a leader within the organization, Phelps focus has been academic excellence. His role as the national chairperson this year, he is sharpening the focus on the reten- tion programs for college students which has already seen a tremendous growth in participation nationwide. Through part- nership with the Illinois Institute of Tech- nology, this year NSBE was able to help secure scholarships for 28 students from other nations to come to the US to study in STEM related fields. The highly motivated and committed
Calvin Phelps is not only an important member but an asset to NSBE, here is what he has to say about the organization:
Diversity: “Diversity is important for a variety of
reasons. Not least of which being that it is and will continue to be a simple fact of our lives. Each of us is shaped by our back- ground, culture and history, factors that all play into our life experiences and inform the way we interact with one another and the world. To work most effectively with the wide range of individuals one is likely to encounter over one’s lifetime, it is ne- cessary to be able to step back and appre- ciate the culture and experiences that have influenced another human being. That appreciation can allow for considerably improved relationships and synergy, and I am often surprised at the breakthroughs that arise from such interactions. To not appreciate diversity is to lock ourselves within our own cultural and experiential boxes, and to miss out on viewing life through another lens. It condemns us to a single way of looking at things and stifles innovation.”
Importance of joining NSBE: “The value of an organization like
NSBE is manifold, but here I will focus on two things. The first benefit to an orga- nization like NSBE is that it actively se- eks to help improve the success potential of its members: college prep and hands on learning experiences for pre-college students, academic success and retention programming for collegiate students, and
The Black E.O.E. Journal
networking and job placement for techni- cal professionals. Organizations like NSBE seek to empower and improve our communities by ensuring that each of its members is in a place to provide those so- lutions, be that through mentoring or for- malized community help programs.” “The second reason to join an organi-
zation like NSBE is for the network. The National Society of Black Engineers has over 33,000 members, and represents one of the largest bodies of unique technical talent in the world. It is quite honestly an experience to walk into a convention hall and see 8,000 black students and profes- sionals gathering to talk about the poten- tial and power that lies in the engineering fields and it is an experience that I would recommend to anyone. It is an inspira- tion to be around and be a part of such talent, and was my main reason for joi- ning NSBE.” “NSBE’s membership process is enti-
rely online. You can join by going to nsbe. org. One of the quick links on the side of the home page is Join NSBE. It is as sim- ple as filling out an online form and selec- ting your membership type.”
The Annual NSBE Conference:
“One of the biggest draws for the con-
ference is our annual National Career Fair, where upwards of 300 companies come together to find potential hires. It is an excellent event, and hundreds of students come away each year with job offers. This year will also feature a significant focus on academic excellence, and will offer several workshops and events designed to help an attendee achieve success wit- hin the classroom. There are also a variety of personal and professional development workshops, seminars, and competitions for those whose interests lie more along the development route. This year’s theme is Engineering the Gateway to Success”.
“To not appreciate diversity is to lock ourselves within our own cultural and experiential boxes, and to miss out on viewing life through another lens.”
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