BLACK ENGINEER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS
dated networks. Foreman holds both a bachelor’s and master’s in electrical engineering from Alabama A&M University. He is founder of the Northrop Grumman Alabama A&M Alumni As- sociation and supports students enrolled in science, technology, engineering and math at his alma mater. Northrop Grumman’s retention rate and promotion rate for new college hires in mis- sion command systems within the defense systems division has increased by a combined 40 percent since he started Foreman started his mentoring program.
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT-GOVERNMENT
Samer A. Saleh Director, Planning and Services, Operations Strategy Abbott Diagnostics
PROMOTION OF EDUCATION Bobby L.
Wilson, Ph.D. L. Lloyd Woods Distinguished Professor of Chemistry Shell Oil Endowed Chaired Professor of Environmental Toxicology Texas Southern University
D
amer Saleh joined Abbott in 2005 to fill an entry-level role as an electrical engineer. Over seven years he has earned three promotions to senior electrical engineer (2006),
S
senior project engineer and project manager (2007), and director, planning and engineering services (2011). Saleh also developed a system to track global regulatory finance and project expenses. Currently responsible for capital planning and process, as well as implementing project management technology and software across the business, he also represents Abbott’s diagnostics division on corporate councils such as Global Energy and Global Capital. He is active with the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), the Abbott Black Business Network, Project Management Institute and Toastmasters. He is also a member of the Mentoring Circle of Asian Leadership and Cultural Network. He has successfully recruited alongside talent acquisition for many years and is one of six employees featured in Abbott’s Career Facebook page.
As part of the Black Business Network he attends career days at schools, helps paint and clean up playgrounds and com- munity centers. He has helped build homes in Columbus, Ohio, and participated in United Negro College Fund’s 5K Walk/ Run. While in his early teens, he coped with two wars (the 1989 Lebanon civil war and 1990 Liberian war). In Liberia, he saw 10 percent of the population killed. During this chaotic time he car- ried around the only textbook he had, teaching himself calculus. From a refugee camp in Ghana at age 15, his mixed heritage
family left for America. Saleh started an engineering career in 1994 as an INROADS intern for Gillette. After a successful internship he continued work in the research and development laboratory while enrolled in an engineering course at Northeast- ern University. In 1997, he started a co-op with Polaroid, work- ing more than 30 hours a week until 1999 when he graduated with a bachelor’s in electrical and computer engineering. He joined Polaroid and by 2001 was leading projects over $500,000. After earning a project management certificate he started his master’s degree in computer information systems.
r. Bobby Wilson is committed to creating an eminent cadre of people of color in science. He has served as a long-term volunteer for the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers, or NOBCChE. By implementing diversity goals in his career, Dr. Wilson has truly exemplified what the organization’s hero, re- search chemist and civil rights leader Dr. Percy L. Julian, stood for. Wilson has been a driving force in shaping science programs as a National Science Foundation program director; and building the research component of Texas State University (TSU) science department, generating $50 million in research grants. Along the way, he has also mentored diverse students. A 1999-2004 graduate student in the environmental toxicology Ph.D. program at TSU is now a forensic chemist at the Drug Enforcement Administration. “During my time as a student at TSU, Dr. Wilson served as teacher, advisor, and mentor,” he wrote, adding, “Through the program, I was able to meet scien- tists performing different types of research that would guide me throughout my time at TSU and beyond.” Another student, now a medicinal chemistry investigator at GlaxoSmithKline, wrote: “For six out of eight years, I have either had a summer intern or a co-op. I know this strong desire to mentor others is a direct result of Dr. Wilson’s commitment to me. He is the highest standard I live by when it comes to educational leadership and developing minority research scientists.” Wilson was a key figure in organizing NOBBChE’s annual conference held in Houston April 2011. The meeting attracted 850 participants and many were minorities in science, technol- ogy, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines. He has also spearheaded international efforts as the organization embarks on forging partnerships with global scientists and researchers. In November 2010, Wilson led a delegation to Nigeria for the 40th Conference of the Nigeria Society of Chemical Engineers. This effort originated from a memorandum of understanding signed to form ties between NOBBChE, industry and academic partners such as historically Black colleges and universities where many African scientists do graduate study. Recently, Wilson was made a Fellow of the American Chemical Society and received the 2011 “Lifetime Mentor Award” from the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He earned a bachelor of science in chemistry from Alabama State University and a master’s in chemistry from Southern University. He also earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from Michigan State University.
30 USBE&IT I WINTER 2013
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