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The History of NSBE
In 1971, two Purdue undergraduate students, Edward Barnette
(now deceased) and Fred Cooper approached the dean of engineering
at Purdue University with the concept of starting the Black
Society of Engineers (BSE). They wanted to establish a student
organization to help improve the recruitment and retention of
black engineering students. In the late 1960's, a devastating
80 percent of the black freshmen entering the engineering program
dropped out. The dean agreed to the idea and assigned the only
black faculty member on staff, Arthur J. Bond, as advisor.
Barnett served as the first president of the BSE. The fledging
group gained momentum in 1974, with the direction and encouragement
of Bond and the active participation of the young men whose
destiny was to become the founders of NSBE. Now known as the
"Chicago Six", these men are Anthony Harris, Brian Harris, Stanley
L. Kirtley, John W. Logan, Jr., Edward A. Coleman, and George
A. Smith.
Encouraged by their on-campus success, Anthony Harris, president
of the Purdue chapter, wrote a letter to the presidents and
deans of every accredited engineering program in the country
(288), explained the Society of Black Engineers (SBE) concept
and asked them to identify black student leaders, organizations
and faculty members who might support their efforts on a national
basis. Approximately 80 schools responded. Many had similar
Black student organizations with similar objectives. A date
was set for the first national meeting and 48 students representing
32 schools attended the event, held April 10-12, 1975. Harris
also changed the organizations' nomenclature from the BSE to
the Society of Black Engineers (SBE).
It was at that historic meeting through majority vote, that
SBE became the National Society of Black Engineers. The familiar
NSBE symbol "N" with lightning bolts was chosen and it remains
a distinctively recognizable symbol representing the premier
technical organization for African American engineering students
and professionals. NSBE was eventually incorporated in Texas,
in 1976 as 501©3 non-profit organization. John Cason, also of
Purdue, served as the first elected president of NSBE. As the
organization grew, Virginia Booth became the first female National
Chairperson and the first to serve two terms 1978-1980.
The torch symbolizes members' everlasting, burning desire to
achieve success in a competitive society and positively affect
the quality of life for all people. The lightening bolt represents
the striking impact that will be felt by the society and industry
due to the contributions and accomplishments made by the dedicated
members of the National Society of Black Engineers.
NSBE has since grown from six to 10,000 members and the annual
meeting has blossomed into the Annual National Convention, hosting
over 8,000 attendees. NSBE has 17 NSBE Jr. pre-college, 268
student and 50 alumni/technical professional chapters. Headquartered
in Alexandria, Va., NSBE offers academic excellence programs,
scholarships, leadership training, professional development
and access to career opportunities for thousands of members
annually. With over 2000 elected leadership positions, 12 regional
conferences and an annual convention, NSBE provides opportunities
for success that remain unmatched by any other organization.
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