Dynamic Speaker Brings 'Not-Quite-Rags-to-Riches' Story To National Society of Black Engineers' Convention Closing Extravaganza 2/23/2004
From: Kevin M. Briscoe of National Society of Black Engineers, 703-549-2207, ext. 209, kbriscoe@nsbe.org News Advisory: On March 20, the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), the largest student-managed organization dedicated to increasing the number of African-American engineers, will present Pamela McCauley-Bell, Ph.D. as the keynote speaker for the closing event at the organization's 30th Annual National Convention, being held March 17-21 at the Dallas Convention Center. McCauley-Bell's remarks -- sponsored by IBM -- will cap off the five-day conference in which more than 10,000 pre-college and collegiate students and technical professionals participate in a number of personal and professional development workshops, panel discussions, competitions and career development events. This "Closing Extravaganza" also includes a musical performance by the U.K.- bred neo-soul duo Floetry. "Dr. McCauley-Bell joins a long line of Closing Extravaganza speakers who, through their own personal stories, have inspired our membership to reach for new heights and achieve great things in their technical areas," said Mario V. Church II, NSBE National Chairman. "Her wide-ranging career as a motivational speaker, entrepreneur, technologist and author is replete with interesting stories of struggle and accomplishment, challenges and achievement. We are very grateful for her presence." McCauley-Bell is an associate professor of industrial engineering and management systems at University of Central Florida; president and owner of Tech-Solutions Inc., a technical consulting and research services company, and the author of Winners Don't Quit ...Today They Call Me Doctor (IP Publishing Group; Altamonte Springs, Fla.) Her tale is a moving account of her experiences in going from an insecure teen mother, abused wife, welfare recipient and struggling engineering student to successfully completing her engineering degree and winning one of the largest National Science Foundation graduate fellowships at University of Oklahoma. Musical guests Floetry's unique blending of R&B, jazz, hip- hop, spoken word and soulful ballads is quickly gaining a toehold on the American music charts, with more than 750,000 copies of their debut album -- "Floetic -- sold across the U.S. The duo, Marsha Ambrosius and Natalie Stewart-was recently nominated for a Grammy for "best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals. In addition, they have written songs for Michael Jackson and Jill Scott. -- 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 black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community. The Web site is http://www.nsbe.org | |