The National Society of Black Engineers boasts a nationwide membership of 35,000-plus members but it started out with just a couple of students in the 70’s on the grounds of Purdue University.
The late Edward Barnette (also spelled Barnett is some printings) and Fred Cooper, both engineering students approached the dean of their program about creating a group for Black students. The pair observed that in the late 1960s, 80 percent of Black engineering freshmen dropped out of school.
With the stated goal of recruiting and retaining students, Barnette, Cooper and a Black faculty member created the Society of Black Engineers (SBE).
By 1974, the group had grown in size and was expanded further by the efforts of the “Chicago Six.” Anthony Harris, Brian Harris, Stanley L. Kirtley, John W. Logan, Jr., Edward A. Coleman, and George A. Smith were a successful group of SBE members who wanted to expand their efforts nationally.
At the time, Anthony Harris was the head of the Purdue chapter. He started a letter-writing campaign to reach out to engineering programs nationwide. In their correspondence, the SBE wanted these schools to identify their Black student base and also explained the group’s aims.
Over 80 schools responded, which planted the seeds for the group’s first national meeting to be held in April 1975. Just shy of 50 students representing 32 schools attended the event, and it was also where Harris introduced the re-branding of the SBE as the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE).
The NBSE was incorporated in Texas the following year, and is now headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. Ms. Sossenna Wood is the current National Chair for the NSBE.
(Photo: Purdue University)
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