2018 US Black Engineer & Information Technology | DEANS - VOL. 42, NO. 2

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D EA N S IS S U E CO M P L I M E N T S O F

FULL LIST REVEALED

Alabama A&M’s

Dr. Chance Glenn Addresses the

State of the HBCUs INSIDE:

Lockheed Martin Heads the 2018 Top Supporters List Brian Krzanich Shares His Vision of Diversity in Tech USBE&IT Volume 42, No. 2 | 2018 www.blackengineer.com

HBCU Engineering Directory


INNOVATION

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Publisher’s Page

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Dr. Chance Glenn

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

Cover Story: One on One Dr. Chance Glenn, Dean of the College of Engineering, Technology and Physical Sciences at Alabama A&M, gives his thoughts on the current state of HBCUs. FEATURES

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Top Supporters of HBCUs

What Is the Value of Historically Black Colleges and Universities?

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Silicon Valley’s Daring Visionary

Former Intel CEO Brian Krzanich Shares His Vision for Diversity in Technology

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2018 HBCU Engineering Deans’ Roundtable

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2018 HBCU Directory

Photography by Othello Banaci: Cover, pages 4, 22-23, 24 and 27. 2 USBE&IT | DEANS ISSUE 2018

www.blackengineer.com


TS Vo l u m e 4 2 N u m b e r 2 PROFILES IN INNOVATION

People and Events........................... 6

New ASEE President Named, the 2nd Annual Global Leadership Forum Summit Recap, Former Prairie View A&M Engineering Dean Starts New Job, Thomas LaVeist Marks Two Years at Milken Institute.

One on One....................................10 Dr. Chance Glenn, Dean of the School of Engineering at Alabama A&M, gives his thoughts on the current state of HBCUs.

EDUCATION

Education......................................14 Test-Taking and Test Preparation Tips and Strategies for College-Level Tests.

First Steps.....................................18 Making the Most of Your Career Fair Experience

BEST PRACTICES FOR SUCCESS

Corporate Life................................22 Best Practices in Business Etiquette

Career Voices.................................26 Making More Minutes – Time Management for Pre-professionals.

Leading Voices

NEW!

Leading Voices.............................. 44

Teaching Creativity and Innovation The Path Toward Data Insights Comics vs. Reality: How Comic Books Can

PUBLISHER’S PAGE Do HBCUs Still Matter? What Is the Future of HBCU Engineering Programs? In July 2016, former Texas governor Rick Perry spoke at the annual meeting of the American Legislative Exchange Council. In his wide-ranging remarks, Perry, who has served as Secretary of Energy since March 2017, spoke about the good things that happened in Texas during his 14 years as governor. Among his social, economic, and educational accomplishments were balanced budgets for each of those years. “The economic growth that followed helped every Texan, rich or poor,” Perry said. “Texas companies created almost one-third of all new American jobs. Texas now leads the nation in exports,” he added. Perry also mentioned how Texas’s high school graduation rate went from 27th in the country in 2003 to 2nd in the country in 2013. The graduation rate for African Americans is number one in the nation: 13 points higher than the national average, he said. “That matters because kids who graduate from high school typically make 50 percent more than those who don’t,” said Perry. He also noted how he urged universities to drive down the costs of a typical four-year degree to $10,000. All of this matters for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), whose mission was, and is, the education of Black Americans. Recent data shows that about 25 percent of Black Americans earning science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) degrees do so at HBCUs. HBCUs offer all students, regardless of race, an opportunity to develop skills and talents. These institutions, like any institution of higher education and research that awards academic degrees in various academic disciplines, nurture and train the young people who go on to serve in the professions. HBCUs also produce entrepreneurs with globally competitive innovations that offer economic freedom to new generations of Americans.

Inspire STEM and Diversity

Creating Citizen Scientists

CAREER OUTLOOK

Career Outlook.............................. 51

Tyrone D. Taborn CEO and Chief Content Officer

BEYA Recap The War for Talent HBCU Engineering Directory Meet the HBCU STEM Innovation Awardees

www.blackengineer.com

USBE&IT | DEANS ISSUE 2018 3


SAVE THE DATE FEBRUARY 7-9, 2019 Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel • Washington, DC

www.beya.org

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EXECUTIVE OFFICE Tyrone D. Taborn, CEO and Chief Content Officer Jean Hamilton, President and CFO Alex Venetta, Associate Publisher, Manager of Partner Services Eric Price, Vice President, Recruitment and Professional Training EDITORIAL AND CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Rayondon Kennedy, Managing Editor Lango Deen, Technology Editor Dr. Michael Spencer, Former Dean, School of Engineering, Morgan State University Dr. Gary Harris, Professor, Engineering Department, Howard University Dr. Victor McCrary, Member National Science Board Dr. Kamal Nayan Agarwal, Vice-Chairman, Modern Technology and Management Institute, Howard University Jem Pagán, Chief Technology Officer, Flatiron Strategies Michael Fletcher, Contributing Editor Gale Horton Gay, Contributing Editor Garland L. Thompson, Contributing Editor Roger Witherspoon, Contributing Editor GRAPHIC DESIGN Beverly Wladkowski, Art Director Bryan Davis, Digital Director Joe Weaver, Global Design Interactive CORPORATE AND ALUMNI RELATIONS Dr. Gwendolyn Boyd, CCG Alumni Committee Chair and President Dr. Eugene DeLoatch, Chairman, BEYA Alumni Group Vice Admiral Walter J. Davis, USN (Ret) National Chair, BEYA Military Alumni Oliver “Bo” Leslie, Retired Program Manager, Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions, Boeing Monica E. Emerson, Women of Color STEM Conference National Chair Matt Bowman, CCG Military Program Manager Stars and Stripes Committee Executive Director/Chief of Staff for VADM Walt Davis, USN (Ret.) Angela Wheeler, Manager, Foundation for Educational Development, Inc. Ty Taborn, Corporate Development Hayward Henderson, Executive Advisor to the CEO SALES AND MARKETING Gwendolyn Bethea, Vice President, Corporate Development Sheri Hewson, Account Executive Devin Oten, Senior Account Manager Jay Albritton, Social Media Specialist JOBMATCH AND STUDENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS Allison Chavous, Recruitment Specialist Ashley Turner, Recruitment Team Manager Courtney Taborn, Talent Management Specialist Rod Carter, Recruitment Specialist, College Relations Sheila Richburg, College Coordinator CONFERENCE AND EVENTS Ana Bertrand, Conference Coordinator Jennifer Roberts, Customer Success Manager Toni Robinson, 360 MMG Rutherford & Associate INTERNS Markele Cullins, University of Maryland Baltimore County Rachael DeVore, University of Maryland Baltimore County ADVERTISING SALES OFFICE Career Communications Group, Inc. 729 E. Pratt Street, Suite 504, Baltimore, MD 21202 Phone: (410) 244-7101 / Fax: (410) 752-1837

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US Black Engineer & Information Technology (ISSN 1088-3444) is a publication devoted to engineering, science, and technology and to promoting opportunities in those fields. US Black Engineer & Information Technology cannot be responsible for unsolicited art or editorial material. This publication is bulk-mailed to colleges and universities nationwide. Subscriptions are $26/year. Please write to US Black Engineer & Information Technology, Subscriptions, 729 E. Pratt St., Suite 504, Baltimore, MD 21202. Copyright (c) 2018 by Career Communications Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/BEYASTEM

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PROFILES IN INNOVATION

PEOPLE AND EVENTS

Compiled by Lango Deen ldeen@ccgmag.com

A&T HONOR GRAD NAMED 2018–19 ASEE PRESIDENT

Stephanie G. Adams, engineering dean, Frank Batten College of Engineering and Technology at Old Dominion University, has been selected as the 2018–19 American Society of Engineering Education President. Adams will serve a one-year term in that position beginning in June 2018. “I’m humbled that my peers have selected me to serve as President-Elect of this prestigious organization that has given me so much,” Dean Adams said. In her vision statement on the ASEE website, the dean recalled how she was introduced to ASEE as a high school student by her father in the 1980s. Adams has won more than $12 million in research grants as the principal investigator or co-principal investigator and has authored more than 75 scholarly publications. An honor graduate of North Carolina A&T State, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, she received a master’s degree in systems engineering from the University of Virginia in 1991 and a Ph.D. in interdisciplinary engineering from Texas A&M in 1998. Her research interests include broadening engineering participation, faculty and graduate student development, team effectiveness, and quality control and management. S

GLOBAL LEADERSHIP FORUM’S ANNUAL SUMMIT 2018

The 2nd Annual Global Leadership Forum Summit took place April 5–6 in St. Louis, Missouri. The chosen theme for this year’s technology summit, “Educate to Action 2.0,” reflects the need to inform people of the issues surrounding inequality in the digital economy as they build toward action. The event, hosted at the World Wide Technology headquarters, brought together participants from across America. The summit considered workforce development and education in diverse communities and facilitated a range of contributions and debate on the combination of science and engineering with visual art, design, and the performing arts in the 21st century. Discussions ranged from leadership to mentoring to next-generation leaders. The partnership organizations that helped launch the GLF in 2015 include the Black Data Processing Associates, Information Technology Senior Management Forum, Black Women in Science & Engineering, Career Communications Group’s Foundation for Educational Development, Inc., NPower, the National Academy Foundation, Talestry, Micro Ventures, and World Wide Technology. S 6 USBE&IT | DEANS ISSUE 2018

www.blackengineer.com


DR. KENDALL HARRIS STARTS A NEW JOB AT TEXAS SOUTHERN

On May 1, Tulane University announced that Thomas LaVeist has been named dean of Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. He will also hold the position of Presidential Chair in Health Equity, making him the first to hold one of Tulane’s newly endowed presidential chairs, created to support the recruitment of exceptional, internationally recognized scholars whose work transcends and bridges traditional academic disciplines.

www.blackengineer.com

Dr. Kendall T. Harris, recently at Prairie View A&M University, where he served as dean of the Roy G. Perry College of Engineering, is the new provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Texas Southern University. Dr. Harris began his tenure at Prairie View A&M in 2005 as an associate dean and professor of mechanical engineering. Under his leadership, the College of Engineering Success Center facilitated a program that partners advisers from each academic department within the college with advisers from the freshman residence. This collaboration is implemented through a new freshman course within the college that introduces fundamental engineering, computer science, and technology concepts to first-year students. He has worked extensively with youth, encouraging them to pursue college degrees and to major in STEM-related fields. He graduated from the Naval Aviation Officer School as a naval officer and aviator. Harris received his master’s and doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Mississippi, and he holds bachelor degrees from the University of Kansas. S

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ONE ON ONE

by Gale Horton Gay editors@ccgmag.com

DR. CHANCE GLENN TALKS HBCUs TODAY D

r. Chance Glenn is a leader in forward-thinking education and advancement in the engineering industry. As Dean of the College of Engineering, Technology, and Physical Sciences at the Alabama A&M University in Huntsville, AL, Dr. Glenn is expanding academic efforts to prepare students for the ever-evolving global needs of the 21st century citizen. USBE sat down with Dr. Glenn to discuss the future of engineering at Alabama A&M and abroad.

Dr. Glenn, what major projects are currently coming out of Alabama A&M’s engineering program?

We’ve been expanding our degree programs and enjoying five consecutive years of growth in the college as a result. We are preparing to launch Master programs in electrical and in mechanical engineering. We are also creating a stronger focus on cybersecurity, focusing on research and instruction at the graduate and undergraduate levels, as well as developing a certification regime that will benefit our students and the community. Though we have always been strong in our materials science and engineering, the college also encompasses chemistry, physics, mathematics, and construction management. Those disciplines are also a part of our holistic approach. And, with laboratory facilities that house a rating 1000 clean room, a Mach-5 wind tunnel, crystal growth facilities, electron microscopes, and three particle accelerators, we are proud to conduct research and development in many emerging technologies.

In your opinion, why is it important for professional organizations and businesses to support HBCU engineering programs?

This is easy to answer. Alabama A&M is the top producer of African-American STEM graduates in the State of Alabama. But if you look at the bigger picture, HBCUs represent approximately 3 percent of the engineering programs in the United States. Yet, we produce 27 percent or more of the graduates in STEM. We are overproducing based on our numbers. If you intersect the significance of STEM education to the nation and global competition and the importance of diversifying the workforce and knowledge base, HBCUs fall directly in the center of that intersection. We are responsible for a large part of diversity and the preparation of graduates in STEM. Alabama A&M also typically rates very high nationally when measuring the percentage of female STEM students.

We are important to the industry because we are a significant source for the workforce. We challenge industry leaders to participate in the creation of the employees that they need, not simply take the fruit of the labor of the academic institutions 10 USBE&IT | DEANS ISSUE 2018

and remove themselves. They should invest in our universities so that they can produce better students, and more students. That will allow us to have a more vibrant workforce that has all of the qualities required for them to thrive. Currently we aren’t seeing the support that I would ultimately prefer, but there are some bright spots. We have cultivated a great relationship with Lockheed Martin. Ours is a perfect example of the symbiotic relationship needed between companies and our institutions. They support scholarship programs, which allow us to attract the best students we can and get them plugged into the pipeline. Alabama A&M is actually one of the top workforce suppliers for Lockheed Martin, including full-time employment, internship opportunities, and co-op programs. They get top choice of the best students. On top of that, they created an environment that is conducive to students thriving and working well within their company. In essence, the system is feeding itself. This is the ultimate goal.

There are some voices in academia, cultural majority institutions of higher learning, and corporate America that question if HBCUs still matter in the scheme of preparing students for their professional careers in STEM. How would you respond to that question? It only takes a glance at the percentage of African-American STEM students graduating from many majority institutions to quiet any voices that question the significance and relevance of HBCUs. Their numbers are well below the representative population. If you look at the number of African American students in STEM programs across the larger campuses in Alabama, none of them exceed 7 percent of the number of African American students in engineering or STEM. The number of African-Americans in Alabama well exceeds the national average (about 26 percent), yet we are underrepresented in these universities. More than anything else, we need HBCUs because we accept, train, graduate, and place more African American students than majority institutions. When those facts change, we can have another conversation, but I don’t see that happening any time soon.

How are Alabama A&M and other HBCUs advancing given the current environment with the Trump Administration? Are there any immediate challenges, and are there any looming on the horizon?

I recently met with Johnathan Holifield, the Executive Director of the White House Initiative on HBCUs, at a NASA event.

www.blackengineer.com


At this point, we just don’t know anything that’s officially happening with this administration. I’m unclear on some of the more harmful things that may impact financial aid. That’s a big deal for us because 80 percent or more of our students require financial aid in some form. If there are cutbacks made, that will severely impact educational opportunities for universities that rely on that as a revenue stream. If this administration follows the traditional conservative line of thinking, I suspect it may not be good for us. But again, that’s unclear at this point.

Could you talk about the future of the engineering, STEM research, and undergraduate programs at Alabama A&M?

Dr. Chance Glenn

Dean of the college of Engineering, Technology and Physical Sciences, Alabama A&M

There are so many areas in which technology can improve the lives of people. That’s what it’s all about. Discovery is the first stage when it comes to scientific implementation. Engineering and technology follow behind that as new processes are implemented. Personally, what excites me the most is space exploration. From establishing Mars colonies and mining of near-earth asteroids to developing new space stations, all of it has been interesting to me from a young age. I think, within the next few decades, we will have definitive knowledge of life beyond our planet. These are very exciting times. However, the bigger challenges we have as a global society can almost be summed up in one word: population. The population of this planet has gone beyond seven billion. There’s a significant impact on food, water, and energy. Those are key areas because they impact everyone. Until we have other planets to colonize and easy transport to and from them, we are going to have to develop and work with the planet that we have, take care of it, and use the resources more efficiently and effectively for the population that lives on it. That, to me, is the singular challenge that science and technology has to address. S

www.blackengineer.com

“It only takes a glance at the percentage of African-American STEM students graduating from many majority institutions to quiet any voices that question the significance and relevance of HBCUs.”

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Oracle is Proud to Be Named a Top HBCU Supporter by CCG Magazines

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EDUCATION

EDUCATION

by Christopher Zacher editors@ccgmag.com

MASTERING THE TEST: WINNING EXAM-TAKING STRATEGIES In most colleges and universities, a student’s test scores hold quite a bit of value. The way a student performs on a test is often looked at by their teachers and potential employers as the way they would perform in the workplace. Strong test scores, therefore, can help to jumpstart a student’s career.

I

t’s no surprise then that test preparation can be pretty overwhelming for many people. And with such heavy pressure to perform well, even those students who feel prepared to take the exam might find themselves with a case of stage fright on the day of the test itself. Doctors Malika Grayson and Jessica Donaldson recently delivered a seminar entitled “Mastering the Test,” in which they offered some advice on how to properly take exams. The two doctors discussed a variety of techniques that students can use to study more efficiently as well as some methods for coping with the anxiety that can come with test-taking. Dr. Grayson, who holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Cornell University and currently works as a systems engineer for Northrup Grumman, started off her presentation by discussing the importance of keeping up with the course material. “You can’t expect to walk into the test and know how to take it unless you’ve prepared,” she says. She explained that instead of starting test preparation the week (or night) before the exam takes place, students should use the entire semester to prepare for their tests. By taking careful notes, writing down key points (instead of transcribing every word the professor says), and creating flashcards throughout the entire semester, students can avoid trying to cram too much information in their heads all at once. “Every class you take is a puzzle,” she says. “At the end of the class, you’re

14 USBE&IT | DEANS ISSUE 2018

Dr. Malika Grayson (left) and Dr. Jessica Donaldson (below)

supposed to be able to put that puzzle back together.” It will be easier for students to reassemble that puzzle if they use the syllabus as their guide. By using the syllabus to keep track of the course objectives, students will have a better idea of the types of questions that will appear on the exam. “You want to be able to understand the course syllabus and take advantage of those objectives,” Dr. Grayson advises. “Those are the key points and the key things that will come up.” When it comes to studying, Dr. Grayson says that students should avoid trying to memorize facts. Instead, they should work toward a fuller comprehension of each concept covered in the course. “Memorization is less valuable than true understanding,” she says. “You have to understand the depth of the concept.” She says that the type of comprehensive knowledge necessary to perform well on a test will only come when the student embraces a method of studying that suits their personality. After all, some people are visual learners, some learn by listening, and others learn best by doing. According to Dr. Grayson, the most successful students are the ones who pinpoint a method that works best for them and utilize it to optimize their study time. www.blackengineer.com


Accordingly, successful students also tend to practice various forms of self-care. Those who overwhelm themselves by studying until 4 a.m. the day before the test often walk into the exam tired, hungry, and ill-equipped to tackle the challenge. “At a certain point, our brains can only hold so much information,” she says. “No matter if you study four, six, or eight hours, it’s not going to matter.” She also offered some practical tips on testing: eat breakfast, show up early, and dress comfortably. “The last thing you want to be thinking is ‘My belt is too tight, my shoes are too tight, and this sweater is scratching me,’” she says.

“Every class you take is a puzzle,... At the end of the class, you’re supposed to be able to put that puzzle back together.” - Dr. Malika Grayson

Perhaps the most important thing strong test-takers do is maintaining their confidence. A student who has spent the entire semester learning the material should have no doubts that they are prepared to perform well. Dr. Donaldson offered up an anxiety-reducing mantra that exam takers can repeat to themselves as they head into the classroom: “I am one with infinite intelligence, and I know everything that I need to know about this subject.” S www.blackengineer.com

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EDUCATION

FIRST STEPS

by Gale Horton Gay editors@ccgmag.com

MAKING THE MOST OF THE BEYA CAREER FAIR

I

magine the ideal environment for students in the serious hunt for their first professional jobs. It would be packed with representatives from Fortune 500 corporations, federal agencies, defense contractors, and military branches as well as various businesses where science, technology, engineering, and math knowledge is critical.

Come up with a priority list of the companies and individuals that are the most important to get to know. Develop a tentative schedule so that you don’t miss out on hearing from or speaking to specific individuals or attending an important event. Work out time conflicts ahead of time.

Such an environment isn’t impossible to find. In fact, each year the Black Engineer of the Year (BEYA) STEM conference provides multiple opportunities for young people who have gained academic knowledge but hunger for a job that will be the first of many in a successful career.

Much like tests and presentations in college and the workplace, don’t show up unprepared. Do your homework. Research companies that interest you, and find out some relevant information that could become part of a conversation with a company representative. Have some knowledge in your back pocket about individuals you’re seeking to meet. Have they recently received an honor? Is their company working on a new product or headed in a new direction? Stick to the positives. Stay away from questions or comments about lawsuits, financial problems, product failures, etc.

The conference completed its 32nd year in February 2018 in Washington, DC, and attracted more than 4,600 students, 4,475 professionals, and scores of employers, such as Lockheed Martin Corp., AT&T, U.S. Department of Energy, NASA, Apple, Raytheon, Dupont, Missile Defense Agency, General Motors, and others. Participants took part in more than 50 seminars. According to Tyrone Taborn, one of the founders of the BEYA conference, the conference was created to level the playing field. “It was created for one reason: to make sure that students at the HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities) at that time had a fair shot at the opportunities in the nation’s companies,” said Taborn. For those in search of a job or an internship, the BEYA Career Fair is the place to be. Employers use the fair to:

• Find individuals who might be a good fit with their companies for employment or internships.

• Identify talent to be tracked for future engagement. • Conduct preliminary interviews. • Schedule follow-up interviews. • Share information about their company or agency. • Answer students’ questions. As for the best ways to maximize one’s job search while attending the BEYA STEM Conference and Career Fair, we offer the following advice:

Review the opportunities and create a strategic plan. Unfolding over three days, the BEYA Conference, scheduled for February 7–9, 2019, encompasses a broad array of events and activities: workshops, seminars, panel discussions, networking events, an awards dinner, and, of course, the career fair. It’s not a good idea to take a “wing it” approach to the conference. There is simply too much taking place, and without a plan, one might not mine the conference for all it’s worth. Review the BEYA website, and thoroughly familiarize oneself with the events and opportunities. Determine ahead of time which sessions would be most beneficial on a personal level. 18 USBE&IT | DEANS ISSUE 2018

Do your homework.

Finetune your resume and social media.

Resumes and social media sites with one’s professional information should be reviewed, brought up to date, and designed to impress. And it’s not a bad idea to clean up, as much as possible, other personal social media sites that may cast a less than favorable impression of you. You may want to cull photos and video that show indulging in alcohol, illicit drug use, brandishing weapons, sexual activity, etc.

Perfect your elevator pitch.

Everyone should be able to give a summary of themselves and their goals in the time it takes for an elevator to travel a few floors. What’s yours? Work on what you would say if you had a few minutes with a CEO, a military officer, or the head of an engineering firm that you admire. Practice it alone and with a trusted friend or colleague. Know what you’re going to say before the opportunity presents itself.

Ask a few good questions.

Whether it’s a seminar or one on one at the career fair, you’ll want to have a few questions in mind to ask recruiters, panelists, or workshop presenters. Think up a few solid questions in advance.

Make a memorable impression.

Don’t underestimate the importance of your personal appearance. Dress in clean, pressed, appropriate business attire. Hair, makeup, and accessories should be on the conservative side, not flashy. Pay attention to personal hygiene. Don’t overdo it on cologne or perfume, but make sure to pay extra attention to showering, using deodorant, brushing teeth, and freshening your breath. Remember, you want to be remembered for the right reasons.

Don’t forget to follow up.

If you want to make yourself stand apart from the horde of jobseekers, take the time to send a brief email or mail a thank you note. It lets the recipient know you appreciate their time, that you’re a thoughtful individual, and that you continue to www.blackengineer.com


It’s not a good idea to take a “wing it” approach to the conference. There is simply too much taking place, and without a plan, one might not mine the conference for all it’s worth. Review the BEYA website, and thoroughly familiarize oneself with the events and opportunities. think about being affiliated with the company. Also take advice from Charles Johnson-Bey, BEYA’s 2018 career achievement industry winner. He suggests letting your personality and interests show through at job fairs and during interviews. Explain what you want to do, and never say, “I’ll do anything.” You should express what you’re passionate about and provide some idea of the direction in which you want to head. S

www.blackengineer.com

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STRENGTHENING DIVERSITY

IN THESE FACES, WE SEE THE FUTURE. Raytheon salutes your efforts in shaping the leaders of tomorrow and delivering the true value of diversity: success.

Raytheon.com/responsibility @Raytheon Raytheon

© 2018 Raytheon Company. All rights reserved.


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Let’s build the future of energy together. At Alabama Power, we support diversity in education and career advancement. And we’re honored to be recognized once again as a Top Supporter of HBCU Engineering Schools. Having different outlooks, opinions and ideas makes for a better future. Come find yours at AlabamaPower.com/careers.

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BEST PRACTICES FOR SUCCESS

CORPORATE LIFE

by Christopher Zacher editors@ccgmag.com

BEHAVIOR AND BUSINESS: BEST PRACTICES IN BUSINESS ETIQUETTE Powerful business leadership starts with a passion for learning, growing, attaining knowledge, and continuously developing yourself.

O

nce you learn things as a leader, you have immediate opportunities to strategize and apply what you have learned. This is what sets keen business professionals apart from monotony-driven drones or, as I prefer to call them, “amateurs.� Amateurs tend to focus on themselves and what they already know. They tend to become comfortable and complacent in what they do and how they do it. Driven professionals, however, recognize the importance and art of business etiquette and the impact it can have on setting them apart as noticeable authorities in their respective fields or future endeavors. Here are several key concepts of business etiquette:

22 USBE&IT | DEANS ISSUE 2018

The Power of Choice

Authentic business etiquette is about making strategic choices. The acute business professional understands that there are very specific choices that he or she must make that will lead to the ultimate goal. The first choice is getting out of bed and being mentally prepared for whatever engagement is required. Professionals start each day with a very different mindset. They walk into their lives every single day asking a very important question: What does the world need from me today in order to be successful, and how can I bend to what other people and my goals need from me? This is much easier said than done, especially if business leaders do not recognize the one thing needed to give of themselves in this way: emotional intelligence. Put simply, emotional intelligence is the capacity to show up and to be aware of what you and others are feeling without being a prisoner to those feelings. It is understanding those feelings and having a strategy for managing them. With emotional intelligence, leaders have complete control of themselves and the needs of those around them. Applying this in business will www.blackengineer.com


Understanding the art of behavior in business is all about giving yourself tools that will help support your professional endeavors as well as master ideals that will contribute to accomplishing your goals. It’s also about constant, consistent learning and transforming professional leadership skills into better habits of success. increase person-to-person connections beyond money and status motivations.

Exude Energy and Confidence

When it comes to effective business interaction, personal energy is infectious and can be a key indicator of successful performance. Energy and confidence reflect one’s belief in his or her capabilities, motivations, and dedication to the end goal. The professional that presents himself with energy is typically perceived as the most confident and therefore the most competent. A strong reflection of confidence and competence can give the right professional a significant boost above others in his or her field. There are essentially two types of confidence: internal and external. Internal energy is the belief that we are amazing, fearless, and courageous. It makes us feel as if we can do anything and take over the world. Most of us don’t think about ourselves this way all the time though. We all have fears, insecurities, and thoughts of being unqualified on various levels. They impact our confidence, and leaders of all levels share these feelings at some point. But that is where external energy can help support stronger business interactions. External confidence can turn a person into one of the most confident individuals overnight, and there are many ways to exhibit it. Simply put your shoulders back and hold your head up high. Make eye contact with your fellow constituents. Have a firm handshake. Use inflection, articulation, emphatic tone, and various pacing when speaking to other business professionals to demonstrate assurance and certainty. Natural authenticity can make a huge impact if you choose to demonstrate it.

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Business etiquette can also be expressed strategically through your attire. When dressing for the occasion, by all means feel comfortable in what you’re wearing, but make sure your clothing choices reflect an understanding of what is appropriate for that situation. Certain colors may be less distracting for example. Particular items of clothing may also be more culturally acceptable for some professional environments. Recognizing this will show strong emotional intelligence, and respect will follow.

Know Your Purpose

Before you ever open your mouth, know that whatever you say or do must have a purpose. That will drive all of your decisions. Purpose will (or should) color how you network and with whom you network. It will determine the steps you need to take to begin gathering information for professional endeavors. It should drive your motivation for connections, referrals, and every decision you make. Having a distinct purpose will garner more results when inquiring about potential opportunities. The “ask” is a crucial part of business interaction, and it is appreciated by other professionals. But knowing what you want, asking directly, and doing so confidently will go much further than potentially wasting someone’s time with unfocused questions.

Develop a Communication Strategy

A final stroke of business behavior genius is formulating an engagement strategy. This should include several succinct pieces of information that paint a vivid portrait of your goals as a professional. Start with a quick but attention-grabbing introduction: your name, what you do, and what you want to talk about. Next, determine three or fewer core points you want to focus on regarding your skills, current projects, or accomplishments that will potentially make you stand out. Finally, develop a quick call to action to help gather information about next steps for interaction. For example, you may want to ask what you can do to follow up with someone in an organization or when a company may be making decisions about positions. Excellent preparation and direct engagement show focus and determination, and that makes a strong impression on potential business constituents. Understanding the art of behavior in business is all about giving yourself tools that will help support your professional endeavors as well as master ideals that will contribute to accomplishing your goals. It’s also about constant, consistent learning and transforming professional leadership skills into better habits of success. Know that the distance between you and your goals is right on the other side of your comfort zone and that mastering the art of business behavior can make that distance even shorter—and success sweeter. S

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE WHERE IT MATTERS MOST GIVES MY WORK PURPOSE Choosing the right place of work is an important decision. It’s not just about the company; it’s about the people, finding your purpose and a place to grow. Starting your career with us gives you the opportunity to join a leader in the medical devices industry, while receiving the training and development to help you recognize your aspirations and goals. Different reasons. Same mission. At Boston Scientific, it’s personal. Proud supporter of BEYA STEM Conference.

Discover our career opportunities at bostonscientific.com/careers © 2018 Boston Scientific Corporation and its affiliates. All rights reserved.



CAREER VOICES

by Gale Horton-Gay editors@ccgmag.com

MAKING MORE MINUTES

A

challenge faced by many students is how to be more organized and productive. We all have the same 24 hours in a day, but we’re not all equally productive during that period. The key to being more productive is to focus on activities that will move you closer to your goal. Time management is the broader term for the various systems used for planning and prioritizing activities. Christine St. Vil, the founder of Purpose Driven Media, defines time management as “the process of planning and exercising conscious control over the amount of time spent on specific activities.” Conscious is the operative word. Too often people are overwhelmed by doing non-productive work and never find the time to do the things that will make a difference and help them achieve their goals. “The purpose of time management is to help people succeed,” says LaQuasha Johnson, an electrical and systems engineer with The Raytheon Company. It allows you to “assess what is important to you” and choose activities based on that criteria. According to Belinda Moses, the director of Spirit of Excellence Professionals, “We need to be more realistic with time.” This means being aware of how we actually spend time and what

26 USBE&IT | DEANS ISSUE 2018

can be accomplished during the hours not devoted to sleeping, eating, family, work, and other activities. The process of time management involves goal setting, prioritizing activities, and taking action.

Goal Setting

The first step in goal setting is to figure out what you want to achieve. The second is to break that goal into smaller projects. Third, develop monthly, weekly, and daily plans that will get you closer to achieving your goals. Fourth, be flexible. Life happens, and things will occur that are outside of your control. As a result, you will get off track. It’s not the end of the world. Take a breath, and get back on track. Retirement is one example of a long-term goal. For the first step, you would need to ask yourself some questions: When do you want to retire? What does retirement look like to you? Where will you live? What will your income be? What activities do you want to do? The second step requires breaking down these goals: What is it going to take to achieve these goals? Create plans for investments, paying off debts, career development, and increasing income. For the third step, ask yourself what you are doing this year, month, week, or day to achieve your goals.

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GET AN ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER. This person needs to be firm and call you out when you’re veering off course. But they also need to be supportive to help get you back on the path. First, find someone who is supportive of your goals. Second, have weekly meetings or calls where you discuss what you’ve accomplished and didn’t accomplish from the week before. And third, plan your actions for the next week.

Bonus Tip 3: Celebrate your successes along the way, whether big or small. It makes it easier to stay focused and accomplish your goals. Bonus Tip 1: Write down your goals and revisit them. This reminds you of your priorities. Bonus Tip 2: Set a date for each action step. It helps to hold you accountable, and you are more likely to achieve the goal or make considerable progress toward your goal as a result.

Bonus Tip 4: Write down what you’ve learned. If something went well, write it down so you can do it again. And if something didn’t go well, write it down and figure out where you went wrong.

Prioritizing Activities

The Important/Not Important–Urgent/Not Urgent table is a way to organize and prioritize activities. First, divide a box into four sections. Second, label the top of the table Urgent and Not Urgent, and label the side of the table Important and Not Important. Third, place your activities in the resulting boxes Urgent–Important, Urgent–Not Important, Not Important– Urgent, and Not Important–Not Urgent. The Urgent–Important and Not Urgent–Important activities are activities you need to do, while the Not Important–Urgent and Not Important–Not Urgent are activities that can be delegated or taken off your to-do list. “No” is your most important weapon in time management. Ms. Moses makes a very important observation: “People don’t value your time like you value your time.” When you learn to say no, you have a simple and effective tool for dealing with distractions and staying focused on your priorities. St. Vil adds, “No is a complete sentence. You don’t need to explain yourself.”

Taking Action

All the planning in the world is worthless unless you follow through. Your daily, weekly, and monthly actions lead to your smaller projects being completed. And as you repeat the process, you move closer to accomplishing your long-term goals. Bonus Tip: Get an accountability partner. This person needs to be firm and call you out when you’re veering off course, but they also need to be supportive to help get you back on the path. First, find someone who is supportive of your goals. Second, have weekly meetings or calls where you discuss what you’ve accomplished and didn’t accomplish from the week before. And third, plan your actions for the next week. S

www.blackengineer.com

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We believe our inclusive workforce helps MITRE realize its fullest potential.

Aviation Sys te m s Fe de r al Se c tor Mo de r niz ation

Cyb er Se cur it y

De fen se & Inte lligence

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The MITRE Corporation is a not-for-profit organization that operates research and development centers sponsored by the federal government. We take on some of our nation’s most critical challenges and provide innovative, practical solutions. Our centers support our sponsors with scientific research and analysis, development and acquisition, and systems engineering and integration. We also have an independent research program that explores new and expanded uses of technologies to meet our sponsors’ needs. If you’re a student with a strong technical background, whether just starting your studies or about to graduate, visit www.mitre.org to learn more.

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TOMORROW STARTS WITH TODAY’S BRILLIANT STUDENTS General Motors is proud to partner with Historically Black Colleges and Universities to support diversity in STEM. As a top 10 supporter, it’s a privilege to work with your deans of engineering, faculty and students.

gm.com

©2018 General Motors. All rights reserved.


by Lango Deen ldeen@ccgmag.com

TOP SUPPORTERS OF

HBCU

ENGINEERING SCHOOLS 30 USBE&IT | DEANS ISSUE 2018

www.blackengineer.com


THE 2018 TOP SUPPORTERS OF HBCU ENGINEERING SCHOOLS OFFERS ANOTHER REALITY CHECK ON THE UNIVERSITY-INDUSTRY MODEL. EACH YEAR, MORE EMPLOYERS ARE NAMED TO THE LIST, AND ENGINEERING DEANS AT HBCUs SHINE A LIGHT ON WHAT THE PARTNERSHIPS MEAN TO THEIR COLLEGES AND THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE HELPING TO CREATE AMERICA’S FUTURE. BELOW IS A SHORT PRIMER ON WHY THE LIST WAS STARTED, ITS RELEVANCE 16 YEARS ON, AND HOW IT CONNECTS TO THE LARGER STORY OF BLACK INVENTION AND INNOVATION THROUGHOUT AMERICAN HISTORY. What is the Top Supporters of HBCU Engineering List about?

The Top Supporters of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Engineering Programs Survey determines organizations that contribute the most to the nation’s HBCU engineering programs.

Why is the list important?

According to Career Communications Group CEO, Tyrone Taborn, publisher of US Black Engineer & Information Technology magazine, this ranking reflects the perception that HBCU engineering deans have of the total level of support they receive. The organizations they name are doing things above the traditional business–university relationships. They see these schools as more than a place to recruit.

Why was this list started?

“The list is important because, for many years, the relationships between HBCUs and non-HBCUs has not been equitable,” Tyrone Taborn said in 2002, when the list began. “Corporate and government execs naturally tend to support the college they came from. If you don’t have HBCU graduates in your executive ranks, you don’t think about HBCUs,” he said.

www.blackengineer.com

How does AMIE tie in to the list?

ABET, Inc. accredits college and university programs in the disciplines of applied and natural science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology at the associate, bachelor and master degree levels. AMIE is a non-profit organization that represents a coalition of industry, government agencies, and the ABET-accredited Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Schools of Engineering.

Why is the AMIE coalition important?

AMIE’s coalition provides a holistic opportunity to influence and access talent, educators, and businesses in promoting minority students’ pursuit of engineering and achieving greater diversity in the engineering workforce. Their 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.

What is the value of supporting HBCUs? According to AMIE, its partnership model ensures that the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) pipeline has diverse and exceptional talent for industry and government agencies that seek diverse

perspectives in their workforce. AMIE also provides direct access to almost a third of graduating minority engineers from HBCUs annually.

What is an HBCU?

The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, defines an HBCU as “any historically black college or university that was established prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the education of black Americans, and that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association determined by the Secretary [of Education] to be a reliable authority as to the quality of training offered or is, according to such an agency or association, making reasonable progress toward accreditation.” Today, HBCUs offer all students, regardless of race, an opportunity to develop their skills and talents.

Why are HBCUs important to our nation?

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, although HBCUs were originally founded to educate Black students, they enroll students of other races as well. In 2016 non-Black students made up 23 percent of enrollment at HBCUs, compared with 15 percent in 1976.

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According to an innovation feature published in Smithsonian, “With Patents or Without, Black Inventors Reshaped American Industry,” Black inventors were major contributors even during times when most did not obtain any of the benefits associated with their inventions since they could not receive patent protection. In the 2015–16 school year, most of the nearly 48,900 degrees conferred by HBCUs were bachelor’s degrees (69 percent) and master’s degrees (16 percent). Black students earned 81 percent of the 33,900 bachelor’s degrees conferred by HBCUs and 70 percent of the 8,000 master’s degrees conferred by these institutions. Enrollment at HBCUs in 2016 was 61 percent female, up from 53 percent in 1976.

What would corporate America look like without HBCUs? According to an innovation feature published in Smithsonian, “With Patents or Without, Black Inventors Reshaped American Industry,” Black inventors were major contributors even during times when most did not obtain any of the benefits associated with their inventions since they could not receive patent protection.

“From Thomas Jennings, the first black patent holder, who invented dry cleaning in 1821, to Norbert Rillieux, a free man who invented a revolutionary sugarrefining process in the 1840s, to Elijah McCoy, who obtained 57 patents over his lifetime, those with access to the patent system invented items that still touch the lives of people today,” the article states. “This legacy extends through the 21st century,” the article goes on. A few examples include Lonnie Johnson, who generated more than one billion dollars in sales with his Super Soaker water gun invention; Janet Emerson Bashen, the first Black woman to receive 32 USBE&IT | DEANS ISSUE 2018

a patent for a software invention, in 2006; and Dr. Hadiyah Green, who recently won a one million dollar grant related to an invention that may help treat cancer.

How have HBCUs changed lives?

IPwatchdog, a leading source for news and information in the patent and innovation industries, recently took a look at “Innovation at Historically Black Colleges and Universities,” and here are some great talking points.

The first institution of higher education for Black students in America was founded in 1837 and was located in Cheyney, PA.

By 1853 more than 75,000 students were enrolled in Black public and private post-secondary institutions.

Currently, there are 105 degree-granting institutions of higher education within the United States that have received the distinction of being named an HBCU. These schools only make up about 3 percent of the 4,879 total degreegranting institutions in America but produce between one-quarter and onethird of the country’s Black doctoral candidates every year.

The first patent received by an HBCU was on April 11, 1978, assigned to Shaw University of Raleigh, NC.

Between 1969 and 2012, HBCUs received 100 utility patents from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in various fields, including energy, advanced manufacturing technology, nanotechnology, and breast cancer treatment.

In 2010 HBCUs received 10 patents; in 2011, 17 patents; and in 2012, 24 patents.

The IPWatchdog expects HBCUs to take an even bigger role in academic research in the coming years. Since 2002, 58 patent applications have been filed by Florida A&M University faculty alone. “The National Science Foundation reported that HBCUs received $547 million in research and development expenditures in 2011, a 16 percent increase over the previous year. In recent years, HBCUs have begun licensing some inventions to start-up businesses under provisions of the 1980 Bayh-Dole Act,” IPWatchdog said. S

WHAT IS THE OLDEST HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE IN AMERICA? CHEYNEY UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA IS THE OLDEST OF 101 HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1837 BY RICHARD HUMPHREYS, THE FIRST INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE UNITED STATES. SINCE ITS FOUNDING, CHEYNEY HAS GRADUATED MORE THAN 30,000 GRADUATES.

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Below is the full list of 2018 Top Supporters of HBCU Engineering:

INDUSTRY

1. Lockheed Martin Corporation 2. The Boeing Company 3. Northrop Grumman Corporation 4. The Raytheon Company 5. International Business Machines (IBM) 6. Texas Instruments, Inc 7. Google, LLC 8. General Motors Company (GM) 9. Intel Corporation 10. Exxon Mobil Corporation

GOVERNMENT

1. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 2. National Science Foundation (NSF) 3. U.S. Department of Energy 4. U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) 5. U.S. Department of the Navy 6. Oak Ridge National Laboratories (ORNL) 7. U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) 8. Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) 9. U.S. Air Force Research Labs (AFRL) 10. U.S. Department of the Army

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Abbott Laboratories Accenture PLC Advancing Minorities’ Interests in Engineering (AMIE) Alabama Power Apple Inc. AT&T BAE Systems BASF SE Battelle Memorial Institute Becthel Corporation Boston Scientific Corporation CALIBRE Chevron Corporation Corning Inc. Dell The Dow Chemical Elementum Entergy Mississippi, Inc. Exelon Corporation Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) The Ford Motor Company General Electric (GE) Huntington Ingalls Industries Infosys

Johnson Controls L3 Technologies Leidos Marathon Oil Marathon Petroleum Company Michigan State University The MITRE Corporation Morningbird Media Corporation Netapp, Inc. New Relic Nissan USA Oracle Corporation Proctor & Gamble Co. Purdue University Rolls-Royce PLC SAIC Shell Oil Company Siemens- USA Space Exploration Technologies Corporation Toyota Motor Company Union Pacific Railroad Company Volkswagen Xerox Yates Construction

Alabama Department of Transportation The Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State Aviation & Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) Brookhaven National Laboratories Duke Energy Louisiana Economic Development Missile Defense Agency National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL) National Institute of Health (NIH) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

National Security Agency Naval Air Systems Command (NAVSEA) Sandia National Labortories State of Alabama State of Florida Department of Transportation Tennessee Department of Transportation U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) U.S. Department of Education U.S. Department of the Air Force U.S. Department of Transportation

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Together we’re making sure tomorrow’s greatest innovations come out of today’s classrooms.

© 2018 Northrop Grumman Corporation

When people work together to help students thrive, they change lives, strengthen communities and make our world a better place. Northrop Grumman is proud to be a supporter of historically Black colleges and universities. THE VALUE OF PERFORMANCE.

w w w.nor thropgrumman.com


INGENUITY HAS N O B A R R I E R S. SAIC is committed to employing a diverse workforce across the country. We provide technical, engineering, intelligence and information technology solutions for our customers.

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Join us. saic.com/collegerecruiting to learn more.

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Silicon Valley’s Daring Visionary

How Intel’s Former CEO Led Global Technology

By Lango Deen ldeen@ccgmag.com

In USBE magazine’s last interview with Brian Krzanich, former CEO of Intel, we got a vision of tomorrow’s technology, a meaningful discussion about his drive to diversify Intel’s product offerings and workforce, and 11 new rules that reshape everything.

K

rzanich joined the company as process engineer in 1982, became manager of a fabrication plant in 1996, and later supervised assembly and testing facilities. He held roles within Intel’s manufacturing division, managed a plant, and began overseeing the company’s factories and supply chains in 2007. While Krzanich was in charge of the company’s supply chain, Intel removed conflict minerals from its microprocessors. He cited moral obligation as the reason to take action and said the issue was “very important and personal” to him. Intel worked to use conflict-free minerals for all microprocessors by 2014 and all products by 2016. In January 2012 Krzanich was promoted to the role of chief operating officer. He led Intel’s China strategy in this role.

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DEANS ISSUE 2018 I USBE&IT 37


USBE: Can you give us ten leadership tips? Krzanich:

Krzanich was appointed

chief executive officer (CEO) of Intel in May 2013. He served in this capacity for five years, until he resigned on June 21, 2018. He has been credited for expanding Intel’s offerings beyond central processing units (CPUs) and into other technologies, including 5G wireless networks, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, cloud computing, drones, and wearables. Intel has also explored artificial, augmented, and virtual reality as well as machine learning during his tenure. In January 2015 he announced Intel’s $300 million Diversity in Technology initiative to support the company’s goal to achieve full representation of women and underrepresented minorities in Intel’s U.S. workforce by 2020 and to accelerate diversity and inclusion across the technology industry at large. These activities include funding engineering scholarships at historically Black colleges and universities, establishing a professional gaming women’s team, and sponsoring female students to attend game developer conferences in partnership with the International Game Developers Association. Intel Corporation is one of the largest technology companies in the world and grew from being the creator of the first microprocessor chip in 1971 to a major processor supplier for computer system manufacturers such as Apple, Lenovo, HP, and Dell. Intel also manufactures motherboard chipsets, network interface controllers and integrated circuits, flash memory, graphics chips, embedded processors, and other devices related to communications and computing.

thermostat, but imagine a world where almost everything is connected to the cloud. At my house, not only are my thermostats connected but my sprinklers, garage doors, lights, cameras—and I could add more if I wanted to. If you look at many cities in world, they’re beginning to connect everything as well, from cameras to traffic lights to parking spots. 2) As things become connected, the demand for computing power increases. We see a trend where once engineers see they can connect these devices and the rich data that comes off of them, they find they want the ability to make decisions as quickly as possible. This means using artificial intelligence as close to the edge of that device as they can, avoiding the delay of going to the cloud whenever possible. 3) All of these connected devices provide vast amounts of data. A connected car, for example, produces 2,000 times the amount of data a person generates in the same time frame. This data feeds artificial intelligence and provides new insights and capabilities. We will see artificial intelligence impact almost everything in our lives, sometimes very overtly, like driving an autonomous car, and sometimes in a subtler way, like an Alexa or a smart camera for security. USBE: What keeps you up at night and what is the next disruptive technology?

USBE: Technology is changing so quickly. How can our colleges best prepare their institutions and students for the future? What does the future look like to you?

Krzanich: Artificial intelligence is an emerging technology, and the algorithms and methods are still being developed. New types of learning, like reinforcement learning, are beginning to emerge. I worry that one of these will emerge with significant performance advantages using specialized silicon (ASIC), and for some period of time, it will displace a large amount of compute in the world.

Krzanich: There are three trends that will drive much of what we see in the near future:

USBE: What should young people do to prepare for a future with Intel or any other technology company?

1) Everything will be connected. Today you see it with your cars, your

Krzanich: I have raised my two daughters with two key foundations. No matter

38 USBE&IT | DEANS ISSUE 2018

I can give you 11. I used to have it limited to 10, and I worked so hard for years to keep it to 10, but I finally had to add an 11th. I have taught these to new Intel employees for some time now. 1. Articulate your message clearly and concisely.

• Clearly communicate your

intentions and expectations.

• Communicate like you have

five minutes to explain to someone who does not work in your organization.

2. Be open and direct. 3. Do your homework; know the facts.

• Delegate and empower

others liberally, but pay attention to the details.

4. Develop a common view and strategy with key stakeholders.

• Develop mutual trust and respect for each other’s strengths.

5. Define critical priorities. 6. Keep focused on the business. 7.

Trying to get everyone to like you, or agree with you, is a sign of mediocrity; you’ll avoid the tough decisions and discussions.

8. Results matter. 9. Understand and utilize the people and organizational networks. 10. Role model integrity at all times. 11.

Presentations: The important part of the presentation is the content, not how it looks.

• Communicate your key points.

www.blackengineer.com


what you want to be in life, from musician to engineer, from artist to physicist, be good at math. Math is the foundation of understanding for everything. The second: Learn how to work in teams and with others. I’ve fired more people for not being able to work with others than for being dumb. USBE: Why is Intel committed to supporting historically Black colleges and universities? Krzanich: In today’s highly competitive technology world, you thrive by always having the best and brightest employees. Intel is committed to ensuring that we have the best and brightest talent that will move our company into the future. Essentially, we go to where the talent is. We know HBCUs produce approximately 42 percent of AfricanAmerican graduates in STEM. We operate in a competitive marketplace, and Intel likes to win. We want to ensure we are well-positioned to secure the best talent, with diverse backgrounds, experiences, skillsets, and schools of thought. USBE: It’s been almost a year since Intel rolled out its HBCU grant program. Can you tell some of your success stories? Krzanich: A few things have happened since that time: I hosted the presidents from the six HBCU partner schools at Intel in Silicon Valley recently to listen and learn about needs and opportunities. I learned a lot and know that there is more that we can do together. The HBCU teams attended a round-table discussion focused on improving pathways for AfricanAmerican students, collaborating on training and course development, engaging in critical conversations regarding challenges, and committing to continue the conversation to work on solutions. Our work with these six HBCUs is part of our strategic plan to focus on proactive retention and ensure that underrepresented minorities have opportunities to enter and thrive in STEM careers. Universities would like more collaboration with the industry on best method sharing, access to resources, and cutting-edge technology. www.blackengineer.com

Some programmatic results include the following: • 102 Intel scholars have been selected across the six HBCUs. • Intel is supporting Tuskegee’s proposal to the NSF to fund the design of a new Cybersecurity with AI graduate course. • There has been collaboration with their current partner, National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), to support 60 Intel Scholars who attended the recent national conference to receive special programming.

In today’s highly competitive technology world, you thrive by always having the best and brightest employees. Intel is committed to ensuring that we have the best and brightest talent that will move our company into the future. Essentially, we go to where the talent is. We know HBCUs produce approximately 42 percent of African-American graduates in STEM. We operate in a competitive marketplace, and Intel likes to win. USBE: Last year, Barbara Whye, Vice President, Human Resources and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, said the company is seeing stable progress of diverse representation, but she also said there’s “more work to do in achieving full representation by African Americans in technical roles.” Is Intel’s WarmLine

helping with African-American retention? Krzanich: The simple answer is yes, but I would say we still have work to do. We’ve improved, but we can do better. As shared in our most recent diversity report, the WarmLine is an inclusive service for employees and has been a significant tool for retention. Since inception, Intel’s WarmLine service has received over 10,000 cases and successfully achieved a 90 percent retention rate. As we continue to move forward, it’s important to remove the burden from the employees from diverse backgrounds and work together to address these challenges head on. We need to ensure that this work is fully integrated into all we do. USBE: How is Intel’s Diversity in Technology (DiT) Initiative working to achieve its 2020 full representation of underrepresented minority goal? Krzanich: We are making steady progress, so much so that we pulled the goal in to 2018, two years ahead of schedule. We are committed to closing the gap and leaving a footprint so that there are no excuses. I’m confident we can do what needs to be done. Intel has been making the impossible possible for 50 years; ensuring we have an inclusive workforce is the key to lasting impact. Data, since 2015, show our gap to full representation in our U.S. workforce has narrowed from 2,300 employees to 376 employees—an 84% improvement. This has been the result of a comprehensive strategy that takes into account hiring, retention, and progression. Our dedication and hard work are paying off in important ways; representation is a critical milestone on our journey…being successful will require continued focus and hard work. We will focus on a few key areas to achieve our goal by the end of 2018, namely, honing in on specific issues within each business group and on closing the African-American representation gap. S Brian Krzanich stepped down from his position on June 21, 2018. He gave this interview to USBE in January.

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Siemens PLM Software fosters diversity and inclusion. Diversity isn’t just about gender, culture, age or lifestyle. It’s about everything that makes us unique—our talents, ideas, contributions and experiences. A corporate culture that promotes personal growth can only be achieved by fostering creativity, productivity and mutual respect. Diversity fuels our innovation. And that’s what has made Siemens successful for over 160 years. By creating a diverse workforce, we strive to gain the respect of our employees, customers and communities.

siemens.com/plm/diversity



INVESTING IN By Christopher Zacher editors@ccgmag.com

According to the U.S Department of Education, nearly one-third of all STEM graduates come from an HBCU program, yet many HBCUs find themselves with a growing lack of STEM resources. What can be done about this?

42 USBE&IT | DEANS ISSUE 2018

A

panel of deans from various HBCU programs recently gathered to speak on this issue. The roundtable discussion, held at the BEYA conference, focused on the benefits, funding issues, and future of HBCUs. Dr. Chance Glenn, Dean of the College of Engineering, Technology and Physical Sciences at Alabama A&M University, was the first to speak: “Education is the key to upward mobility and integration into society,” he said. “STEM education is critical to our nation and to the world.” Dr. Glenn proudly explained that his institution has the largest number of African-American STEM graduates in the state: “To be a leader, that distinction means we’re making an impact in the area where it matters most.” Much of the panel focused on the ways in which HBCU engineering programs offer a unique experience to students of color, providing them with attention and support that they might miss out on in other institutions. “The student isn’t just a number to us,” said Dr. Robin Coger, Dean of the College of Engineering at North Carolina A&T. “I know each student’s name. They call

me ‘Mom.’ You don’t get that at a PWI (predominantly white institutions).” The panelists seemed to agree that in many PWI programs, it can be easy for some students to fall behind due to a lack of proper support. Dr. Michael Spencer, former Dean of the School of Engineering at Morgan State University, spoke about the importance of faculty who serve as role models: “On majority campuses, a lot of money gets spent trying to bring in support services… lecturers who talk about ‘imposter syndrome,’ motivational speakers of one sort or another,” he says, “but studies indicate that the most important support person is that professor who inspires, who can be emulated. It’s more difficult to find that person on majority campuses.” There were also success stories shared by some panelists. Dr. Keith Hargrove, Dean of the College of Engineering at Tennessee State University, spoke of his own experience as a student in an HBCU program. “This is a guy who comes from a family of seven, who took the ACT and got a score in the teens,” he says about himself before explaining how his enrollment at Tennessee State turned his life around. www.blackengineer.com


N OUR FUTURE Left to right: Dr. Michael G. Spencer, former dean, Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. School of Engineering, Morgan State University; Dr. Devdas Shetty, dean, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of the District of Columbia; Dr. Shield Lin, interim dean, College of Engineering, Prairie View A&M University; Dr. Heshmat Aglan, dean, College of Engineering, Tuskegee University; Dr. Kate Brown, interim dean, Engineering and Aviation, University of Maryland Eastern Shore; Dr. Dawit Haile, interim dean, College of Engineering and Technology, Virginia State University; Dr. Robin Coger, dean, College of Engineering at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University ; Dr. Tyrone Taborn, publisher, chairman, and CEO of Career Communications Group; Dr. Eugene M. DeLoatch, dean emeritus, Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. School of Engineering, Morgan State University; Dr. Patrick Carriere, dean, College of Engineering, Southern University and A&M College ; Dr. Joyce Shirazi, dean, School of Engineering and Technology at Hampton University; Dr. S. Keith Hargrove, dean, College of Engineering at Tennessee State University; Dr. Chance Glenn, dean, College of Engineering, Technology, and Physical Sciences, Alabama A&M University ; Dr. J. Murray Gibson, dean, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering

“Would a guy with an ACT score in the teens get a Ph.D. in engineering and go to Harvard?” he asks. “That’s what HBCU engineering programs can do.” In order to keep providing opportunities to their students, however, HBCUs need to keep up with funding requirements. “Our product is our students,” explained Dr. Glenn. “We need resources to produce those students, whether it’s faculty, staff, facilities, or educational programs.” Many members of the panel expressed a desire for increased government grants and partnership contracts to help satisfy the growing need for resources. “The government is really at the edge of knowing some of the workforce needs that would secure the country, and yet, if you’re not engaging with us for the kinds of projects that our undergraduates are doing, aren’t you doing the country a disservice?” Dr. Coger asks. www.blackengineer.com

Offering some advice to those who have the power to offer government money to HBCUs, Dr. Glenn says, “Now is the time to start pushing some of the larger opportunities that exist at larger institutions. They’ve got to make that decision to push some of that work in our direction.” Other panelists spoke on the potential of corporate partnerships to fund research and provide professional development opportunities for students: “In engineering, we’re trying to be more responsive to educating the engineer that the corporation wants,” explains Dr. Spencer. “They have to be a partner to tell us what that want. That partnership could be through projects, internships, visiting professors…any one of those things.” One possible model is Howard University’s engagement with Google. As Dr. Achille Messac, Dean of the

College of Engineering and Architecture explains, the program allows senior and junior students to “spend a full year at Google, working side by side with professional engineers.” If HBCUs are going to continue to compete with larger institutions in terms of student success, they’ll need to prepare students for a career in quickly evolving industries. As Dr. Spencer points out, this is the place where corporate sponsorships could be beneficial. “[Preparation] happens most successfully through research centers that corporations sponsor and participate in,” he says. “When corporations are working together with faculty on campus, you start to get an interchange of knowledge, and that tends to filter down into the curriculum.” S

DEANS ISSUE 2018 I USBE&IT 43


Jem Pagán, CTO, Flatiron Strategies

The Path Toward Data Insights F

The spring 2018 edition of USBE magazine’s Leading Voices, features Jem Pagán, chief technology officer, Flatiron Strategies, Dr. Michael Spencer, former engineering dean, Morgan State University, David Steward II, founder & CEO, Lion Forge Comics, and Dr. Gary L. Harris, who wears triple hats of associate provost for research and graduate studies, professor of electrical engineering , and director of the Nanoscale Science and Engineering Facility in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering College of Engineering, Architecture & Computer Sciences at Howard University.

Leading Voices Contributing Editors ......................... Jem Pagán

Chief Technology Officer Flatiron Strategies

Dr. Michael Spencer Former Dean School of Engineering Morgan State University

Garry Harris

Managing Director Center for Sustainable Communities

David Steward II Founder & CEO Lion Forge Comics

44 USBE&IT | DEANS ISSUE 2018

rom the early days of shorthand writing to the typewriter to the keypunch, we have been collecting data. The accomplishments of that data give us understanding. Now we have the ability to capture data to help us establish baseline references for information processing. Many of the processes we use to drive day-to-day activities in our society. Government and business services, product development, goods sold, and marketing are all based on data and the ability to measure data. This is important because, frankly, you cannot manage what you cannot measure. That drives the impetus toward metrics and collecting information or data that will ultimately be transformed into knowledge. Once we see something happening in a cyclical way, or if we are able to find a pattern and see that pattern as repeatable with understood inputs and outputs, we should begin to understand what was happening inside the lab box. Within various day-to-day operations as organizations, we have been able to infuse and conjoin manual processes with digital, automated processes. Such is the same for manual data entry and automated data entry. This transfer into a more automated, data-driven pathway is starting to open up insight at a faster pace because the data itself is allowing us to study and analyze it. If you ever talk to anyone developing a machine learning platform, they will tell you they need lots of historical data. Many of the insights from the future are based on studying the past. When we go through history, we are able to say, for example, that on May 5, 1995, we captured a lot of data on that day from newspapers, videos, audio recordings, letters and emails, etc. That becomes a rich platform because we also know what happened on May 6. And because we know what happened on May 6, we are able to begin training a computer through a model of algorithms to match the outcomes that we captured on May 6. In other words, if I am able to take the data from May 5 and all of the information in a 24-hour period and put

that into a mathematical algorithm with different models and identify different data attributes, then I will be able, over time, to gather the right representation of the data and event so that what comes out of my model is exactly what occurred on May 6. Now I know I have a machinerunning platform that is beginning to tune into and train to start providing the output that occurred. Mind you, this is using past data, not any future information yet. This is the beginning stages of neural networks and artificial intelligence and analytics. Now we’re moving into a world where this is happening in near-real time, where we are able to take the algorithms that have been tuned and trained over the years and build a level of pattern recognition and predictive outcomes that utilize the past history as a baseline and then look in the moment at what comes out of the predictive algorithm and what is happening in nearreal time. That allows analysts to shift and create insights from a year’s worth of data to near in-the-moment data applications. This is where something like fraudulent protection occurs. Take, for example, an American Express card swiped at the point of sale to complete a transaction. American Express has the capability to run analytics to get insight into the nature of that transaction: Is it fraudulent? Is it seemingly fraudulent? Is it a valid transaction? The insight they gain from that particular transaction allows them to manage the risk against that transaction. It either becomes a profit or a loss for them based on their ability to tune their system in a way that’s almost in real time. In order to protect themselves from fraudulent activity, organizations like credit card providers had to come up with a way to take insight in near-real time to stop the risk of losing money on a transaction. To do that, they have to leverage data, and the data becomes very rich. Within 100 ms, they have to make a decision on the validity of the transaction. They get there by leveraging data. The data that they’re capturing allows them to take information and put together

www.blackengineer.com


Leading Voices relationships between the various data collected. The first step is to get access to the raw data so that it can be monitored. You cannot manage what you cannot measure, but you cannot measure what you cannot monitor. Monitoring is where the data input and data capture occur. It requires exposure to data we produce every day. Mobile devices are the most valuable devices to have as a human today. They provide one of the richest data sets for every organization in the digital age.

We’re right there in the crux of trying to figure out how to take full advantage of technology but also have the ability to go off the grid when we want to.

We do so much activity and perform so many functions on a mobile phone. Because they are physically tethered to our bodies in some way at all times, they become an extension of us, giving insight into our location, relationships that connect whatever happens on apps, conversations on the phone, etc. These all create relationship insights between the data points coming into a system. That insight allows data miners and processors to have a more accurate depiction of what the truth is and trigger a response to that action. If the truth is that I am actually using a fraudulent credit card, the insight gives the credit issuer the opportunity to shut that down; to do so at the transaction level means the goods and services rendered won’t be disrupted by fraudulent transaction. When you look at where we’re going in this digital age, you have to look at the risk associated with every action and transaction. You’ll begin to understand who’s motivated to collect data and

www.blackengineer.com

drive insight from that data in order to address that risk. The less risk you have in day-to-day transactions and activities, the less motivated you may be, outside of pure curiosity, to move toward a digital world. The more risk I hold and am responsible for, the more incentive I will have to drive toward a digital outcome or adoption because I will have access to data that would normally never be available to me as an organization, entity, or person. Once the data is collected, it has to become actionable by performing certain functions on the data, whether that’s modeling, analyzing, or predicting the next outcome based on the current and historical state. With all of the benefits that insights bring, it also brings disruption to other processes, technologies, and ways of living and working that are no longer going to be relevant in a digitally driven society. If I’m going to stay relevant going into the future, I should begin to understand how to collect insights on myself. Google provides personal analytics. You can go to a certain section of Google, and it will tell you all sorts of things that you’ve done—what sites you’ve visited online, where you’ve gone—and that’s your personal analytics dashboard. In order to give you insight, they’re collecting that information. Whatever the trade-off is in terms of privacy and approved actions based on insights Google is taking, that’s where our society has to begin formulating new laws and policies on privacy. At the end of the day, though, that insight is very important. It gets more interesting when we start developing ourselves for the next layer of digital transformation and understanding the cognitive patterns that we generate. These patterns will answer questions regarding what we think about and discuss most, as well as our greatest fears and aspirations. Once we start to leverage that data, we can start to turn that toward ourselves. This is cognitive thinking as a service, or cognition of AI that is getting collected that allows us to get insight into ourselves. What are my strengths and weaknesses? What are my professional capabilities and potential based on what I’ve done in the past? All of that becomes available to us as well.

This may not sit well with average citizens. They may not want to know everything about themselves, or they may not be comfortable with some of the insights gathered. That could be disruptive to their own psyches. This is the paradox hovering over society when it comes to insights. We enjoy the fruits of insight from a protection standpoint (cybersecurity, national and personal security), and we appreciate leveraging multiple data sources to get insight into our commutes so that we can avoid delays. But the more we consume, the more we actually feed the same system we use, ultimately resulting in our feeding the data continuum. We’re right there in the crux of trying to figure out how to take full advantage of technology but also have the ability to go off the grid when we want to. This can be difficult to process, especially when considering the fact that most people are not privy to anything that data collectors are doing. Understanding the digital age and what it means is really important for every professional at every level of every occupation. The discussion around that has to occur because there has to be an understanding of what is palatable and what is not. This is the question that is beginning to resonate in the marketing sector because that’s where much, although not all, of data collection is occurring. Market data is where we’re being exposed as individuals. If you look at the ad technology market or the ad tech industry, you’ll see that there are many insights into the predictive nature of a person based on similar analysis of what is being posted, particular locations, and the time that data is being shared. All of that develops a digital persona. We now are in a place where we have to make decisions as members of society regarding how far we should take this as well as what to do with various insights once we get to a place where they can actually predict what we’re going to do tomorrow based on predictions of future events. Are we there yet? Of course not. Are we on a path toward that type of innovation? Definitely. The insight continuum, from what I’ve observed, is just beginning, and I don’t predict any foreseeable end to it in the future. S

DEANS ISSUE 2018 I USBE&IT 45


Dr. Michael Spencer, Former Dean, School of Engineering, Morgan State University

Leading Voices

Teaching Creativity and Innovation T

he United States has an extremely strong technology base, yet our economy is not really structured to compete in marketplaces utilizing mature technologies such as steel or silicon-based semiconductors; in these technologies, foreign-based manufacturers are dominant. If we are not the country that is the leader in manufacturing mature technologies, what is our edge in the global economy? Simply put, our edge in the global community lies in creativity, innovation, and startup opportunities. The United States has some of the best research universities in the world producing ingenious intellectual properties, which can be quite promising for startup companies. Startup companies based on these new technologies will find fertile ground for investment capital to grow these new enterprises. The United States is the leader in providing investment capital and nurturing startups. U.S. investors, relative to investors in Asia, have patient money and are willing to forgo profits while new technologies mature, whereas investors in other countries require startups to become profitable immediately. We are the country that starts new companies and grows them, evidenced by the billiondollar conglomerates of Apple, Google, and Amazon. Because America is such a contending global pioneer, it behooves us to learn how to be the best at taking ideas from inception to seed funding, to Series A funding, and finally to a public offering. Currently, too many successful startups are the result of luck. In order to increase the success rate of startups, we need to learn how to increase innovation and creativity by engineering innovation. Innovation and creativity are the foundations of successful entrepreneurship in the high-tech global economy. So what are innovation and creativity, and how are they enhanced? One of the more prominent approaches being discussed to increase innovation and creativity is the idea of projector problem-based learning. These 46 USBE&IT | DEANS ISSUE 2018

approaches are quite different from the traditional learning techniques used in engineering education today, but the results are very promising.

Because America is such a contending global pioneer, it behooves us to learn how to be the best at taking ideas from inception to seed funding, to Series A funding, and finally to a public offering. Currently, too many successful startups are the result of luck. In order to increase the success rate of startups, we need to learn how to increase innovation and creativity by engineering innovation. Innovation and creativity are the foundations of successful entrepreneurship in the high-tech global economy.

In traditional math and engineering classes, various levels of coursework are taught as well as relevant principles related to the overall subject and course of study. Next, students are given numerous problems to solve so that they can increase their proficiency in the subject applications. In some

engineering courses, students are given a project to work on, such as designing a solar car and determining what is needed to make it work efficiently. The project is assigned after students have had all of their gateway courses, engineering design courses, and specific technology electives. New educational insights are changing the paradigm of how engineering courses are taught. Instead of the course being the center of the universe and the problem or project being the moon that rotates around it, the idea is to make the problem or project the center of the universe and use the coursework as the moon. In this context, students will try to solve a problem and then learn coursework, as needed, to solve the problem. This is actually the more natural way we discover things in the world. We discover a phenomenon, and then we try to understand it by developing an approach or adapting a curriculum that exists to solve the problem. Although engineering educators are still testing this change in coursework approach, problem- and project-based learning is shaping up to add a promising piece to the puzzle of learning innovation and creativity in STEM fields. We actually do not know what we do not know when it comes to learning about innovation and how to teach it. At Morgan, we view learning how to engineer innovation as an exciting challenge with a huge payoff if we get it right. The combination of learning how to teach innovation and Makerspaces, collaboration spaces where students can create as teams and make prototypes of their creations with their own hands, will spark the entrepreneurial spirit and provide unforeseen jobs for the next generation of African Americans. S

www.blackengineer.com


Garry Harris, Managing Director, Center for Sustainable Communities

Leading Voices

Creating Citizen Scientists R

ecently I took a trip to Franklinton, NC, approximately 45 miles outside of Rocky Mount, to visit the Social Justice Center there. The center has such an interesting but ironic history: It was originally a plantation; then it was turned into one of the first post-slavery citizen schools designed to educate Negroes. Fast forward to 2018, and the building is now a center that focuses on bringing people together to collaborate and discuss how to push past many of the social justice ills of the day. It was important for us to convene in Franklinton because, contrary to popular belief or knowledge, our communities of color are still facing a number of environmental injustices. They are scattered across newspaper headlines every day, from coal ash contamination to waste water discharges from manufacturing and agricultural production facilities. The forests we all grew up and played in are not being properly managed. Rather, they’re being taken down for biomass use to make wood pellets, among other things. These are but a few of the environmental issues that continue to plague neighborhoods and communities of color. My colleagues and I came together in Franklinton to present a unique program that has been shown to positively impact environmental and climate injustices in disproportionately affected communities of color. We firmly believe that these communities affected by environmental stresses need to have the opportunity to mitigate those stresses via science and technology or via other related strategies. With that, we set out to help empower our leaders around the southeastern United States to push back on air pollution, water pollution, bad land use, and other major contributors of environmental contamination. Dubbed the Forest Summit, the event focused on land use with respect to forests. However, the discussions also focused on entrepreneurship research. Bringing these educators and community leaders together www.blackengineer.com

provided a unique opportunity for us to empower them with scientific tools and strategies that would strengthen them as environmental justice advocates. We created a session that implemented what we call “citizen science.” This training empowered educators with scientific rhetoric and awareness building. It also fostered collaborative problem solving with practical instruments that would help them acquire quantifiable evidence to support any claims of environmental injustice.

Scientific observations, collections, and measurements empowered these leaders to be more accurate in their descriptions of environmental challenges.

To do that effectively, appropriate data is essential. Scientific observations, collections, and measurements empowered these leaders to be more accurate in their descriptions of environmental challenges. These tools also helped them have solid, scientific, data-driven grounds for environmental and climate challenges. This was probably one of the first times ever that a citizen science training has been done. With a toolkit supported with resources from the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment Program (GLOBE) a 44-nation collaborative sponsored by the NSF, NASA, NOAA, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, the U.S. State Department ,and the EPA’s Environmental Justice Academy, we

were able to teach these environmental justice leaders and advocates how to use citizen science in their challenges and push-backs against polluters. We taught them accurate protocols for evaluating air quality, water quality, appropriate land and forest use, and so much more. It was inspiring! It was also inspiring for us to see these lay leaders—not scientists—equipped to use science in their collaborative problem-solving methodologies and to have a scientific basis for their push-back on polluters. Now not only can these community citizens claim that Company X is polluting a local water system but they can also take water or air samples themselves, gather data, take measurements, and do analyses and evaluations to back up those claims. The scientific evidence collected and analyzed will further provide strength to the argument. The goal now is to present the Citizen Scientist project throughout the southeastern United States to tour venues and empower people with science. We’re excited about arming communities with tools to collect data and make the right decisions about their environments. We have done a number of things in the development of policy and advocacy in the environmental justice community: We worked with the National Environmental Justice and Policy and Technology Council, U.S. EPA’s Office of Sustainability and Environmental Justice, formulated Environmental Justice policy for the Atlanta Beltline Project (one of the country’s most acclaimed redevelopment projects), and also collaborated with the Department of Energy to ensure nuclear waste sites invoke proper environmental justice principles. We wholeheartedly believe that Citizen Science engagement will allow us to continue to work with and for communities of color to ensure that they have the highest levels of protection from social concerns as they relate to the environment and climate. S DEANS ISSUE 2018 I USBE&IT 47


David Steward II, Founder & CEO, Lion Forge Comics

Leading Voices Written by Gale Horton Gay editors@ccgmag.com

Comic Books Can Be More Than Entertainment J

ust about anything can happen on the pages of comic books and graphic novels. Characters can defy gravity, call on super powers to save the world, and overcome personal challenges, all against a backdrop of explosive color and bold, imaginative drawings. David Steward II’s insight into comic books and graphic novels comes from his nearly decade-long experience as the head of Lion Forge, a company whose slogan is “Comics for Everyone.” Based in St. Louis, MO, Lion Forge Comics strives to publish comics that everyone—regardless of background or ethnicity—can identify with. It produced 70 titles last year and expects to churn out 130 titles—with multiple issues—in 2018.  Lion Forge Comics also includes the Roar imprint for young adults and the CubHouse imprint for readers 12 and younger. Their stories cover various genres, including fantasy, superheroes, science fiction, and real-life dilemmas. These are some of the unique characters one will find in Lion Forge’s books: • Bo Vincent Chen, the Asian leader of a superhero group similar to the X-Men • Jonah, a boy with Down syndrome who can influence people’s thoughts, and his friend Amena, an AfricanAmerican girl who has brute strength • Accell, a Hispanic character whose special power is speed • Noble, an African-American character who is telekinetic How does Lion Forge determine what ethnicities and backgrounds should be part of a character in its stories? “We look at what we are doing, like our superhero line,” said Steward. “Obviously, we make sure we represent whites, Hispanics, African Americans, Asians, [people with] Down syndrome, but beyond racial diversity, there’s also gender, etc.” They then determine “whether or not a compelling story could be told through that lens,” Steward noted. He said they decided to introduce the character Jonah with Down syndrome who also has a superpower. 48 USBE&IT | DEANS ISSUE 2018

“That group is often overlooked,” he said. “I thought it could inspire. I wanted that story to be told authentically.” While someone else might have made a character with Down syndrome appear “normal” when the superpower kicks in, Steward said it was important for Jonah to still manifest Down syndrome while having the power of getting into people’s heads and influencing their thoughts. The message they are attempting to convey is that

Real science blends with science fiction. Some of the characters in the comic books are scientists; some of the stories also blend real with imagined technology done before, but it requires inspiration.

individuals are good enough just as they are. “You can be a very meaningful contributor to society,” he said. Steward notes with apparent pride that last year Lion Forge’s graphic novel Lighter Than a Shadow was ranked No. 1 by Amazon. The book is based on a true story about a girl with an eating disorder and her struggle to overcome it. “We focus on making sure our stories reflect what our society looks like and are told through an authentic lens,” said Steward. He is highly critical of major comic book companies such as Marvel and DC Comics when their artists create ethnic characters but the artists working on the stories do not represent those ethnicities or backgrounds. Originally, Lion Forge focused on digital platforms for its content, with print copies of its books a secondary

concern. After a couple of years, due to fluctuations in the marketplace, the company changed its business model to focus on print, with digital secondary. Steward said that Lion Forge, which started with “four guys,” is nearing a staff of 50. He calls his company a “robust publisher.” Science, technology, engineering, and math are components of many of Lion Forge’s stories. Sometimes the science is straightforward and realistic; other times it’s creatively manipulated and presented from a science fiction angle. For example, in one story, a giant meteor is hurtling toward Earth, and four astronauts sacrifice themselves to save the planet and end up with superpowers. Real science blends with science fiction. Some of the characters in the comic books are scientists; some of the stories also blend real with imagined technology, he pointed out. Steward said these and other storylines can inspire future STEM innovators. “I think it’s getting people to think outside, beyond our current circumstance, and dream what could be possible,” he said, adding that STEM is all about the capability of doing something that hasn’t been done before, but it requires inspiration.” Lion Forge has earned praise and recognition for its approach to storytelling and design. The company’s original graphic novel, Andre the Giant: Closer to Heaven, was nominated for three Glyph Awards as well as the Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity. It is also home to the Magnetic Collection of premium and critically acclaimed comics and graphic novels, boasting multiple Eisner Award nominees. As for the future for his industry, Steward is extremely optimistic. “I think there’s great opportunities out here,” he said. “It’s great to tell these stories.” He sees more stories like the emergence of Black Panther as a blockbuster movie, which he praised but added it was a long time coming “jumping from the page to the screen.” S www.blackengineer.com


40%

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CAREER

OUTLOOK Careers of the Future

USBE magazine’s Career Outlook Career Outlook wraps up a banner year for HBCU Engineering. It focuses on BEYA winners in a celebration of 32 years of STEM innovation, as well as what recruiting and retaining talented employees means to successful organizations.

www.blackengineer.com

INSIDE: >> BEYA Recap >> The War for Talent >> Meet the HBCU STEM Innovation Awardees

DEANS ISSUE 2017 I USBE&IT 51


CAREER OUTLOOK OUTLOOK »»BEYA Jobs 2018 in theRecap Auto Industry CAREER

B E YA RECAP

By Lango Deen ldeen@ccgmag.com

2018

Net attendance to the annual

The total number comes from adding the number of registered people with unique access badges. Next year, the conference hopes to meet and surpass this target. By December, Career Communications Group, the company behind the BEYA STEM Conference and US Black Engineer magazine, is already halfway to the target goal through its integrated JobMatch service, campus links, and focal points in scientific, technical, and manufacturing organizations. The career fair, which features the largest employers of scientists and engineers in America, is the biggest draw for students. Employers, recruiters, and hiring teams met with thousands of students over the 52 USBE&IT | DEANS ISSUE 2018

two-day job fair, providing valuable onsite resources designed to enhance job search and tools for a successful career. “As a result of showcases like the Design Challenge and youth-centric programming, Corning is reconsidering our long-standing practice of not having a recruiting presence at BEYA (due to its proximity to NSBE),” said Dr. Mark D. Vaughn in an e-mail. Vaughn is technical talent pipelining manager at Corning and is responsible for the technology office that assesses personnel needs and utilizes resources for science and engineering education and support. BEYA’s pre-college program presented an opportunity to connect with science and technology programs that are working to

topped

10,800

build America’s next generation workforce. The number of participants was 1,706. Lockheed Martin Corporation, co-host of the annual BEYA STEM Conference for more than 30 years, “did very well at making offers at BEYA this year,” said Scott Trapp of the career fair. Trapp is director of diversity outreach for Lockheed Martin and responsible for positioning Lockheed Martin as an employer of choice. His role incorporates STEM outreach and higher education initiatives as well as, talent sourcing and outreach and national diversity events. “The initial feedback was that the students were stellar! I can attest to the caliber of talent, better to get them early rather than later,” Trapp said. www.blackengineer.com


ByAuto the Numbers CAREER OUTLOOK OUTLOOK Jobs in the Industry »» CAREER

The job fair was also the place to sample new technologies and be exposed to industry best practices. Professionals, STEM Careers, and Education Professionals found training, networking, role models, mentors, and inspiring recognition events. With numbers as high as 4,500 registered in BEYA 2018, more than 74 percent came from corporate America, and

26 percent in the military. “We are excited to see the record numbers,” said Veronica L. Nelson, executive director, Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering (AMIE). 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.

“The overall program was outstanding. Let’s hit 12,000 next year,” said retired fourstar Army general, Johnnie Wilson. Gen Wilson is one of the founding fathers of the Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) Conference Stars and Stripes Veterans Program. “Let’s take a giant leap for STEM and BEYA in 2019!” added Scott Trapp. S

By the Numbers

This year, student numbers sat at more than

4,690

OF THAT TOTAL: MORE THAN

35%

10.5%

college seniors

26.2%

15.5%

college sophomores

college juniors

58% MALE

college freshman

42% FEMALE

8.9% www.blackengineer.com

graduate students

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CAREER OUTLOOK » Industry Overview

The War for Talent Rages On It’s been 21 years since the release of McKinsey Co.’s 1997 landmark report, “The War for Talent.” In it, it was forecasted that this war would be an ongoing one without an ultimate victory.

By Deborah Beckwin editors@ccgmag.com

pecifically, companies will have to adopt innovative and nontraditional methods to hire and retain the best and brightest. Although businesses are aware of the need for highly skilled workers, few seem to be able to find lasting solutions to fill these empty positions. The need to fill these jobs becomes even more apparent as baby boomers continue to leave the workforce to retire. After two decades, many in the HR world have declared this war over and won, but the labor statistics don’t support that conclusion. The skills gap between workers and available jobs is great. In 2012, a report from McKinsey Quarterly projected that by 2020 the world’s workforce would have a deficit of 40 million college-educated workers. For developing countries, there would be

S

54 USBE&IT | DEANS ISSUE 2018

a lack of 45 million high school-educated and vocationally trained workers. Manpower reported that up to 95 million workers in advanced economies would lack the necessary skills to be employed. So why is this war for talent still waging? One reason is higher education is still not geared toward training students for the jobs waiting for them after graduation. A former chief economist for the Labor Department and Georgetown University professor told The Atlantic in a recent article that he believes the current educational system “is not great at providing training to workers who need it, and the demand is only going to grow in the future with more workers, in more occupations.” The increase in the automation of tasks adds another layer of complexity to an already tight job market. The

McKinsey Global Institute reported last year that by 2030 one-third of the work activities in 60 percent of occupations could be automated. Although this phenomenon does not mean that most jobs will be taken over by machines, it does mean that more workers need to become technologically savvy and familiar with using computers. As more tasks and activities become automated, available jobs are becoming more complicated faster than workers and employers can keep up. It requires what could be called a hallmark of a liberal arts education—the skill of lifelong learning. A liberal arts education can provide other vital skills, such as critical thinking and the experience of working collaboratively, yet having a college degree isn’t enough to keep up with the demand of highly specialized jobs. www.blackengineer.com


The War For Talent » CAREER OUTLOOK

An article in Inc., which explored the reasons why the war for talent persists, gave this advice: “The number one thing potential and current employees can do to succeed in this type of environment is to learn how to learn.” This skill is important because no one knows what the jobs of the future will require. The Atlantic suggests that workers need to have a blend of the soft skills that come with a liberal arts degree and the technical expertise. Companies that work with higher education institutions to provide the necessary technical skills to future workers will help to shorten the skills gap. Yet it’s no longer expected for workers to be loyal to companies. Long gone are the days of working at a company for decades. The impermanence of full-time work, fueled by automation and outsourcing, has www.blackengineer.com

many full-time workers passively looking for their next job—and that job could involve self-employment. The gig economy has also made the war for talent seemingly intractable, with the connections between workers and employers becoming more tenuous. More and more people prefer to work for themselves or to venture into entrepreneurship. Intuit predicts that by 2020 close to half of the workforce will be comprised of freelancers. Many workers long for the autonomy and flexibility that freelance work can bring, even when it brings longer work hours and less income. With the allure of the freelancer lifestyle, businesses are now challenged to retain talent based on the “employee experience,” or how employees engage with their employers. This is a reflexive relationship as recruiters are now

focusing less on talent and more on “culture fit.” Culture fit can become more of a helpful tool to not only cut through a competitive group of potential employees but to also help to ensure that employees are retained for longer. As this war for talent rages on, ultimately both workers and employers must learn to adapt to the ever-changing labor landscape. Lifelong learning will make workers more marketable and help with their longevity in the workforce. Businesses must focus on more than just finding talented workers but must learn how to increase retention through increasing professional development opportunities and improving the employee experience. S

DEANS ISSUE 2018 I USBE&IT 55


CAREER OUTLOOK » 2018 BEYA Innovation Awards

B E YA

innovation winners award

By Lango Deen ldeen@ccgmag.com

Leading Innovation in America’s Black Colleges

The 15 members of the Council of Engineering Deans of Historically Black Colleges and Universities know only too well the demands of a career in academic research. That’s why the annual Dean’s Breakfast at the BEYA STEM Conference, which is co-hosted by HBCU engineering deans, makes a great setting for presenting prestigious awards to successful HBCU alumni and faculty members at the forefront of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. The HBCU Innovation Awards recognize a variety of accomplishments. They include peer-reviewed publishing, winning competitive research fellowships and awards, setting up and running laboratories, recruiting laboratory personnel and securing funding for research, training postdoc fellows, helping students conduct research, and advancing research to create scientists who make contributions that put HBCUs on the map. Many of the faculty members recognized with 2018 Innovation Awards at BEYA wear multiple hats. They serve their campus community, stay active in professional societies, and open up new collaborative opportunities at the national level.

56 USBE&IT | DEANS ISSUE 2018

Shengmin Sang, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Laboratory for Functional Foods and Human Health Center for Excellence in Post-Harvest Technologies North Carolina A&T State University North Carolina Research Campus

for colorectal cancer prevention,” he said. “What impressed me the most is the bellman introduced himself to me the next morning. He asked me when my aspirin derivatives will be available on the market because he had started to develop gastrointestinal complications—a typical side effect from aspirin intake even [with] a baby aspirin (85 mg dose). At that moment, I started to feel the pressure to move my discoveries forward to benefit patients who are regularly taking aspirin.”

Dr. Abdollah (Abbie) Homaifar

Shengmin Sang, Ph.D

Dr. Shengmin Sang’s lab has the interest to identify components from foods and herbal medicine and study their effects on cancer. “It was my honor to be the recipient of the 2018 BEYA Innovation Award. I was also invited to give a talk about my inventions of novel aspirin derivatives

Duke Energy Eminent Professor North Carolina A&T State University Dr. Homaifar has been an eminent energy a professor since 2003. He is also director of the Autonomous Control and Information Technology (ACIT) Center at North Carolina A&T University. The ACIT Center fosters collaborative research among faculty and students at A&T and other universities as well as researchers at federal agencies and industry. The technology transfer role of the center includes workshops, seminars, and demonstration projects designed to move the new technologies from the laboratory to industry as well as to educate technical personnel and managers on the opportunities and uses of the new technologies. The mission www.blackengineer.com


Leading Innovation in America’s Black Colleges

Dr. Abbie Homaifar

of the ACIT Center is to enhance undergraduate and graduate education, especially of minorities, through students’ involvement in education and research in information, control, and energy technology; advanced research; and commercialize ACIT technologies.

populations. Recent publications in Nature Communications and Clinical Cancer Research further demonstrated his expertise in this field. Dr. Wang and his colleagues from George Washington University and Duke University have recently developed aberrant mRNA splice variants as novel diagnostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets. This invention was granted a U.S. patent. His research projects have been supported by grants from the National Cancer Institute, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the American Cancer Society.

Dr. Eric Conway

Chairperson, Fine & Performing Arts Department Director of the Morgan State University Choir Morgan State University As the director of the famed Morgan State University Choir and the chairperson of Morgan’s fine and

“What an honor to be recognized in the STEM world! I was very impressed with the BEYA conference. It appears that engineers recognize that their craft may be enhanced by a creative approach. I appreciated the special recognition given to me for my accomplishments in the performing arts world.” - Dr. Eric Conway, Chairperson, Fine & Performing Arts Department, Director of the Morgan State University Choir Morgan State University

Bi-Dar (Peter) Wang

Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences School of Pharmacy and Health Professions University of Maryland Eastern Shore Dr. Peter Wang is a pioneer in the field of cancer genomics and prostate cancer disparities. He is fully committed

Dr. Frances Williams

Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research, College of Engineering Tennessee State University Dr. Frances Williams’s research focus is in the areas of advanced materials and devices, biosensors, and nano- and micro-electromechanical Dr. Eric Conway (center right)

Peter Wang

to the important research question of whether the observed disparities in prostate cancer between African Americans and European Americans are due to identifiable differences in the genomic portraits of these two www.blackengineer.com

performing arts department, Eric Conway has directed his choir in the Czech Republic, Ghana, South Africa, Cuba, Australia, and Colombia. Under his tenure, the Morgan Choir was nominated for a Grammy for their contribution to the recording of the Bernstein Mass with the BSO. From 2013 to 2016, Conway served as a member of the Maryland State Arts Council. Dr. Frances Williams

DEANS ISSUE 2018 I USBE&IT 57


CAREER OUTLOOK » 2018 BEYA Innovation Awards

systems processing and devices. She has received grants totaling $14 million as a principal investigator or co-principal investigator. In 2010 she received a U.S. patent for developing a micromachined sensor for monitoring electrochemical deposition. Dr. Williams has received various awards, including the 2013 State Council of Higher Education for Virginia Outstanding Faculty Award, the highest faculty award given out by the state. She volunteers in community programs that promote STEM education for students from elementary to college age. Dr. Williams holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from North Carolina A&T State University and a PhD. in electrical and computer engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

including the Alzheimer’s Association, and Planned Parenthood Board of Directors in Orange and Durham Counties, the North Carolina Board of Science and Technology, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the National Science Foundation. The North Carolina A&T State University alumna received her Ph. D. in microbial genetics from Meharry Medical College. She previously served on the faculties of Tennessee State, North Carolina Central University, and Duke University.

Dr. Grant Warner Associate Professor Howard University

XediaLabs, a firm that provides training and consulting to startups.

Dr. Joseph L. Graves

Professor & Associate Dean for Research Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering Joint Collaboration of North Carolina A&T State University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Dr. Joseph Graves has been a principal investigator on grants from the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and the Arizona Disease Research Commission. His books on the biology of race are entitled The Emperor’s New Clothes: Biological Theories of Race at the Millennium and The Race Myth: Why We Pretend Race

Dr. Grant Warner

Goldie S. Byrd, Ph.D.

Goldie S. Byrd, Ph.D.

Professor of Biology Director, Center for Outreach in Alzheimer’s, Aging and Community Health North Carolina A&T State University Dr. Goldie Byrd’s research has been recognized by the Alzheimer’s Association and the National Black College Hall of Fame. Her crossdisciplinary research in Alzheimer’s, aging and health have generated over $40 million in external support. She is active in developing curricula and creating pre-matriculation programs and research developmental opportunities for students and faculty colleagues. Byrd is also engaged in professional and community service organizations, 58 USBE&IT | DEANS ISSUE 2018

Dr. Grant Warner has trained and advised more than 200 faculty and student teams in the discovery and venture formation. He is a technology entrepreneur with experience in acquiring funding and scaling businesses. He has co-founded three startups and orchestrated licensing deals with Fortune 500 companies. Since 2016, he has led HowU Innovate programming, including Bison Startup and Bison Accelerate courses, in which students are guided through the process of founding technology startups. He also directs Howard University-Hampton University I-Corps, which focuses on commercializing university research from HBCUs in the District-MarylandVirginia area. Dr. Warner is also the co-founder of ConnectYard, a social analytics platform integrated into leading learning management systems and e-learning platforms. He co-founded

Dr. Joseph L. Graves

Exists in America. He has served as a member of the advisory board for the National Human Genome Center at Howard University. In 2006 he became a member of the New Genetics and the African Slave Trade working group of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute of Harvard University. He is currently serving as chair of the Senior Advisory Board for the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center and an associate editor of The Encyclopedia of Race and Racism.

Dr. Kadir Aslan

Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and Professor of Civil Engineering School of Engineering Morgan State University Dr. Kadir Aslan is the holder of the first-ever full patent at Morgan State www.blackengineer.com


Leading Innovation in America’s Black Colleges

University, the “Metal-assisted and microwave-accelerated evaporative crystallization, MA-MAEC technology.” He was also involved in the formation of a spin-off supported by the Maryland Innovation Initiative and administered by a lead source for entrepreneurial

the marketplace, safer when it comes to transferring data over a network,” Kornegay explains.

Legand L. Burge III

Professor, Computer Science Howard University Howard University computer science professor Legand L. Burge III is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Election as an AAAS Fellow is an honor bestowed upon AAAS members by their peers. Burge, a professor and chairman of the Howard University Department

Dr. Kevin Kornegay Dr. Kadir Aslan

business assistance and seed funding for the development of startup companies in Maryland’s innovation economy. Aslan has managed $1.94 million in total competitive grants from the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Johns Hopkins University, the National Institutes of Health, and the American Heart Association. Since 2013 he has served as Professor of Civil Engineering in Morgan’s School of Engineering. Dr. Aslan has a very active research group, which includes exchange faculty, a postdoctoral researcher, five Ph.D. candidates, six Master of Science students, and 19 undergraduate students.

Dr. Kevin T. Kornegay

Internet of Things (IoT) Security Professor Director of Center for Reverse Engineering and Assured Microelectronics (CREAM) Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Morgan State University Kevin Kornegay leads a research team at Morgan State University that received a $999,450 grant awarded by the National Science Foundation. “The research that we are undertaking will make the devices we have come to depend upon, as well as new technology being introduced into www.blackengineer.com

“The research that we are undertaking will make the devices we have come to depend upon, as well as new technology being introduced into the marketplace, safer when it comes to transferring data over a network” - Dr. Kevin T. Kornegay, Internet of Things (IoT) Security Professor Director of Center for Reverse Engineering and Assured Microelectronics (CREAM) Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Morgan State University

The research team will use reverse engineering techniques to unveil potential hardware security gaps that may be present in IoT devices and to develop countermeasures to prevent access to confidential information and to ensure functional operation during a cyber-attack. “The 2018 HBCU Innovation Award validates my commitment to the discovery process by serving as a true measure of ‘staying relevant,’” Dr. Kornegay said. “Innovation impacts us all.”

Legand L. Burge III

of Computer Science, was recognized for his contributions in computer science, particularly in distributed computing, culturally responsive pedagogy in computer science, and for strongly and effectively advocating diversity as an academic administrator. Prior to coming to Howard University, Dr. Burge worked for the National Security Agency (NSA) as a computer analyst for five years and as a computer consultant for several years. His previous research includes consistency management in distributed databases and message passing libraries for distributed parallel computing.

Samuel N. Nahashon

Research Professor and Interim Department Head, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture Tennessee State University Dr. Samuel Nahashon’s research area is poultry nutrition and animal biotechnology. He has published 29 refereed journal articles, done 86 research abstracts, and many conference presentations. Recent honors and DEANS ISSUE 2018 I USBE&IT 59


CAREER OUTLOOK » 2018 BEYA Innovation Awards

Samuel N. Nasashon

awards include the 2010 U.S. President’s Service Award, Research Mentorship Award at Tennessee State University; Distinguished Research Scientist Award, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research, Tennessee State University; Outstanding Service Award, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research, Tennessee State University; and Blue & White Award for outstanding performance in Research–Food Safety, Nutrition, and Family Well-being Research Team, Tennessee State University. He earned his master’s degree in animal and poultry science at Tuskegee after earning an undergraduate degree in agriculture at Andrews University. Dr. Nahashon joined the TSU faculty in 2002 after earning his Ph.D. in poultry science from Oregon State University.

She remembers the difficulties of being a graduate student while raising her children. To help students become successful, LusterTeasley started a campus mentoring program that provides support for first-generation students and students with children.

60 USBE&IT | DEANS ISSUE 2018

Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering and Department of Chemical Engineering North Carolina A&T State University

Dr. Stephanie Luster-Teasley

Shanthi Iyer, Ph.D.

Research Professor, Joint Appointment with Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering North Carolina A&T State University Professor Shanthi Iyer was responsible for the initiation and development of North Carolina A&T SU’s state-of-the-art Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) laboratory and associated academic and research programs. She has been a principal investigator of over $7 million in Department of Defense research projects. She was also the director of the Center of Excellence for Battlefield Capability Enhancements, which focuses on developing technologies for environmentally stable flexible panel displays. Her current research work is in the molecular

Dr. Stephanie Luster-Teasley

Shanthi Iyer, Ph.D.

beam epitaxial (MBE) growth and characterization of novel dilute nitride antimonide-based narrow band-gap compound semiconductor for infrared sources and detectors encompassing a wide infrared wavelength region from 1µm to 20 µm and GaAsSb nanowires for infrared photodetectors. The other research projects in progress include assembling of solar cells for solar concentrators.

Dr. Stephanie Luster-Teasley is an alumna of North Carolina A&T University and now teaches in the same labs she once studied in at the university. She remembers the difficulties of being a graduate student while raising her children. To help students become successful, LusterTeasley started a campus mentoring program that provides support for firstgeneration students and students with children. Over the past nine summers and academic school years, LusterTeasley led the North Carolina A&T State University team that developed the winning National 4-H Science Youth Day experiment now used by millions of K–8 students. Overall, her education research has raised over $2 million in funding. This includes grants from the U.S. Department of Education for developing a mentoring program for STEM students, and the Burroughs Wellcome Foundation to implement science programs for middle school girls. S

www.blackengineer.com


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2

THE 15 ABET-ACCREDITED Historically Black College and U By Lango Deen

ENGINEERING PROGRAMS

Historically Black college stories are the fabric of American lives. Although every institution got a different head start on education in their community, their growth and survival are no more separated from the events and influences of 1800s America than those of the 21st century. In this whistle-stop tour of HBCU engineering schools, we follow key events in a Journal of Blacks in Higher Education timeline to see how Black colleges —never cut off from the rest or operating in a vacuum—have preserved what Dr. Robin Coger, North Carolina A&T engineering dean, calls a “rich legacy of academic and research excellence and civic engagement. By 1880, 45 Black colleges and universities were in existence., and another 19 were enrolling students a decade later. Black colleges were doing so well that the Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (AAMU) received additional funds under the Morrill Act of 1890, which provided 62 USBE&IT | DEANS ISSUE 2018

monies to schools for instruction in practical and mechanical subjects such as engineering. The Morrill Act had previously been signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on July 2, 1862. Officially titled “An Act Donating Public Lands to the Several States and Territories which may provide Colleges for the Benefit of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts,” the Morrill Act provided each state with 30,000 acres of federal land for each member of their congressional delegation. The land was then sold by the states, and the proceeds were used to fund public colleges that focused on agriculture and the mechanical arts. 69 colleges were funded by these land grants, including Cornell University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of Wisconsin at Madison. How HBCU Engineering Schools Have Changed Lives and Who Supports Them More than 100 years after AAMU got federal funds for the first time, scientists have worked on projects such as development of an allergen-free peanut, Caribbean volcanoes, and plants that may prove effective for treating diabetes. According to the Encyclopedia of Alabama, the volume of research grants and contracts awarded to the university and its research faculty required the administration to develop the Alabama A&M University Research Institute (AAMURI) in 1999 to provide professional staff for pursuing, negotiating, and entering into contracts by university entities. In 2002, AAMU set up a new School of Engineering and Technology facility, which was spearheaded by Edward Barnette, the first president of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) at Purdue. Today, in addition to programs in civil engineering and electrical, industrial, and

mechanical engineering technology, the accredited engineering school confers graduate degrees in electrical and mechanical engineering. First American University to Offer Engineering Education to People of Color One of the top producers of Black engineers in the U.S, Howard University was founded in Washington, DC, in 1867. By the turn of the next century, more than 2,000 Blacks had earned higher education degrees in the U.S. Notably, only 390 earned those degrees from predominately white colleges and universities. By 1900, there were 78 Black colleges and universities in the United States. During the period 1907–1910, after Howard University’s board approved the initiation of two-year programs in civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering, leading to bachelor’s degrees, the Washington, DC-based HBCU became the first American university to offer engineering education to people of color. Mechanical engineering was soon introduced into the curriculum of the School of Manual Arts and Applied Sciences. By 1911, a four-year curriculum leading to a bachelor’s degree was established, and a separate building was constructed and equipped to house the school. Eight years later, the School of Manual Arts and Applied Sciences was reorganized into the College of Applied Sciences, which included under its umbrella the departments of architecture, engineering, art, and home economics. In 1934, the School of Engineering and Architecture was established as a separate unit of the University—appropriate to the recognition of the distinct and important roles of the engineering and architecture professions, the university said. www.blackengineer.com


2018

University Engineering Schools Racial Segregation in Higher Education However, while chemical engineering and computer science programs were being integrated in the 1970–1980 era, states, mainly in the South, were still working on plans to desegregate their state universities.

In 1969, Tennessee filed suits against the racial segregation in public higher education. In Ohio, protests were held by students at the Ohio State University to demand the enrollment of more Black students. The National Guard was called in to restore order. In Mississippi, Black students at Jackson State University protesting racial incidents were injured, and two deaths were reported after police opened fire. The Department of Health, Education and Welfare accepted plans from Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, but plans from Mississippi were rejected, and Louisiana was sued for not presenting a plan. It would take another two decades before a desegregation plan is imposed on the state of Louisiana by a federal judge. At the University of Florida, Gainesville, over 2,000 students protested to demand the admission of more Black students. The administration’s refusal to meet demands resulted in 100 Black students leaving the university in 1974. Black College Day The first annual Black College Day, held in Washington, DC, in 1980, attracted 18,000 students who aimed to increase attention to Black colleges and universities. It was also the same year that President Jimmy Carter signed Executive Order 12232, a federal program to strengthen HBCUs and increase funding. There were renewed calls to increase www.blackengineer.com

academic program offerings at historically Black Southern University and to upgrade facilities at southern campuses in Baton Rouge, Shreveport, and New Orleans. Plans also called for an increase in white students at Southern University and the number of Black students at Louisiana State University.

of Engineering has ranked No. 1 in the nation for the number of degrees awarded to African Americans at the undergraduate level for over 14 consecutive years and has been the leading producer of African-American female engineers at the baccalaureate level in the U.S. for at least nine consecutive years.

The Success of Morgan State University’s Engineering Program and Its MultiCultural Faculty Dr. Eugene DeLoatch, a 1959 engineering graduate of Tougaloo College, went to Howard University, where he served on the faculty for 24 years, first as a professor of engineering then as the chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering.

“A&T faculty researchers attracted over $11 million in total annual research dollars during the 2013–2014 academic year. The College ranks No. 2 in annual research dollars among the four North Carolina public engineering schools,” says engineering dean Dr. Robin Coger.

Four years after the 1980 executive order, DeLoatch was recruited to Morgan State University to launch the Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. School of Engineering as the school’s inaugural dean. During his 33 years at the helm there, he produced more Black engineers than any other person in the history of U.S. higher education. Since the inception of Morgan State University’s Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. School of Engineering in 1984, the school has set up fully accredited undergraduate programs in civil electrical and computer, and industrial, manufacturing, and information engineering and graduate programs that offer the Master of Engineering, Doctor of Engineering, and Master of Transportation. “The success of Morgan’s engineering program is due to the quality and dedication of our faculty and staff. Our multi-cultural faculty bring a wealth of academic and professional expertise to the classrooms and laboratories,” the university says on its website. North Carolina A&T Reports show that North Carolina A&T College

Prestigious faculty awards include the O. Max Gardner Award of Professional Excellence from the UNC system; Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring; Fellow ICA; NIA Langley Professor; the IBM Outstanding Faculty award; and Triad Most Influential Persons. One of the youngest engineering schools, the Hampton University School of Engineering and Technology was founded in 1995. The small class setting allows faculty members and students to relate on multidisciplinary scholarly and teaching interests, the college says on its website. Studies include catalysis, robotics, innovative design and development, reverse engineering, historic preservation, nanotechnology, fuel cells, city planning, sensors, energy, transportation, and kinetic structures. At Tuskegee University, famed for “excellence from Booker T. Washington to the innovation of George Washington Carver and the mettle of the Tuskegee Airmen,” the College of Engineering has digital-era facilities, professional faculty and staff, and resources that support both public and private funding, as demonstrated by its partners and friends. Graduate programs explore new frontiers for solutions that support global issues. DEANS ISSUE 2018 I USBE&IT 63


2018

HBCUDIRECTORY

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

Dr. Chance Glenn Dean

Graduate Programs »» Master of Engineering in Material Engineering and Systems Engineering »» Master of Science in Computer Science »» Master of Science in Applied Physics »» Ph.D. in Applied Physics

RESEARCH INITIATIVES AND CAPABILITIES

»» materials science and engineering, IC fabrication

»» crystal growth, large and small band gap, and piezoelectric materials

INSTITUTION

Alabama A&M University (AAMU) is a teaching, research, and public service institution, including extension. AAMU is a dynamic and progressive institution with a strong commitment to academic excellence. The serene, intimate campus is situated on “The Hill,” only a short distance from downtown Huntsville, the site of the school’s founding. Alabama A&M University has four colleges with 41 baccalaureates, 23 master’s degrees, one Ed. S., and four doctoral degrees offered.

COLLEGE/SCHOOL OVERVIEW

The College of Engineering, Technology, and Physical Sciences is organized into four departments, each headed by a department chair: (1) mechanical and civil engineering, (2) electrical engineering and computer science, (3) technology, and (4) physics, chemistry, and math. The Bachelor of Science degree in the computer science program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, and the Bachelor of Science degrees in the civil engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering programs are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. In collaboration with the College of Education, the College of Engineering, Technology, and Physical Sciences offers a variety of certified and non-certified teaching programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The college actively collaborates with government and industry partners in the vibrant Huntsville research ecosystem.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Bachelor of Science »» Electrical Engineering »» Mechanical Engineering »» Civil Engineering »» Computer Science »» Physics »» Mathematics »» Chemistry »» Construction Management

64 USBE&IT | DEANS ISSUE 2018

»» image and signal processing and real-time embedded systems

»» cyber security, neural networks, and

modeling and simulation in biometrics

»» computational electromagnetics,

computational fluid dynamics, and finite element analysis »» advanced manufacturing »» unmanned aircraft systems and robotics »» intelligent manufacturing systems and advanced robotics »» mach-5 wind tunnel, rating 1000 cleanroom, three particle accelerators

CONTACT

Phone: (256) 372-5560 Fax: (256) 372-5855 Email: chance.glenn@aamu.edu Website: http://www.aamu.edu/academics/ engineering-technology/pages/default.aspx

Florida A&M–Florida State University FAMU–FSU College of Engineering

Dr. J. Murray Gibson Dean INSTITUTION

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) was founded as the State Normal College for Colored Students, and on October 3, 1887, it began classes with 15 students and two instructors. Today FAMU, as it has become affectionately known, is the premiere school among historically Black colleges and universities. Prominently located on the highest hill in Florida’s capital city of Tallahassee, Florida A&M University remains the only historically Black university in the

11-member State University System of Florida.

COLLEGE/SCHOOL OVERVIEW

In its brief but impressive history, the College of Engineering has become one of the premier learning centers of its kind. The college offers comprehensive academic programs at all levels and works to continually evaluate, expand, and improve programs to ensure that engineering students are prepared for the demands of an innovative global society. The college is a leading academic institution with excellent records of achievement in research and public service. The college has attracted an outstanding faculty from all over the world. Having first-class programs with world-class facilities, such as the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Materials Research Building, the Center for Advanced Power Systems, and the Aero-Propulsion Mechatronics and Energy Center, as well as faculty and staff who have a passion to educate, the college produces welltrained students with excellent entrepreneurial and job skills.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS Bachelor of Science »» Chemical Engineering »» Civil Engineering »» Electrical Engineering »» Computer Engineering »» Industrial Engineering »» Mechanical Engineering

Graduate Programs »» Master’s and Doctorate in Chemical Engineering »» Master’s and Doctorate in Biomedical Engineering »» Master’s and Doctorate in Civil Engineering »» Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering »» Master’s and Doctorate in Electrical Engineering »» Master’s and Doctorate in Industrial Engineering »» Master’s and Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering

RESEARCH INITIATIVES AND CAPABILITIES

»» polymers, materials, nanomaterials, and nontechnology

»» renewable, advanced, and sustainable energy

»» biomedical imaging, cellular, and tissue engineering

»» advanced transportation systems, structures, hydraulics

»» environmental sustainability and water resources

»» intelligent systems, control, and robotics

www.blackengineer.com


HBCUDIRECTORY »» communication, information technology, and cyber security »» active and supersonic flow controls »» superconductivity materials and applications »» manufacturing and operations research

CONTACT

Phone: (850) 410-6161 Fax: (850) 410-6546 Email: dean.eng.famu.fsu.edu Website: www.eng.fsu.edu

Hampton University School of Engineering and Technology

Dr. Joyce Shirazi Dean

INSTITUTION

A historically Black institution, Hampton University is a comprehensive institution of higher education dedicated to the promotion of learning, building of character, and preparation of promising students for positions of leadership and service. Its curriculum emphasis is scientific and professional with a strong liberal arts undergirding. The university offers exemplary programs and opportunities to enable students, faculty, and staff to grow, develop, and contribute to our society in a productive and useful manner. In carrying out its mission, the university requires that everything it does in the areas of teaching, research, and service be of the highest quality.

COLLEGE/SCHOOL OVERVIEW

The School of Engineering and Technology (SET) is home to academic programs in architecture, aviation, and engineering. The school enrolls about 320 students and produces about 50 graduates annually. The SET strategic plan calls for expanding and strengthening the undergraduate offerings, building graduate engineering programs, and developing clearly defined research areas of excellence. The school is also building contracting relationships with prime contractors in a variety of applications across federal agencies.

www.blackengineer.com

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Bachelor of Science »» Electrical and Computer Engineering »» Chemical Engineering »» Aviation Management »» Aviation Management – Air Traffic Control »» Flight Education »» Computer Science (School of Science) »» Mathematical Sciences (School of Science) Graduate Programs »» Master of Architecture »» Master of Science in Computer Science (School of Science) »» Master of Science in Physics (School of Science) »» Ph.D. in Physics (School of Science)

RESEARCH INITIATIVES AND CAPABILITIES

»» energy, the environment, and sustainability »» sensors and data fusion »» data and network security »» transportation systems and infrastructure »» robotics »» aerospace propulsion »» imaging (medical and non-medical) »» materials »» reverse engineering »» catalysis »» manufacturing »» imaging (medical and non-medical) »» biomedical »» medical physics CONTACT

Phone: (757) 728-6970 Fax: (757) 728-6972 Email: joyce.shirazi@hamptonu.edu Website: http://set.hamptonu.edu

Howard University College of Engineering, Architecture, and Computer Sciences

2018

of disciplines. The university continues to attract the nation’s top students and produces more on-campus African American Ph.D.’s than any other university in the world. Since 1998 the university has produced two Rhodes Scholars, two Truman Scholars, 24 Fulbright Scholars, 20 Pickering Fellows, six Luard Scholars and 13 Presidential Scholars.

COLLEGE/SCHOOL OVERVIEW

The College of Engineering and Architecture (CEA) is composed of the School of Engineering and the School of Architecture. Howard Graduates are skilled in creative design and the application of technological and scientific solutions to complex and challenging problems, interpersonal relations, teamwork, critical thinking and leadership. CEA is home to five academic departments offering accredited undergraduate, graduate and professional programs. The departments are architecture, chemical engineering, civil and environmental engineering, electrical engineering and computer science, and mechanical engineering.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Bachelor of Architecture Bachelor of Science »» Chemical Engineering »» Civil Engineering »» Electrical Engineering »» Computer Engineering »» Mechanical Engineering »» Systems and Computer Science Graduate Programs »» Master of Architecture »» Master of Engineering in Civil, Computer, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering »» Master of Science in Chemical Engineering »» Master of Computer Science »» Ph.D. in (Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering) »» Cyber Security Graduate Certificate

RESEARCH INITIATIVES AND CAPABILITIES

»» Chemical Engineering: Biomolecular,

Dr. Achille Messac Dean

INSTITUTION

Howard University is one of the country’s leading private universities. Founded in 1867 in Washington, DC, it is home to 13 schools and colleges offering undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional degrees in a number

Nanotechnology and Environmental

»» Civil and Environmental Engineering:

Structural Engineering, Transportation Engineering and Nanotechnology »» Electrical and Computer Engineering: Signal Processing and Communications, Power and Control, Electromagnetics and antenna, Material Sciences and Nanotechnology and Digital Systems »» Mechanical Engineering: Materials Engineering, Computational Fluid Mechanics and Manufacturing Engineering/ additive manufacturing DEANS ISSUE 2018 I USBE&IT 65


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HBCUDIRECTORY

»» Computer Engineering, Cybersecurity,

Computational Biology, Machine Learning, Data Communications and Computer »» Science Education

CONTACT

Phone: (202) 806-6565 Fax: (202) 238-8545 Email: ceadean@howardu.mail.onmicrosoft.com Website: www.cea.howard.edu/

Jackson State University College of Science, Engineering and Technology

Dr. Wilbur Walters Dean

INSTITUTION

Jackson State University is a diverse, technologically-advanced, four-year university that is steeped in history and committed to preparing its students to become global leaders. It provides a caring, nurturing environment in which to challenge its 9,134 students to improve themselves and serve others. It was founded in 1877 by the American Baptist Home Mission Society and is located in the state’s capital. In 1979 Jackson State was officially designated the Urban University of the State of Mississippi. The university also has campuses in Madison, MS, and downtown Jackson.

COLLEGE/SCHOOL OVERVIEW

The College of Science, Engineering and Technology at Jackson State University is committed to implementing the university’s mission and to focusing its intellectual experience and other resources on improving the quality of life for its students, the surrounding community, the state, the nation, and the global community. It is comprised of nine academic departments. Among them are the departments of civil engineering and computer and telecommunications engineering, which provide students with quality undergraduate and graduate programs that incorporate the systems aspect of professional engineering practice. The college has achieved a seven percent increase in enrollment since 2010 and has been awarded 130 federally-funded grants and contracts with awards totaling approximately $30 million

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annually. It also has over 14 federally-funded student support programs.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Bachelor of Science »» Civil Engineering »» Environmental Track »» General Civil Engineering Track »» Electrical Engineering »» Biomedical Engineering »» General Electrical Engineering Track »» Power Systems Track Engineering »» Computer Engineering »» Computer Science Graduate Programs »» M.S. Computer Science »» M.S. Engineering »» Civil Engineering »» Master’s and Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering »» Computational Engineering »» Electrical Engineering »» Environmental Engineering »» Geological Engineering »» Telecommunications Engineering

RESEARCH CENTERS

»» Coastal Hazards Center of Excellence »» Center for Defense Integrated Data »» High Performance Computing Center »» Interdisciplinary Center for Nanotoxicity »» Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Research

»» Centers in Minority Institutions »» Center for Environmental Health CONTACT

Phone: (601) 979-2153 Fax: (601) 979-2058 Email: wilbur.l.walters@jsums.edu Website: www.jsums.edu/science

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

Dr. Craig Scott Interim Dean

schools, and organizations within the Baltimore Metropolitan Area. Enrolling about 8,000 students from all racial and ethnic backgrounds, the student body includes an enriching mix of international students. The mission of the university is to expose students to the full range of experiences and services that will permit them to successfully meet the global challenges that await them as they leave the university.

COLLEGE/SCHOOL OVERVIEW

Guided by the motto “The Premier Public Urban School of the Global Community,” the School of Engineering enrolls about 850 students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The school prides itself on offering programs that will ensure that students develop a mastery of fundamental STEM-based principles that may be applied effectively to benefit society. In addition to the nationally-competitive accredited programs in civil and environmental, electrical and computer, and industrial and systems related engineering, it also offers unique programs that address the challenges associated with urban transportation systems. The school has earned a reputation for its close faculty– student interaction, low student–faculty ratio, and opportunities for pre-professional experiences through internships. To ensure student success, Morgan State University has a diverse team of professionals working in close concert with faculty to assist students in the negotiation of the college environment. State-of-the-art facilities coupled with the program’s commitment to service are designed to achieve excellence through education.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Bachelor of Science »» Civil and Environmental Engineering »» Electrical and Computer Engineering »» Industrial and Systems Engineering »» Transportation and Urban Infrastructure Graduate Programs »» Master of Engineering »» Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (online) »» Certificate in Transportation Systems »» Certificate in Cybersecurity »» Doctorate of Engineering

RESEARCH INITIATIVES AND CAPABILITIES INSTITUTION

Morgan State University is designated by the state legislature as Maryland’s Public Urban University and is primarily responsible for addressing the needs of residents,

»» electrical and computer engineering »» cybersecurity operations and physical systems

»» software defined and cognitive radio systems

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HBCUDIRECTORY »» RF/microwave/mm wave communication

systems »» computational engineering and analytics »» highperformance, analogintegrated circuits »» biomedical engineering systems »» wireless cybersecurity/information assurance »» engineering education »» image and signal processing »» civil and environmental engineering, water resources, and ground water systems »» bridge/largescale structural systems »» geotechnical studies »» geospatial and remote sensing studies »» fluid mechanics »» industrial and systems engineering, lean and advanced manufacturing »» robotics and automated manufacturing »» project and engineering management »» ergonomics/human factors engineering »» energy systems »» data mining »» industrial safety and health »» operations research

CONTACT

Phone: (443) 885-3231 Fax: (443) 885-8218 Email: mgs22@cornell.edu Website: www.soe.morgan.edu

Norfolk State University College of Science, Engineering & Technology

Dr. Joseph C. Hall Dean

INSTITUTION

Norfolk State University (NSU) is located in the vibrant urban city of Norfolk, VA, and is only 13 miles from the Atlantic Ocean at Virginia Beach, VA. NSU is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and adheres to the standards set forth by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. NSU boasts a student population of 7,100 students and has a satellite campus at the Virginia Beach Higher Education Center. The university offers 32 undergraduate degrees, 16 master’s degrees, and three doctoral degrees, including

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a B.S and M.S. in computer science, a B.S and M.S. in electronics engineering, a B.S. and M.S. in optical engineering, an M.S. in materials science, and a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering.

COLLEGE/SCHOOL OVERVIEW

The College of Science, Engineering, and Technology (CSET) has over 2,000 students and presently comprises over 30 percent of the university’s total student enrollment. Undergraduate programs are ABET accredited, and graduate programs are driven by innovative, state-of-the-art research programs that enhance the educational experience for students and prepare them for national defense, industrial, and academic careers. The College of Science, Engineering, and Technology has played a pivotal role in the university’s 75-year history. Faculty contributions in research, education, service, and mentoring are exceptional. Graduates are securing outstanding jobs and are earning advanced degrees in record numbers. The college currently houses several research centers: the Center for Materials Research (CMR); the Information Assurance – Research, Education and Development Institute; the micro- and nano-technology center, and the creative gaming and simulation laboratory.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Bachelor of Science »» Electronics Engineering »» Optical Engineering »» Computer Science – Information Assurance and Computer Engineering »» Information Technology Graduate Programs »» Master’s in Electronics Engineering »» Master’s in Optimal Engineering »» Master’s in Materials Science »» Master’s in Computer Science »» Master’s in Computer Science – Cyber Security »» Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering

RESEARCH INITIATIVES AND CAPABILITIES

»» cyber security »» information assurance »» cognitive wireless networks and cloudcomputing security

»» digital forensics »» smart grid security »» modeling of biological neurons »» optics, plasmonics, and metamaterials »» nanomaterials and nanotechnology »» advanced functional materials »» devices

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»» semiconductor materials and devices »» neural probes »» biosensors »» photovoltaic »» MEMS actuators »» multifunctional sensors »» high K dielectrics CONTACT

Phone: (757) 823-8181 Fax: (757) 823-9114 Email: jchall@nsu.edu Website: https://www.nsu.edu/cset/

North Carolina A&T State University College of Engineering

Dr. Robin N. Coger Dean

INSTITUTION

North Carolina Agriculture and Technical State University is a public, doctoral research, 1890 land-grant university committed to exemplary teaching and learning, scholarly and creative research, and effective engagement and public service. The university offers degrees at the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels and has a commitment to excellence in a comprehensive range of academic disciplines. Their unique legacy and educational philosophy provide students with a broad range of experiences that foster transformation and leadership for a dynamic and global society.

COLLEGE/SCHOOL OVERVIEW

The College of Engineering is proud of the quality of education and research at North Carolina Agriculture and Technical State University and is inspired by the innovativeness, capabilities, and achievements of their engineering students, graduates, faculty, and staff. Their bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs are distributed across seven departments: chemical biological and bio engineering; civil, architectural, and environmental engineering; computer science; electrical and computer engineering; industrial and systems engineering; mechanical engineering; and the interdisciplinary computational science and engineering program.

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HBCUDIRECTORY

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Bachelor of Science »» Architectural Engineering »» Bioengineering »» Biological Engineering »» Chemical Engineering »» Civil Engineering »» Computer Engineering »» Computer Science »» Electrical Engineering »» Industrial and Systems Engineering »» Mechanical Engineering Graduate Programs »» Bioengineering »» Chemical Engineering »» Civil Engineering »» Master’s and Doctorate in Computer Engineering »» Master’s and Doctorate in Computational Science and Engineering »» Master’s and Doctorate in Computer Science »» Master’s and Doctorate in Electrical Engineering »» Master’s and Doctorate in Industrial and Systems Engineering »» Master’s and Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering

CORE CROSS DEPARTMENTAL RESEARCH STRENGTHS

»» energy and sustainability »» healthcare applications »» multiscale materials development and analysis

»» aerospace and transportation systems »» wireless communications »» cybersecurity and network operations CONTACT

Phone: (336) 334-7589 Fax: (336) 334-7540 Email: Rncoger@ncat.edu Website: http://www.ncat.edu/coe/index. html

Prairie View A&M University Roy G. Perry College of Engineering

Dr. Shield Lin Dean

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INSTITUTION

Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) is a comprehensive public institution of higher education and a land-grant university as part of the Texas A&M University System. Founded in 1976, the university’s main campus is located in the city of Prairie View, approximately 40 miles northwest of Houston, TX. There are also two outreach campuses within the city limits of Houston. The university’s enrollment now exceeds 8,350, including more than 2,000 graduate students. PVAMU offers baccalaureate degrees in 50 academic majors, 37 master’s degrees, and four doctoral degree programs through nine colleges and schools. During the university’s 135-year history, some 57,700 academic degrees have been awarded.

COLLEGE/SCHOOL OVERVIEW

The Roy G. Perry College of Engineering offers eight ABET-accredited undergraduate programs, four master’s degrees, and one Ph.D. degree. The college is a unique community of students, faculty, staff, and scholars dedicated to the advancement, sharing, and communication of knowledge in the fields of engineering, computer science, and engineering technology. Housed in a five-building engineering complex on the Prairie View A&M main campus, the most highly focused component of the college is student learning. Undergraduate and graduate programs are structured for discovery, applied learning, interpretation, and the communication of learning through shared interactive courses and laboratories designed to engage students and faculty alike. The college prepares students to become dedicated and productive members of society. The college receives about $8 million for funded projects annually from governmental agencies and private sectors. The college enrolls more than 1,350 students; about 10 percent of them are graduate students.

Engineering

»» Master of Science in Computer Science »» Master of Science in Computer Information Systems

»» Master of Science in Electrical Engineering »» Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering »» Master’s or Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering

RESEARCH INITIATIVES AND CAPABILITIES

»» telecommunication, wireless

sensor network, and battlefield communication »» radiation engineering and science for space exploration »» renewable energy and environmental sustainability »» nanocomposites fabrication, characterization, and testing »» data processing, image coding, virtual reality, and virtual prototyping »» thermal science and computational fluid dynamics »» Gulf Coast environmental data collection and analysis »» high performance computing and cloud computing

CONTACT

Phone: (936) 261-9956 Fax: (936) 261-9868 Email: shlin@pvamu.edu Website: www.pvamu.edu/engineering

Southern University and A&M College College of Engineering and Computer Science

Dr. Patrick Carriere Dean

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Bachelor of Science »» Chemical Engineering »» Civil Engineering »» Computer Engineering »» Computer Engineering Technology »» Computer Science »» Electrical Engineering »» Electrical Engineering Technology »» Mechanical Engineering Graduate Programs »» Master of Science in Engineering with concentrations in Chemical, Civil, Environmental, and Mechanical

INSTITUTION

Southern University and A&M College, founded in 1880, is a publicly-supported, coeducational, land-grant, historically Black, comprehensive institution. The Southern University System is the largest HBCU system in the nation. It is composed of five campuses in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Shreveport, the Agricultural Research and Extension Center, and the Law Center, and it is managed by the Southern

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HBCUDIRECTORY University Board of Supervisors. Southern University and A&M College is a Carnegie master’s/comprehensive-level institution with an average enrollment of 7,000 students at the Baton Rouge campus. It offers bachelor’s degrees in 42 areas, 19 master’s degrees, six doctoral degrees, and two associate degrees. Southern University A&M has a proud and distinguished 134-year history.

COLLEGE/SCHOOL OVERVIEW

The College of Engineering and Computer Science provides students with technological skills and opportunities that stimulate professional, educational, and personal growth. The college provides this growth through a diverse faculty and staff that is committed to teaching, research, and service. Students are encouraged to participate in laboratory research and cooperative education programs that enhance career confidence. They also are encouraged to participate in ongoing research with faculty members that contribute to engineering innovations. The college maintains an atmosphere that enhances the student’s ability to achieve the optimum learning experience and offers five undergraduate programs, in civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, and electronics engineering technology, that lead to a Bachelor of Science degree. The college also offers two master’s degree programs: 1) The Master of Engineering program has three specialty areas: a. materials science and engineering b. sustainable systems engineering c. engineering management 2) The Master of Computer Science program has two specialty areas: a. digital data communications b. database management and data mining

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Bachelor of Science »» Civil Engineering »» Electrical Engineering »» Mechanical Engineering »» Electronics Engineering Technology »» Computer Science Graduate Programs »» Master of Engineering »» Master of Science in Computer Science

RESEARCH INITIATIVES AND CAPABILITIES

»» industrial wastewater treatment, air pollution, solid wastes

»» pavement design and management,

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nanomechanics of clay materials

»» telecommunications and

computer network engineering

»» electronic materials and processing, semiconductor device fabrication

»» advance materials, micro and nanotechnologies

»» renewable energy and energy optimization, computational fluid and heat transfer

»» operating systems and architecture,

algorithms and theory of computing

»» software engineering, digital data

communications »» database management and data mining

CONTACT

Email: patrick_carriere@subr.edu Website: http://www.subr.edu/index.cfm/ subhome/5

Tennessee State University College of Engineering

Dr. S. Keith Hargrove Dean INSTITUTION

Tennessee State University (TSU) is a comprehensive, urban, coeducational, and land-grant university offering undergraduate and graduate degrees. Founded in 1912, it is located in Nashville, TN, the state capital, and sits on 500 acres near the Cumberland River in a residential neighborhood just 10 minutes northwest of downtown. The university also has a downtown campus in Nashville. Tennessee State University provides 77 majors in eight undergraduate colleges and schools and enrolls about 7,000 undergraduates and 2,000 graduate students.

COLLEGE/SCHOOL OVERVIEW

The College of Engineering is committed to providing the highest quality, industry-driven curricula in engineering, technology, and computer and mathematical sciences. The college currently provides accredited B.S. degrees and graduate degrees in strategic and emerging disciplines for research and working professionals. The graduate programs are supported by advanced laboratories and research centers in fields such as cyberphysical and security systems, sensor and

2018

data fusion, control systems, bioinformatics, energy systems, and wireless communication. The college currently has funded grants with the Air Force Research Lab, Army Research Office, U.S. Navy, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Transportation, Boeing Company, and the National Science Foundation. The college enrolls about 900 students and produces about 75 graduates annually.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Bachelor of Science »» Architecture Engineering »» Civil and Environmental Engineering »» Electrical and Computer Engineering »» Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering »» Aeronautical and Industrial Technology »» Computer Science »» Mathematical Sciences Graduate Programs »» Master of Engineering »» Master of Science in Computer and Information Systems Engineering »» Ph.D. in Computer and Information Systems Engineering

RESEARCH INITIATIVES AND CAPABILITIES

»» cybersecurity/physical systems »» sensor and data fusion »» intelligent health monitoring and control systems

»» data and network security »» wireless communications »» advanced transportation systems and infrastructure

»» intelligent manufacturing systems and advanced robotics

Email: skhargrove@tnstate.edu Website: www.tnstate.edu/engineering

Tuskegee University College of Engineering

Dr. Heshmat Aglan Dean

INSTITUTION

Tuskegee University is a national, independent, and coeducational institution that has a historically unique relationship with the

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HBCUDIRECTORY

State of Alabama, the nation, and the world. At its core, the university prepares students academically, both graduate and undergraduate, for insertion into a world driven by technology, an independent political landscape, and a society of complexity that needs solutions to challenging problems. The university has distinctive strengths in the sciences, architecture, business, and engineering as well as the development of high-order technical, scientific, intellectual, moral, and ethical qualities in students. Also stressed is the connection between education and the qualities of leadership that graduates must manifest, especially for the 21st century workforce and beyond. They seek students whose technical, scientific, and professional qualities are rigorously honed and people whose spirits are sensitively oriented in ways that make them committed to go beyond self-centered competence to excellence and service to others.

COLLEGE/SCHOOL OVERVIEW

The College of Engineering, with an enrollment of 800, and regarded as premier for its production of exceptionally prepared graduates ready to perform with a broad educational background, graduates 100 undergraduate and graduate students annually. The college provides an academic portfolio through the disciplines of engineering to engage students in envisioning learning excellence, research and exploration, and service to the nation and the global community. The college is programmed for excellence with the context of Booker T. Washington, the innovation of George Washington Carver, and the mettle of the Tuskegee Airmen armed with facilities, professional faculty and staff, and the resources that support public/private funding as demonstrated by its partners and friends. Graduate programs explore new frontiers for solutions that support global issues. Accredited undergraduate programs have become a tradition for students to enter and complete post-secondary/graduate studies in engineering.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Bachelor of Science »» aerospace science engineering »» chemical engineering »» electrical engineering »» mechanical engineering Graduate Programs »» Master’s in Chemical Engineering »» Master’s in Electrical Engineering »» Master’s in Mechanical Engineering

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»» Master’s in Systems Engineering »» Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering »» Master’s in Materials Science and Engineering

RESEARCH INITIATIVES AND CAPABILITIES

»» aerospace: aerodynamics, flight

simulation, human interface, aeronautics, manufacturing »» chemical: biofluidics/fuels/chemical, corrosion, environmental, water and wastewater modeling »» electrical: electronic warfare, systems engineering, smart grid, adaptive networks, cyber security »» mechanical: fatigue/corrosion, membranes, robotics, metallurgy, indoor air quality/food abatement »» materials science: characterization, nanomaterials, performance/ nondestructive evaluation

CONTACT

Phone: (334) 727-8355 Fax: (334) 727-8090 Email: aglang@mytu.tuskegee.edu Website: www.tuskegee.edu/academics/ colleges/ceps.aspx

University of the District of Columbia School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Dr. Devdas Shetty Dean

INSTITUTION The University of the District of Columbia is a pacesetter in urban education that offers affordable and effective undergraduate, professional, and workplace learning opportunities. The institution is the premier gateway to post-secondary education and research for all residents of the District of Columbia. As a public land-grant institution, the university’s responsibility is to build a diverse generation of competitive, civically engaged scholars and leaders. Building on a 160-year tradition of excellence and opportunity, the university enrolls about 6,000 diverse students. As the nation’s only urban

land-grant institution, the university’s mission is to foster the education, critical thinking, and intellectual growth of its students and the creation and application of new knowledge and effective engagement with the surrounding world.

COLLEGE/SCHOOL OVERVIEW

The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) offers nationally competitive and fully accredited professional programs at the baccalaureate and graduate levels. These programs enable immediate employment upon graduation or for continuation for advancedlevel studies. The school offers strong, ABETaccredited bachelor’s degree programs in civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering and computer science. EAS also offers a bachelor’s degree program in information technology.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Bachelor of Science »» Civil Engineering »» Electrical Engineering »» Computer Engineering »» Mechanical Engineering »» Computer Science »» Information Technology Graduate Programs »» Master’s in Computer Science »» Master’s in Electrical Engineering

RESEARCH INITIATIVES AND CAPABILITIES

»» The Center of Excellence for Renewable

Energy (CERE) is working with international agencies to develop energy power sources for pumping water. »» Assurance Research Center for Trusted Information Computing (ARCTIC) has been designated as the National Center of Excellence. »» Research capabilities include the following: »» cyber security »» information assurance »» high performance computing »» sensor networks »» computational geometry »» robotics »» mechatronics »» energy conversion »» modeling and simulation »» advanced manufacturing »» product design »» nanotechnology »» renewable energy »» rehabilitation engineering and bioassisted devices »» structural engineering »» water resources engineering »» construction engineering

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HBCUDIRECTORY CONTACT

Office of the Dean, Building 42, Suite 212 4200 Connecticut Ave NW Washington, DC 20008 Phone: (202) 274-5033 Fax: (202) 274-5520 Email: devdas.shetty@udc.edu Website: https://www.udc.edu/seas/

University of Maryland Eastern Shore Department of Engineering and Aviation Services

Dr. Kate Brown Interim Dean

»» Air Traffic Controller Lab »» Analog Circuit Lab »» Digital Circuit Lab »» Instrumentation and Control Lab »» Advanced Communication Lab »» Computer Lab »» Multimedia and Online Learning Lab CONTACT

University of Maryland Eastern Shore Princess Anne, MD 21853 Tel: (410) 651-8095 Fax: (410) 651-6486

Virginia State University Department of Engineering and Aviation Services

Dr. Dawit Haile Interim Dean INSTITUTION

The department offers a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering with specializations in aerospace, computer, electrical, or mechanical. The department also offers a Bachelor of Science program in aviation sciences with concentrations in aviation electronics, aviation management, aviation software, or professional pilot.

PROGRAMS

The mission of the engineering program is to provide a high-quality Bachelor of Science degree in engineering with a specialization in the aerospace, computer, electrical, or mechanical fields. The program incorporates undergraduate student research opportunities in its curriculum. The Aviation Sciences program is Maryland’s only four-year bachelor’s degree program in aviation. They offer a Bachelor of Science in aviation science degree with concentrations in professional pilot, aviation management, aviation electronics, and aviation software. In addition to the four-year residential program, students who have completed a two-year associate’s degree in aviation at the Community College of Baltimore County or another community college are offered the opportunity to complete a bachelor’s degree.

FACILITIES

»» 3D Visualization & Virtual Reality Center »» MIST Small Vehicle Mission Planning Lab »» Advanced Aviation Simulator Lab

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economies.

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ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Bachelor of Science »» Computer Engineering »» Manufacturing Engineering »» Computer Sciences »» Information and Logistics Technology »» Psychology »» Chemistry »» Biology Graduate Programs »» Master of Science in Computer Sciences »» Master of Science in Mathematics »» Master of Science in Biology/Informatics »» Ph.D. Psychology

RESEARCH INITIATIVES AND CAPABILITIES

»» cognitive science and human behavior »» unmanned aerial systems »» cyber security/big data »» bioinformatics »» enterprise systems and logistics

ORGANIZING UNIVERSITY RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS

»» Commonwealth Center for Advanced

INSTITUTION

Virginia State University (VSU) was founded in 1882 in Petersburg, VA. It is one of Virginia’s two land-grant institutions and was the first state-supported four-year institution of higher learning for Black Americans in the U.S. Today VSU has a student population of over 5,300 and offers 55 bachelor’s and master’s degrees, two doctoral degrees, and three certificates. Students study and conduct research in one of five schools: the School of Agriculture; the School of Business; the School of Engineering, Science and Technology (SEST); the School of Liberal Arts and Education; and the School of Graduate Studies, Research and Outreach.

Manufacturing www.ccam-va.com

»» Commonwealth Center for Advanced Logistics Systems: www.ccals.com

CONTACT

Phone: (804) 524-1141 Fax: (804) 524-6949 Email: dhaile@vsu.edu Website: http://www.cet.vsu.edu/ departments/engineering/index.php S

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

The School of Engineering, Science and Technology is focused on solving tough problems. SEST defines success as the growth and discovery of fundamental knowledge and the movement of these ideas and results from the laboratory to the real world. The goal is to transform communities by attracting and retaining key industries, enhancing economic development, and creating jobs. Their research helps companies improve their products and services for items as diverse as jet engines, copiers, and cutting tools. The school aligns resources and capabilities to the workforce needs of local, regional, and national

To read the full listing including bios for all of the HBCU deans, please visit http://www. blackengineer.com/ article/15-deans-andhbcu-engineeringschools/ or scan above.

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HBCU DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI

By Lango Deen ldeen@ccgmag.com

You Should Know Her father, Jerry L. Kennedy, was a graduate of Jackson State University (JSU), and her mother, Joyce E. Kennedy, was a graduate of Alcorn State University. “HBCU pride was instilled in me. It’s not something I even realized I was being taught. It was just natural. Attending JSU afforded me the opportunity to be taught by some of the world’s best, surrounded by faces that looked like mine,” Jessica said. At Jackson State, she found a village of supporters.

Ed Ireland

Ed Ireland loved his hometown in Memphis, but he wanted something more at a college outside of Tennessee. Of all the schools that accepted him, Hampton came closest to meeting more of the things he was looking for then.

Tuere Williams

Southern University A&M College

“At JSU, I was not only taught how to be an engineer. I was surrounded by professors and mentors that truly cared about my well-being and wanted me and my classmates to not only succeed professionally but to be prominent, respectable members of the Black community,” she said. Jessica and her husband, Charles W. Vickers Jr., a systems engineer and graduate of Alcorn State University, have relocated several times during their engineering careers

Jessica Kennedy Vickers

“One thing that still brings me joy is finding an HBCU tag in a new city,” she said. “Attending an HBCU gives you an extended family no matter how far away.”

For Jessica Kennedy Vickers, attending a historically Black college and university wasn’t optional.

In 1980 Jessica’s father began a new tradition. In keeping with his promise at a basketball game during Jessica’s senior year of college, he set up a plan to donate full tuition back

Jackson State University

72 USBE&IT | DEANS ISSUE 2018

“On the floor of a basketball game during my senior year of college, my father made a promise to repay Jackson State for every dollar they gave in scholarship money. Because of the standard he and my mother set, I will always give back to JSU. It is the least that I can do to repay the school that has given, and continues to give, my family so much.”

Jessica and her husband donate directly to the university and to their individual departments.

“An engineering department, campus life, diversity as it relates to people from different places, reputation, and location,” Ed explained.

As part of the community relationship team that has been established between Newport News Shipbuilding and the School of Engineering and Technology at Hampton University, Ed has also participated in mentoring, tutoring, project judging, and other school initiatives for elementary, middle school, high school, and college students..

“My siblings and I all attended Jackson State on full scholarships, and we are all products of the College of Science, Engineering, and Technology,” Jessica said.

Jessica’s brother, James, majored in computer science and is now the owner of BlueVision, LLC, a software consultancy. Her sister Tamala also graduated in computer science and works as a lead network specialist/operations manager. Tiffany, a registered nurse, will graduate as a nurse practitioner in May.

Hampton University

After graduating from Hampton University, Ed began his career at Newport News Shipbuilding. He is now a combat systems engineer in the aircraft carrier overhaul division. Throughout his career, he has worked on numerous engineering projects related to ship design, system development, process improvement, and testing.

to Jackson State University over a ten-year period.

Tuere Williams of the Raytheon Company supports Southern University A&M College through recruitment drives at college fairs, donations, and alumni dues along with the fundraiser support that goes directly back to students needing scholarship funding. Growing up in the suburbs of Houston and Dallas, Tuere (pronounced Too-Air-Ee) worked to be a top performer. “I will always cherish my upbringing and secondary education, but I often felt as though I was the exception and not the norm in my honors and advanced placement classes,” she said. At Southern University and A&M College, Tuere found a sense of community. “It was amazing to see people like me striving for excellence in engineering. We may not have all had the same background, but I was among a diverse population of positive and forward-thinking individuals working to

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better themselves. I became immersed in the academic and also the cultural environment. I excelled in my studies and also became very active in the Student Government Association,” she said. Tuere says the innovation required to excel at Southern continues to further her career in electronics, mission systems integration, command, control, communications, and intelligence systems as well as a range of mission support services at Raytheon, a major defense contractor. “A friend teasingly calls me MacGyver because I enjoy thinking outside of the box to tackle challenges and seek solutions. I have also been given high praise for my ability to communicate with others, traits I developed while serving as a student leader at Southern,” she said. Tuere has more than bragging rights from her HBCU engineering school. “I also can brag on the rich Louisiana culture that Southern has and that we have the BEST band in the land! I walked away from Baton Rouge with an education, self-confidence, skills, and even a husband! I can’t fully articulate the profound impact that Southern University and A&M College have made on me, but I can assert that Southern will always remain near and dear.” S

SAVE THE DATE FEBRUARY 7-9, 2019 Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel • Washington, DC

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As the contracting entity for Alabama A&M University, the AAMU-RISE Foundation leverages all research disciplines at the institution. We have a commitment to solving real-world, complex problems, including space technology, securing cyberspace, emerging biotechnologies, sustainable energy sources, water, and food production.

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“I’ve wanted to be a scientist since I was twelve.” Dreaming about the future? At Norfolk State University, dreams start here. With high quality degree programs and dedicated professors devoted to your success, there’s no telling what your future will hold. Learn more at nsu.edu.

Norfolk State University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the associate, baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, telephone (404) 679-4500, http://www.sacscoc.org, for questions about the accreditation of Norfolk State University.

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College of Sciences and Engineering Patrick Carriere, Ph.D., P.E. Dean and Professor P.O. Box 9969 Baton Rouge, LA 70813

Undergraduate Programs

Tel: (225) 771-4316 Fax: (225) 771-5721 Email: patrick_carriere@subr.edu

Graduate Programs

• Civil Engineering

Master of Engineering

• Electrical Engineering

Master of Science in Biology

• Mechanical Engineering

Master of Science in Computer Science

• Electronics Engineering Technology

Master of Science in Mathematics

• Computer Science

Master of Science in Physics

• Biology

Ph.D. in Environmental Toxicology

• Chemistry

Ph.D. in Science/Math Education

• Math • Physics

Southern University Salutes College of Sciences and Engineering www.subr.edu/cse Baton Rouge, LA 70813 225-771-5290

Dr. Eugene M. Deloatch 2017 Black Engineer of the Year


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