NSBE History
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.
