Grant will help establish a new program aiming to widen the pipeline for engineers from HBCUs
The Northrop Grumman Foundation and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) have launched a three-year, $2 million program designed to expand the nation’s engineering workforce through a partnership with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
The Northrop Grumman Corporation/NSBE Integrated Pipeline Program, funded by the Northrop Grumman Foundation, will provide 72 engineering students with $8,000 scholarship grants, internships with Northrop Grumman and year-round academic and professional development support.
The program’s three HBCU partners — Florida A&M University, Howard University and North Carolina A&T State University — will receive grants, technical assistance and a package of programs researched and managed by NSBE, to increase their already high capacity to recruit, retain and graduate engineers. NSBE is one of the largest student-governed professional societies based in the United States.
Executives of the Northrop Grumman Foundation and Northrop Grumman Corporation presented the $2-million grant to NSBE’s National Executive Board on March 26, during NSBE’s 42nd Annual Convention in Boston, Mass. The presidents of the NSBE chapters at Florida A&M, Howard and North Carolina A&T also joined the presentation. The convention drew more than 11,000 attendees to address the theme “Engineering a Cultural Change.” NSBE’s more than 31,000 members are dedicated to the Society’s mission: “to increase the number of culturally responsible black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community.”
“Northrop Grumman and the Northrop Grumman Foundation are committed to helping improve science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education to ensure a future workforce that can protect our nation and maintain our global leadership,” said Sandra Evers-Manly, Northrop Grumman vice president, global corporate responsibility and president of the Northrop Grumman Foundation. “Our partnership with NSBE will help us achieve that goal and develop the pipeline of diverse talent that is so important to our company and our society’s future.”
“Our sincere thanks to the Northrop Grumman Foundation for this generous investment in our mission,” said NSBE National Chair Neville Green. “The student leadership of NSBE is excited about this program’s potential to move us toward the goals of our strategic plan and support HBCUs in the process. Initiatives such as this, with strong strategic partners, will be critical, as we seek to increase the number of African-American bachelor’s degree recipients in engineering from 3,500 to 10,000 annually over the next nine years.”
“We are delighted to receive this endorsement of our work from one of America’s most innovative companies,” said NSBE Executive Director Karl W. Reid, Ed.D. “For years, we have spoken about the vital role that engineering diversity plays in our national economy and national security. Northrop Grumman’s investment in this program illustrates that they understand the need exists and are willing to do something about it. This fact is reflected not only in their longtime support of NSBE but also in the high ratings the company receives from our membership.”
The first cohort of 24 Northrop Grumman Corporation/NSBE scholars will be selected in December, and their participation in the Pipeline Program will be kicked off with a summit meeting in March 2017, during NSBE’s 43rd Annual Convention in Kansas City, Mo. Summer internships for the first cohort will begin in May 2017.
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