Purdue University was founded in 1869; six years after my ancestors were freed from their shackles. Although it is 150 years later, last fall, there were 8,412 students enrolled in the College of Engineering; 1.6% of them were African Americans. Since its founding, the student population has been overwhelming white Males, although the population of minorities in this country has continued to grow.

African American engineers have made a significant impact in this world although they are very rarely recognized in books, newspapers, or journals. Let me share a couple. How about Elijah McCoy, son of a runaway slave, had a mechanical engineering degree. He held 57 patents and received his first patent in 1872. He invented a lubrication device for trains so important that the inspectors would ask the engineer if they were using "the real McCoy" to verify the equipment.

Or another trailblazer Mary Jackson, NASA First Black female engineer who along with pioneering mathematician Katherine Johnson and Dorothy Vaughn helped NASA send the first American to space. Or Jerry Lawson, a self- taught engineer who became the first major Black Video game engineer and designer. Lawson created the first cartridge-based video game console.

Diversity brings a collective body of individuals with different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to help solve challenging problems. Diversity encompasses race, gender, ethnic group, age, personality, cognitive style, education, background, and more. Diversity is important because it gives you opportunities to learn more from colleagues that have different backgrounds. It also influences how others view the world. Diverse people, knowledge, background, and cultures, provides fuel for the growth in ALL industries. And because we are diverse, EVERYONE wins.