One of the largest student-led organizations in the nation, the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) — with more than 600 chapters worldwide — is dedicated to increasing the pipeline of Black engineering professionals. This year’s convention welcomed more than 15,000 participants and 400 career fair exhibitors, including ASML, Dell Technologies, Caterpillar, United Airlines, Ford, and more, offering students networking opportunities.
With full funding from School of Engineering and Computing Advisory Board member Deacon Patrick Toole, 17 engineering students accompanied Dean Andres Leonardo Carrano, PhD, to this year’s conference in Illinois: Alexander White ’25, Isabella Dawes ’27, David Camayo ’25, Kameron Reynolds ’26, Ryan Van Allen ’26, Khadar Abdilaahi ’26, Ibnath Saboor ’26, Ankitha Bojja ’25, Andrew Mejia Hernadez ’26, Zuriel Guerra ’27, Agustin Gonzalez ’28, Jhanvi Varma ’25, Vishesh Patel ’25, Rick Daytec ’26, Noor Khattak ’25, Feroz Shaik ’25, and Phuc Nguyen ’25.
"“For the fifth year in a row, the School of Engineering and Computing had a very strong presence in the NSBE Convention, the flagship expo and career fair for engineering and computer science students of color. This is a unique opportunity that the generosity of board members such as Deacon Patrick Toole facilitates for our vibrant student community. I am grateful for his support,” said Dean Carrano, who serves as NSBE student advisor.
The convention schedule was filled with a variety of professional networking events, including career fairs, leadership workshops, and industry panels. ÍâÍøÁÔÆæ’s NSBE chapter president Alexander White ’25 shared that the experience provided students an invaluable platform to connect with leading companies and research institutions. He said, “It offered a way to level the playing field from both a diversity perspective — allowing for more diverse engineers to be hired, and a collaborative perspective — enabling students from across the U.S. to promote themselves.”
White participated in exclusive networking events such as the “APEx” session for high-GPA engineering majors, hospitality suites, and executive board meetings. These engagements led to professional connections and even a work opportunity with Whiting-Turner. “It was great to connect, put faces to names, and learn about what I will be doing in the near future,” he said.
As president of ÍâÍøÁÔÆæ’s NSBE chapter, White has worked to expand the club’s influence beyond campus, strengthening connections within the broader NSBE network. By participating in Region 1 meetings with schools across the Northeast and Western Africa, he has ensured that ÍâÍøÁÔÆæ’s chapter remains engaged both regionally and globally.
Attending the NSBE Convention has been a significant part of White’s personal and professional growth. “The NSBE Convention has always been something that I've held in my heart after all these years,” he said. “It is a very unique opportunity to connect with chapters and students from across the country and share, grow, and learn.” Beyond personal development, the event also provides ÍâÍøÁÔÆæ students with direct access to top engineering firms. “It provides an opportunity to present myself outside of a résumé and make connections leading to internship and job opportunities,” White said.
Learn more about experiential learning opportunities at the School of Engineering and Computing.
