NSBE Founders Dr. Arthur J. Bond & the Chicago Six
Arthur Bond
Co-Founding Member, NSBE
BSEE 1968, MSEE 1969, PhD EE 1974, HDR 2009
Edward Coleman
Co-Founding Member, NSBE
BSME 1975
Anthony Harris
Co-Founding Member, NSBE
BSME 1975, HDR 2013
Brian Harris
Co-Founding Member, NSBE
BSIDE 1975
Stanley Kirtley Sr.
Co-Founding Member, NSBE
BSCE 1975
John Logan Jr.
Co-Founding Member, NSBE
BSCE 1975
George Smith Jr.
Co-Founding Member, NSBE
BSEE 1976
This group is being recognized because of the massive success of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) – one of the largest and most impactful student-led engineering organizations in the country and internationally, regardless of history or demographic consideration.
In 1971, two Purdue undergraduate students, Edward Barnette (now deceased) and Fred Cooper approached the dean of engineering at Purdue University with the concept of starting the Black Society of Engineers. They wanted to establish a student organization to help improve the recruitment and retention of black engineering students.
Encouraged by their on-campus success, Anthony Harris, president of the Purdue chapter, wrote a letter to the presidents and deans of every accredited engineering program in the country and explained the concept behind the Society of Black Engineers (renamed under Harris’ leadership) and asked them to identify black student leaders, organizations and faculty members who might support their efforts on a national basis. Approximately 80 schools responded. A date was set for the first national meeting and 48 students representing 32 schools attended the event, held April 10-12, 1975, on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus. To learn more, visit www.purduensbe.org/history.