Celebrating the Founding of Columbia Engineering’s NSBE Chapter

On Friday, February 23, Columbia Engineering will host a day-long celebration commemorating the 46th anniversary of the founding of the University’s chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE).

George Ellis BS'79, who is also a member of Columbia Engineering’s Board of Visitors, says the event will kick off a broader effort to enliven the school’s network of Black alumni.

“Leveraging the NSBE platform, Black Columbia Engineering alumni can build an active community to support students, the University, and the community. Working together, we can make a difference on many fronts,” Ellis says.

“NSBE has a long and impressive history of supporting Black engineers at Columbia, building a foundation that helps our students thrive on campus and later in their professions once they graduate,” said Shih-Fu Chang, Dean of Columbia Engineering. “Their work has been invaluable in helping talented students pursue their dreams to be engineers.”

The day will include two panel discussions, which are open to all students and alumni. 

In the Analog to AI panel, past NSBE members, including founding president Greg Tarver BS'78, MS’82, will discuss their journeys through the last 50 years of technology and engineering, and share what they’ve been doing with their engineering degrees.

NSBE Origin to Now will feature past members of NSBE leadership — including founding member Daneen Cooper BS'80 — in a discussion about how the chapter was founded, where it is today, and where it’s going in the future. 

An evening reception at the University’s Faculty House will feature remarks from Ellis, Tarver, and Fatima Dicko BS'12, past chapter president who will speak about her own career, sharing experiences from her student journey and professional life.

Founded in 1975, NSBE has expanded to more than 600 chapters nationwide and has continued to carry out its mission “to increase the number of culturally responsible Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community." 

Keep up with Columbia’s NSBE chapter on Instagram.