National Society of Black Engineers Taps NAACP Vice Chair to Kick Off National Convention

3/5/2003

From: Kevin M. Briscoe of the National Society of Black Engineers, 703-549-2207 ext. 209 or kbriscoe@nsbe.org

ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 3 -- The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), the largest student-managed organization in the country dedicated to increasing the number of African American engineers, recently announced that Roslyn McCallister Brock, vice chairperson of the NAACP national board of the directors, will serve as the Opening Session speaker at the 29th Annual NSBE National Convention on Wednesday, March 19 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif. Brock's Opening Session remarks -- sponsored by Chevron-Texaco and United Technologies Corp. -- on current issues kicks off NSBE's five-day conference in which more than 15,000 pre-college and college engineering students and technical professionals participate in a number of personal and professional development workshops, panel discussions, competitions and career development events.

"We're extremely fortunate to have Roslyn Brock speak at our national convention," said NSBE National Chairman Delano M. White. "With her 16 years in a number of NAACP leadership roles, she is uniquely qualified to address the burning issues of the day that affect not only black people, but all people who feel disenfranchised or otherwise disconnected from the rest of society."

Before being unanimously elected vice chairperson of the national board of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in February 2001-becoming the youngest person and first female to hold the post-Brock served as a member of the Special Contribution Fund Board of Trustees and a member of the national board's Budget, Health, Education/Scholarship Committee on Branches and Youth Work Committees. Brock is director of system fund development for Bon Secours Health System Inc. in suburban Baltimore. A magna cum laude graduate of Virginia Union University, she also holds a master's degree in health services administration from George Washington University, and a MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Closing out the event on Saturday night, March 22, Freeman A. Hrabowski III Ph.D., president of University of Maryland Baltimore County, will headline a "Closing Extravaganza" and surprise musical guest concert. Sponsored by Kimberly Clark Corp., this event will honor NSBE's graduating seniors and introduce officers newly elected to the NSBE National Executive Board.

Dr. Hrabowski has served as president of UMBC since May 1992. His research and publications focus on science and math education, with a special emphasis on minority participation and performance. Born in 1950 in Birmingham, Ala., Dr. Hrabowski graduated at 19 from Hampton Institute with highest honors in mathematics, and he received his master's degree in math and Ph.D. in higher education administration at 24 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The co-author f two books, Dr. Hrabowski also serves as a consultant to the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education, and universities and schools systems nationally, and sits on numerous corporate and civic boards.

"Since 1998, when he won the inaugural NSBE Golden Torch Academic Visionary Award, Dr. Hrabowski has continued to do great things to raise the national profile of UMBC, while also focusing on the larger issues of minority representation in the technology and math fields," said White. "It is our distinct privilege to have him join us once again in Anaheim, as we jointly continue to address the challenges ahead."

ABOUT NSBE The National Society of Black Engineers is the premier organization serving African Americans in engineering and technology. With 15,000 members and over 300 chapters, NSBE supports and promotes the aspirations of university and pre-college students and technical professionals. Our mission is to increase the number of culturally responsible lack engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community.