, and DVP, Instrument Operations.

Prior to joining Abbott, Everett held different roles at General Electric (GE), Honeywell, Kimball Electronics & CAE Healthcare.

Everett is the Executive Committee Chair for Abbott’s Black Business Network,

which sponsors professional development programs that infuse a bias towards inclusion, aligned with Abbott’s 2030 sustainability plan. In addition, he is a Board member of the AMIE organization (Advancing Minorities Interest in Engineering) on behalf of Abbott.

Everett earned a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Pennsylvania State University – the Behrend College.

JARED ZERBE

DISTINGUISHED ENGINEER/ENGINEERING DIRECTOR, APPLE

Jared Zerbe received a B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University, Stanford, CA, in 1987. From 1987-1992 he worked at VLSI Technology and MIPS Computer Systems, where he designed digital circuits and highperformance floating-point units. In 1992, he moved to Rambus, where for over 20 years, he specialized in the design of analog-mixed-signal high-speed I/O, PLL/DLL clock-recovery, and datasynchronization circuits. He has taught courses at both Berkeley and Stanford in high-speed I/O design, authored or co-authored over 40 IEEE conference and journal papers, and is an inventor of over 220 US patents. He served on the program committee for DesignCon and VLSI Circuits Symposium from 2010-2013 and was an associate editor for the Journal of Solid-State Circuits from 2013-2014.

In 2013 Jared joined Apple, where since 2015, he has been a member of

Exploratory Design in the Hardware Technologies team and is currently a Distinguished Engineer/Engineering Director. Jared was named an IEEE Fellow in 2019 to contribute to developing high-performance serial interfaces.

DAVID CANADA

GLOBAL SUPPLIER DIVERSITY DIRECTOR FOR THE BOEING COMPANY

David Canada is director of Global Supplier Diversity for Boeing Defense Space & Security (BDS). Named to this role in 2023, he has primary responsibility for building stronger relationships with the diversity office at the Department of Defense and with the respective representatives of the branches of services. Previously, David served as the Director of Business Operations for Boeing Global Services.

David joined The Boeing Company in 2007 as an industrial engineer on the V-22 Osprey line. During his 16+ year career at Boeing, he has held leadership roles within IT, Finance, Strategy & Operations, Supplier Management

David earned a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical engineering from Howard University, and a master’s degree in Business Administration and a Certification in Project Management. Giving back is a part of who David is. He serves on the board of the following non-profit organizations: Black Alliance of Colleges & Employers (BACE), Step Afrika, Wearable Tech Ventures, National Science & Technical Medal Foundation and Positive Deposits. David is also very passionate about STEM education and increasing the number of minorities in technology fields. He serves as an active corporate representative for the Black Engineer of the Year Awards, Advancing Minorities Interest in Engineering as well as the National Society of Black Engineers.

AMIEBOARDOFDIRECTORS

ALEX VENETTA

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER AND MANAGER OF PARTNER SERVICES, CAREER COMMUNICATIONS GROUP

Alex Venetta is the Associate Publisher and Manager of Partner Services at Career Communications Group, Inc (CCG). In this capacity, Venetta reports directly to both CCG’s chief financial officer and the CEO. Venetta is responsible for the development and retention of relationships with CCG partners. They include top employers of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) talent, such as Lockheed Martin Corp., The Boeing Company, Northrop Grumman Corp., General Dynamics Corp., The Raytheon Technologies, Aerotek, Inc., IBM, and Navy Civilian Careers. Venetta is also actively involved with CCG’s Stars & Stripes Military Committee and CCG Awards Alumni.CCG is a minority-owned media services company that provides the knowledge, guidance, and expertise to make it easier for employers to implement and support STEM diversity strategies and programs. CCG not only helps companies effectively compete for professional talent in STEM fields but also provides multiple channels to assist in retaining STEM employees.Venetta is also one of the original founders of the School of the Way, a not-for-profit mentoring and martial arts school based out of Baltimore, MD. He is a martial arts instructor, a mentor, and a life coach to historically underrepresented students in STEM and the Arts.

Dr. Mark D. Vaughn is the manager of Technical Talent Pipelining for Corning’s Technology Community and is the Lead for the Technology Community Office of STEM. In this role, Vaughn develops, implements, and manages PK-20 science and engineering programs and initiatives to meet the Technology Community’s nearterm and long-term technical talent needs.

Dr. Vaughn began his 32-year career with Dr. Vaughn began his 32-year career with Corning in 1988 as a Research Technician. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Alfred University, a Master of Science degree in Optics from the University of Rochester, and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. Prior to his current role, Vaughn was a Research Associate in Modeling and Simulation, where he was a noted expert in Optical Network Traffic Demand Modeling and Access Network Cost Modeling. In addition to his primary role, Vaughn is a sought-after training program designer and facilitator and is a highly regarded diversity champion and community leader. Dr. Vaughn, who is also an ordained minister and a 2007 Black Engineer of the Year Award winner, is a native of Elmira, New York. He and his wife, Jeanette (an educator and entrepreneur), reside in Painted Post, New York and are the proud parents of 5 children (and have one son-in-love, one daughter-in-love, and two grandchildren).

REGINALD E. HUMPHREY

that will further the company’s commitments to develop a diverse talent pipeline and reduce societal inequities. Prior to this role, Reggie led the growth and development of GM’s supply chain inclusion efforts for many years, driving innovative programs and high-value partnerships. Reggie began his career journey in 1995 as a Production Supervisor at the Moraine Assembly Center in Moraine, OH. In 1998, he relocated to the Detroit metro area and has since worked in several operational and strategic planning roles within multiple organizations including Order Fulfillment, Logistics, Purchasing, Supply Chain, and Global Business Solutions. In addition to Reggie’s core responsibilities, he serves as a voluntary board member for the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council and as the Advisory Board Chair for the Tuck Diverse Business Executive Education Programs at Dartmouth College. Reggie holds a B.S. in Finance from Alabama A&M University and a M.S.A. from Central Michigan University.

RHOM ERSKINE

VICE PRESIDENT, GLOBAL DIVERSITY & INCLUSION, LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION

Venetta graduated from the Johns Hopkins University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts double majoring in International Relations & East Asian Studies.

DR. MARK D. VAUGHN DIRECTOR, STEM PARTNERSHIPS AND EARLY TALENT PIPELINE DEVELOPMENT

DIRECTOR OF DEI PARTNERSHIPS, OFFICE OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION, GENERAL MOTORS

Reggie Humphrey serves as the Director of DEI Partnerships in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He is responsible for increasing the collective impact of GM’s inclusion initiatives across the enterprise, as well as cultivating external partnerships

Rhom is a consultative senior leader with over 20 years of experience in large, midsize, and small business environments, where he has demonstrated success in strategic Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) planning and growth, D&I Council leadership, Business Resource Groups, change management, employee engagement strategies, diversity recruiting, and product/program management.

Rhom supports a number of community and professional organizations, including past/present Board of Directors positions with the National Black MBA Association’s Atlanta Chapter, the Clark Atlanta University School of Business, the Center for the Visually Impaired, and Zoo Atlanta.

Rhom holds a B.A. in Psychology from Morehouse College, an MBA with a Marketing concentration from Clark Atlanta University, and has received executive training in Diversity & Inclusion from Georgetown University and the American Institute for Managing Diversity. He has been selected as one of the Top 40 Under 40: Georgia’s Best and Brightest by Georgia Trend Magazine, as well as a member of the Top 100 Under 50 Emerging and Executive Leaders by Diversity MBA Magazine. He and his wife Danielle reside in Atlanta, GA and are the proud parents of three sons.

Rhom supports a number of community and professional organizations, including past/present Board of Directors positions with the National Black MBA Association’s Atlanta Chapter, the Clark Atlanta University School of Business, the Center for the Visually Impaired, and Zoo Atlanta.

A native of Huntsville, Alabama, Rhom holds a B.A. in Psychology from Morehouse College, an MBA with a Marketing concentration from Clark Atlanta University, and has received executive training in Diversity & Inclusion from Georgetown University and the American Institute for Managing Diversity. He has been selected as one of the Top 40 Under 40: Georgia’s Best and Brightest by Georgia Trend Magazine and a member of the Top 100 Under 50 Emerging and Executive Leaders by Diversity MBA Magazine. He and his wife Danielle reside in Atlanta, GA, and are the proud parents of three sons.

VALECIA MACLIN

GENERAL MANAGER, STRATEGIC CLOUD SOLUTIONS, MICROSOFT

Valecia Maclin leads the Microsoft Strategic Cloud Solutions with thought leadership for global cloud solutions for governments. Ms. Maclin is a recognized leader in Cybersecurity, having led the most extensive cybersecurity program for the US government, and is a former board director for the DoD Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), National Cybersecurity Alliance, and SAFECode. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering and material science from Duke

University; a Master of Science degree in the management of technology from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business; and multiple professional certifications including PMP, CISSP, ISSMP, GSLC, ITIL, and Agile SCRUM Master.

STEPHANIE E. TURNER

VICE PRESIDENT, INCLUSION, DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL INNOVATION, THE MITRE CORPORATION

Stephanie E. Turner is vice president of inclusion, diversity, and social innovation at MITRE. She works collaboratively to develop and drive an integrated inclusion and diversity strategy representing the other two functions she oversees—new employee experience and social innovation.

Turner has served over 25 years championing inclusion and diversity and most recently served as vice president of diversity and inclusion, strategic engagement at Liberty Mutual Insurance. Her previous leadership roles include managing diversity and inclusion, talent acquisition, and employee engagement at Lockheed Martin, Kaiser Permanente, ESPN, and Motorola. Turner also worked in the oil industry as a marketing and diversity consultant.

from Spelman College and a master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

TERRELL REID

CORPORATE SUPPLIER DIVERSITY PROGRAMS MANAGER, NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

Terrell has recently taken on the Corporate Terrell has served in the role of Corporate Supplier Diversity Programs Manager at Northrop Grumman since late 2020. Earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical/ Computer Engineering from Morgan State University and a Master’s Degree in Technical Management from Johns Hopkins University, Terrell spent over 12 years as a Systems Engineer supporting Navy programs in a variety of technical roles at The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL). During this time at JHU/APL, he also developed into leadership roles in both line management and project management.

She represents MITRE on the AMIE (Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering) board of directors and sits on the advisory board for Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership. Turner also sits on the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce board of directors. Turner earned a bachelor’s degree in economics

In 2018, Terrell joined Northrop Grumman as the East Region Pathways Program Manager for Software and Digital Technology Strategy and Performance. He has since moved into the Global Supply Chain Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) organization to manage Supplier Diversity programs. Currently, Terrell is responsible for corporate oversight and administration of the company’s Mentor-Protégé, Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR), Historically Black Colleges/ Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI), and Indian Incentive and Ability One programs

RICHARD TARGET

VICE PRESIDENT, TALENT OFFICE, OPTUM

Rick works in the Optum Talent Office, leading Optum’s early career programs. The early career team is accountable for developing and executing programs across Optum. Optum invests heavily in developing the next-generation workforce that will allow the organization to achieve its full potential. Rick’s team drives these programs with an obsession towards creating an incredible employment experience. Developing

Diversity Matters to Us

We are building the most diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce for all to come, stay, and thrive.

Everybody In at HP. To learn more, visit HP.com/diversity

AMIEBOARDOFDIRECTORS

and engaging our early career program participants. Not only does it allow us to attract the best talent in the market, but it also allows them to achieve their greatest potential while connecting them towards Optum’s mission of “helping people live healthier lives and helping make the health system work better for everyone. Rick’s background is in technology, and before this role, Rick was instrumental in developing and scaling Optum ‘s Technology Development Program as a leader in the tech organization. Rick graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a BS in Management Science and Information Systems and St. Thomas University with an MBA focused on health care. Prior to Optum, Rick worked as a consultant at Accenture, working on large system integration and ERP implementation projects. Rick resides outside Philadelphia, PA, with his wife and three kids.

ODETTA SCOTT

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS AND QUALITY, RTX

Odetta is passionate and tremendously dedicated to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) activism. She has served as the Committee Chair for Leading Inspired Females in Technology (LIFT) Recognition and Retention and Advocacy Council. Its mission is to create an environment where women can achieve extraordinary outcomes by bringing their authentic selves to work every day.

As the Engineering African American Advocacy Council Development Programs Chair, she was instrumental in leading the team to develop the STEM pipeline for executive talent. Odetta also serves as RTX Board of Directors member for Advancing Minorities’ Interests in Engineering (AMIE). Her commitment drove her to co-found a woman-owned consortium whose vision is to accelerate women in STEM, WeTECH Rocks.

She continues to push the DEI journey through her engagement with other small businesses and community activities. In addition, Odetta was recognized with the 2021 Diversity Leadership Award by the Women of Color STEM Conference and with the Dave Barclay Affirmative Action Award by Black Engineer of the Year Award STEM Conference in 2023. Odetta also received the Collins Supply Chain Diversity Equity and Inclusion Ambassador Award in April 2023.

Odetta attended the US Naval Academy for two years with aspirations of becoming an astronaut. Due to an unexpected illness, her dream was deferred, and Odetta obtained a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Texas A&M University. Odetta received her MBA from Jackson State University and a Master of Science in Organization Development from Pepperdine University. Though life offered her an unexpected detour, Odetta believes things worked out not only for her good but also provided her the ability to be a light to those she faithfully serves.

DR. DEVDAS SHETTY

DEAN, SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND APPLIED SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Dr. Devdas Shetty serves as Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at the University of the District of Columbia, and as a Professor of Mechanical Engineering. Dr. Shetty is a world-renowned scholar, educator and outstanding academic administration leader whose career spanned over 35 years in several countries. He previously served as the Dean of Engineering at Lawrence Technological University, Michigan, also Dean of Research and Vernon D Roosa Manufacturing Professor at the University of Hartford, Connecticut. As the Director of the Engineering Applications Center, he was responsible for research partnerships with more than 50 companies. He also held faculty positions at the Albert Nerkin School of Engineering at the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York.

Dr. Shetty has a stellar record of scholarship, which includes authorship of four textbooks in engineering. His textbooks on Mechatronics as well as Product Design are widely used as textbooks in many universities around the world. He has authored over 250 scientific articles & journal papers and proceedings. He holds six patents. His research work has been cited for contribution to the understanding of mechatronics and intellectual achievements in product design and surface measurement in the aerospace industry. Major projects led by Dr. Shetty include partnership with Albert Einstein College for his invention of ambulatory system for supporting patients during rehabilitation, successful design of a gun-launched hybrid projectile with US Army’s Research division, basic contributions in laser manufacturing. The cutting-edge curriculum of integrating engineering with humanities and social sciences that Dr. Shetty developed using support from the National Science Foundation has emerged as a national model.

Since joining as the Dean at the University of the District of Columbia, Dr. Shetty has doubled the student enrollment, started a new bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering, two master’s degrees and the first Doctoral Degree in Engineering and Computer Science. He successfully led ABET re-accreditation for four engineering and computer science programs, spearheaded scholarship and research activities, which to date has amounted to more than 30 million dollars. His leadership in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences has resulted in several awards for the University at national and international competitions. He has established

partnerships with several companies in the USA and Universities abroad.

Major honors received by Prof. Shetty include James Frances Bent award for Creativity, the Edward S. Roth National Award for Manufacturing from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineering National Faculty Award, Society of Manufacturing Engineers Honor award, 2019 Distinguished leadership award from UDC and Fellowship and lifetime achievement award in Industrial Engineering from the International Society of Industrial Engineering and Operations Management(IEOM). He is an elected member of the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering.

J.T. (TED) CHILDS, JR.

Our Lady of the Elms College (2005). Ted holds life memberships in the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources, The National Council of Negro Women, Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., the NAACP, and the Bass Anglers Sportsmen Society.

DR. EUGENE M. DELOATCH

FULL PROFESSOR AND DEAN EMERITUS, CLARENCE M. MITCHELL, JR. SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, 2017 BLACK ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

Alumni Hall of Fame Inductee. In 2019, he was selected as one of the inaugural recipients of the NSBE/BMAC Legacy Achievement Award at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum - (National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Baltimore Metropolitan Area Chapter (BMAC).

DR. TYRONE D. TABORN

PUBLISHER, CHAIRMAN, AND CEO, CAREER COMMUNICATIONS GROUP

In August 2006, J.T. (Ted) Childs, Jr. retired from IBM after a distinguished 39-year career as a member of their corporate Human Resources team. Upon retiring, he founded Ted Childs®, LLC.

In 2006, Working Mother Media announced The Ted Childs Life / Work Excellence Award to be given annually to the individual who, by their distinctive performance, has contributed to the field of Life / Work in the business community.

In 2009, Ted delivered the keynote address for the Danish Institute for Human Rights Awards Ceremony in Denmark; and one of the two keynotes at the Third European Community Equality Summit in Stockholm, Sweden.

In May 2014, Ted was inducted into the HistoryMakers, the nation’s largest AfricanAmerican video and oral history collection.

In May 2017, Ted was recognized at the 25th Anniversary Tanenbaum Annual Awards Gala with the Inspiration Award, recognizing his support of Tanenbaum and their work in addressing religious diversity in the workplace.

Ted is a member of The National Academy of Human Resources in 2001; has received Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters Degrees from Pace University (2001), West Virginia State University (2003), and

Prior to beginning his service as Professor and Inaugural Dean of the Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. School of Engineering at Morgan State University (1984–2016), Dr. Eugene M. DeLoatch completed twenty-four years of affiliation with Howard University in Washington, D.C. During his last nine years at Howard. He led a department that granted baccalaureate degrees to more African American engineers than any school in the country. He has a baccalaureate degree in Mathematics and Electrical Engineering (E.E.) from Tougaloo College and Lafayette College, respectively. He also holds a Master’s of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the New York Polytechnic University. In recognition of his many years of effective service to engineering education, Dr. DeLoatch has been awarded Honorary Doctorates by Lafayette College (1984), Binghamton University (2004), and Tougaloo College (2017).

Dr. DeLoatch became the first African American to serve as President of the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE), the world’s most prestigious engineering education organization, during the ASEE’s 2002-2003 activity year. He is a Life Member and Fellow of the Society, founded in 1893.

Of his most cherished recognitions, Dr. DeLoatch lists the 2017 Black Engineer of the Year Award, the 2016 Tau Beta Pi Distinguished Alumnus Award, the 2015 AMIE Lifetime Achievement Award, and the 2014 ABET Claire L. Felbinger Award for Diversity. In 2017, Dr. DeLoatch became a 2017 National Black College

Career Communications Group (CCG) is a minority-owned media services company that connects top technology talent to employers with the potential to fulfill their career goals.

Over more than a quarter of a century, CCG has built strong, lasting partnerships with America’s top companies, government agencies, and educational institutions through its magazines, the internet, and conferences that promote the achievements of minorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Taborn is founder of the Foundation for Educational Development which aims to raise awareness of technology literacy in minority communities across America. The foundation’s programs – Black Family Technology Awareness Week, La Familia Technology Awareness Week, and the Native American Family Technology Journey – aim to bring families into the digital age through computer literacy workshops.

His current and past board affiliations include Women Legislators of Maryland Foundation Inc., Baltimore Partners for Enhanced Learning, Maryland Black Caucus Foundation Inc., Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering (AMIE), and the Granville Academy. He is also a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and the State’s Legislative Black Caucus honored Taborn with a 2008 Living History Award in Engineering, Science, and Innovation. Taborn was recognized for outstanding contributions to his field and the State of Maryland. He was one of three individuals to receive the award.

Taborn holds honorary degrees from Morgan State University and the University of Maryland

PRINCIPAL, TED CHILDS LLC

AMIEBOARDOFDIRECTORS

Management, George Washington University, and executive leadership training from the Institute for Educational Management, Harvard University.

DR. JOYCE T. SHIRAZI.

DEAN, SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE AND AVIATION, HAMPTON UNIVERSITY

Dr. Joyce T. Shirazi, Dean of the School of Engineering, Architecture and Aviation at Hampton University has a long and distinguished career in higher education and in industry. She leads a skilled team of faculty and staff, to ensure Hampton is a leader in STEM related fields.

She has a diverse mix of business and academic experience and has managed projects in each sector with a span of career experience that comprises senior vice president, chief of staff, chair, program director, professor, specialist and engineer. This includes twenty years with Fortune 500 corporations and two decades in higher education leadership.

She served in both faculty and staff positions in the University System of Maryland, including senior vice president and chief of staff in the Office of the President, Chair of Information and Technology Systems, Program Director and Professor for Engineering Management, MBA, Management of Information Systems, and Technology Management in the Graduate School at University of Maryland Global Campus. She has design experience in multinational corporations which includes offshore oil platform structures, airplanes, and environmental systems in countries around the world.

She is a licensed, professional civil engineer (PE) with a BS in Civil Engineering, Howard University, MS in Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, D.SC. in Environmental and Engineering

EDGAR PEREZ

HBCU/HIS STRATEGIST, GLOBAL D&I TEAM, ORACLE

Edgar Perez (he/him/his) is the HBCU/ HSI Strategist for the global D&I team at Oracle. His goal is to help lower barriers to entry in tech and provide resources to underrepresented students. Edgar works with executives and various Oracle stakeholders to ensure authentic and impactful engagement at HBCUs and HSIs.

Edgar also manages the leadership academy program at Oracle, which strives to help grow students’ technical, interpersonal, communication, strategic, and corporate skillset, which will help them prepare for future internships and careers in tech.

DR. DERREK DUNN

He also manages the Oracle - UNCF partnership, which provides paid summer internships and scholarships to underrepresented STEM students. Before joining Oracle, Edgar spent 15 years working in academia. His academic experiences include admissions, business faculty, career coaching, employer relations, experiential learning, recruiting, student advising, and university marketing.

His academic and student affairs experiences have allowed him to work at various institutions, including small private nonprofit schools, large state systems, and R1 universities.

Edgar received his MBA in organizational leadership from Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles. He currently resides in the Nashville Tennessee area with his wife and daughters.

Dr. Derrek B. Dunn is the Dean of the School of Business and Technology, and a Professor of Computer Science and Engineering Technology, at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) in Princess Anne, MD (www.umes.edu/ sbt). Before returning to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Dr. Dunn held administrative positions at Alabama A&M University, North Carolina A&T State University, and Savannah State University. As Dean, he is responsible for the academic and administrative leadership of the School and promotes excellence in teaching, service, advising, and research; encourages high professional and academic standards; ensures the appropriate application of university policies, including those related to faculty and students; proactively resolve conflicts and issues that may arise within the School; guide five (5) department chairpersons on matters related to curriculum development and evaluation.

Additionally, he leads the school in planning strategically for its future growth and expansion through effective budget management and resource allocation; obtaining financial resources from external sources; providing leadership for student learning outcomes assessment, and monitoring of specialized programmatic accreditation.

Dr. Dunn holds the following academic degrees: a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University; a Master of Science in Aviation Management and Logistics from Kent State University; a Master of Construction Management from Western Carolina University; a Master of Science in Technology Management from East Carolina University; a Master of

Eastern Shore and a Bachelor of Science degree from Johns Hopkins University.

DEAN, SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE

Science in Electrical Engineering, a Master of Science in Mathematics and a Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech).

Dr. Dunn has extensive experience with program-specific accreditation, in his previous roles as a faculty member, chairperson, dean, or associate vice president. He has been involved with specialized program accreditation agencies such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), the American Council on Construction Education (ACCE), the American Chemical Society (ACS), the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE), and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) the forerunner to Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). These experiences not only extend to program preparation for accreditation visits but also can serve as a member of the visiting teams for ABET, ACCE, and ATMAE accreditation visits.

In addition to his experience with specialized program accreditation, he has been involved in regional accreditation preparation and campus visits as a faculty, chairperson, and dean.

Dr. Dunn teaches in areas such as Construction Management, Cybersecurity, Global Positioning Systems, Safety Systems, and Wireless Communication Systems.

DR. HESHMAT AGLAN DEAN, COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY

Dr. Heshmat Aglan was appointed Dean of the College of Engineering (COE) at Tuskegee University. Dr. Aglan has a Ph.D. and M.S. from the University of London, England and an M. Eng. and B.S. from Assiut University, Egypt all in mechanical engineering, and a two-year Postdoctoral fellowship at the Department of Macromolecular Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Ohio.

Dr. Aglan has worked at Tuskegee University for 25 years strengthening teaching,

research and outreach with local, national and internationally recognized research. He is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and previously served as the Associate Dean of COE. In projects focusing on reforming engineering curriculum funded by NSF, Aglan spearheaded the development of hands-on courses for engineering students, through the design and development of modules with embedded assessment.

He has earned numerous honors and awards including a four year appointment in June 2015 by Governor Bentley of the State of Alabama to the State Board of Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration, Editorin-Chief of the Journal of Elastomers and Plastics, Sage Publishers, Inc., and Associate Director Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Education Coalition (AMSTEC).

Dr Aglan has been responsible for a large number of funded projects at the national and international levels. He has shared his cutting edge engineering research with NASA, DOD, DOE, NSF, DHS, Federal Railroad Administration, Raytheon, Nucor Steel, Boeing, Lockheed Martin and other companies. He has more than 130 refereed journal articles disseminating his research work.

He is a registered professional engineer in both Alabama and Ohio. Aglan has supervised 6 Ph.D. students, more than 40 M.S. students and more than 20 postdoctoral scholars. He has recently been granted two patents by the USPS; one deals with the invention of nanostructured thin films (9034426 Issued: May 19, 2015) and the second on the invention of a technology for in situ repairing of railroad rail head defects (9358628 issued: June 7, 2016).

THEODORE A. BROWN

P.E., DIVISION CHIEF, PROGRAMS INTEGRATION DIVISION, U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

Mr. Brown was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in January 2009.

Since September 2022, he has served as the Chief, Programs Integration Division. Mr. Brown has the principal responsibility for policy development, articulation and execution to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) divisions and districts for the development, defense and execution of the annual and supplemental Civil Works program across all accounts (Investigations, Construction, Operations and Maintenance) and business lines (Navigation, Flood Risk Management, Ecosystem Restoration and Hydropower).

Executing these responsibilities for the Civil Works Program of over $90 billion, requires the integration and reconciliation of the policy perspectives of Planning, Engineering, Construction/Operations, Real Estate and Contracting and working

closely with senior Administration officials, Congressional leaders, and project partners. Prior to this assignment, he served as the Director, Regional Business, South Atlantic Division, USACE. He provided executive strategic leadership and technical expertise for the Division which executes engineering, design, construction, and project management for civil works, military construction, International and Interagency Service and environmental programs for all or part of eight southeastern states, the Caribbean and South America, with a workload that exceeded $5 billion and managed by a workforce of 3500.

Mr. Brown also served as the Chief of Planning and Policy Division in the Headquarters, HQUSACE Washington, D.C. from January 2009 until November 2017. He also served as the Leader of the Mississippi Valley Division and Southwestern Division Regional Integration Team in Headquarters. In this position, he served as the leader of the USACE-wide Planning Community of Practice and was responsible for the formulation and coordination of Army Civil Works policy with the Department of Army, Federal agencies, and Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Mr. Brown was also responsible for leading efforts in the development and implementation of Water Resources Development Acts and served as the principal Civil Works point of contact with congressional authorizing committees on policy and planning matters. He also served in this position in an acting capacity from November 2007 – May 2008.

2023 DESIGN CHALLENGE

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2023

WINNERS

1ST PLACE – Alabama A&M University

2ND PLACE – University of the District of Columbia

3RD PLACE – Prairie View A&M University

AMIE DESIGN CHALLENGE

Science advances when everyone can.

Every employee should be empowered to be their authentic self at work. At Boston Scientific, you’ll find:

• Diversity, equity and inclusion programs and initiatives aimed at eliminating bias, racism and other forms of discrimination in our workplace.

• 10 employee resource groups, including BRIDGE, which is dedicated to positively promoting the recruitment, development and retention of Black employees and improving the healthcare of ethnically diverse patient populations.

• Meaningful work that helps save and improve millions of patients’ lives each year.

• Inclusive benefits and an award-winning culture built on shared values.

• Mentorship, sponsorship and other career development opportunities for all employees. Join our team: bostonscientific.com/careers

2023 AMIE PARTNERS & ASSOCIATES

NOTES

AMIE is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to expand corporate, government, and academic alliances to implement and support programs to attract, educate, graduate and place underrepresented minority students in engineering careers.

www.amiepartnerships.org

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Visit AMIE’s website at www.amiepartnerships.org for background information, administrative information and website links to affiliated HBCU websites.

CONTACTS:

Veronica L. Nelson Executive Director, Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering (AMIE)

5200 Perring Parkway

Baltimore, Maryland 21251

Email: Executive_Director@ amiepartnerships.org

Avalyn Pace Strategic Program Manager, Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering (AMIE)

5200 Perring Parkway

Baltimore, Maryland 21251

Email: admin@amiepartnerships.org

Minorities’ Interest in Engineering | “Achieving Diversity through Partnerships”