June 2003
From National Science Foundation
Agents of change NSF workshop promotes diverse engineering workforce ARLINGTON, Va.--The press is invited to attend a special workshop that examines the needs and practices necessary for achieving diversity in electrical and computer engineering (ECE) research and education.As universities across the nation strive to achieve diverse student populations and faculty, some ECE programs have been successful while others have failed, regardless of university size, location or prestige. Engineering department heads can serve as agents of change, occupying a strategic leadership position that impacts both faculty and students. To assist academic leaders from a broad spectrum of engineering schools become agents of change, at a broad spectrum of engineering schools, the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Division of Electrical and Communication Systems will hold a workshop that includes panels, presentations, and discussions with leaders who have succeeded at diversifying classroom and research environments. Academic leaders including NSF's Deputy Director, Joseph Bordogna, Assistant Director for Engineering, John Brighton, Howard University provost A. Toy Caldwell-Colbert, and NAFEO (National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education) president and former president of Florida A&M Fredrick S. Humphries will share insight based upon their personal experiences. In addition to talks and breakout sessions, W. Terrell Jones of Penn State will lead an interactive roleplaying workshop called the "Star Power Simulation" and a panel of seven experts will present their personal experiences as minorities in academia. Howard Adams, former executive director of the National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science, Inc. (GEM), will speak at the workshop dinner speaker. His remarks preceding will be followed by a performance by the S. Sparrow Music Ministries, a Washington, D.C.-based gospel choir led by Solomon Sparrow. Sparrow has performed at such venues as the Kennedy Center, the Spirit of Freedom Memorial unveiling, and the first inauguration of President William Jefferson Clinton.
Who: Leaders from academic engineering programs and experts in diversity issues What: Two-day workshop to recommend best practices to achieve diversity in the electrical and computer engineering workforce. Optional dinner and luncheon events ($50 meal fee to cover costs of food). When: Tuesday, June 17, 2003, through Wednesday, June 18, 2003 Where: Room 375, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Va. (Ballston Metro stop)
Media Contact: Josh Chamot, 703-292-7730, [email protected] Program Contacts: James Momoh, [email protected]; Vasundara Caradan, [email protected], NSF Directorate for Engineering The National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering, with an annual budget of nearly $5.3 billion. National Science Foundation funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives about 30,000 competitive requests for funding, and makes about 10,000 new funding awards. The National Science Foundation also awards over $200 million in professional and service contracts yearly. Receive official National Science Foundation news electronically through the e-mail delivery system, NSFnews. To subscribe, send an e-mail message to [email protected]. In the body of the message, type "subscribe nsfnews" and then type your name. (Ex.: "subscribe nsfnews John Smith") Useful National Science Foundation Web Sites:
NSF Home Page: http://www.nsf.gov
News Highlights: http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa
Newsroom: http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/news/media/start.htm
Science Statistics: http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/stats.htm
Awards Searches: http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a6/A6Start.htm |