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The “talented tenth” was the theme of an influential essay by the
African-American intellectual W.E.B. DuBois to describe the likelihood
of one in 10 black men to rise to the top of American society, through
education or affecting social change.
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Committed To Service: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology faculty
members Carlotta Berry and Jameel Ahmed received this year’s Martin Luther
King Jr. Leadership Awards for their serving as role models for diversity
and leadership on campus. |
Striving to improve those statistics, Rose-Hulman
Institute of Technology recently honored students and faculty members
that are paving the way for minority leaders in engineering, science and
mathematics through fostering a spirit of mutual respect, understanding
and appreciation for diversity.
Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Awards were presented by the
President’s Diversity Advisory Committee to the following persons:
- Rose-Hulman’s student chapter of the National Society of Black
Engineers
- Carlotta Berry, assistant professor of electrical and computer
engineering
- Jameel Ahmed, associate professor of applied biology and biomedical
engineering
The theme of this year’s event was “Together We Aspire. Together We
Achieve. Together We Succeed,” and featured a speech by entrepreneur,
community activist and NSBE leader Delano White. The dinner and awards
were sponsored by Chrysler.
NSBE chapter members have served as tutors for minority youths at Terre
Haute’s Chauncey Rose Middle School, Charles T. Hyte Community Center
and 14th and Chestnut Community Center. Students have also been active
in Rose-Hulman’s Leadership Academy, Bikes for Tykes community service
project and Engineers without Borders international impact project.
“The most impressive thing I have noticed is the fact that they want the
campus to grow ethnically and work hard towards the diversity that makes
Rose-Hulman a great organization of high learning,” said Dexter Jordan,
associate director of admissions and multicultural recruitment.
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Active Campus Group: The student chapter of the National Society of
Black Engineers received a Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award for
its efforts to improve diversity in the college’s student body, serving
as role models for youths interested in engineering and science and
organizing campus events to promote diversity. Chrysler Corporate
representatives Brian Crothers (left) and Brack Benge (right) joined
Rose-Hulman President Matt Branam and national NSBE leader Delano White
(middle) in congratulating NSBE chapter leaders Jasmine Browne, Andria
Smith, EJ Oruche, Damien Harris and Keegan Superville. |
NSBE sponsors a Senior Weekend each year for prospective high school
senior students interested in attending Rose-Hulman. This year, the
group involved Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers chapter
members to participate, hoping to attract more minority students to
campus. Also, NSBE was instrumental in starting the college’s annual
Diversity Week activity.
“(NSBE members) have an attitude that allows them to appreciate
diversity and maintain the academic excellence that is Rose-Hulman,”
said Jordan.
Berry has proven to be a great leader and champion for diversity in her
five years on the Rose-Hulman faculty. One of her most significant
contributions has been the creation of the ROSE-BUD scholarship,
mentoring and professional development program to increase the
recruitment, retention and preparation of women and minorities in
electrical and computer engineering careers. With colleague Deborah
Walter and support from the National Science Foundation, Berry has
organized social events along with professional and personal development
programs for students from a variety of academic majors and demographic
backgrounds. She hopes the program will become a model for a minority
engineering programs for other Rose-Hulman academic departments and
other higher education institutions.
Earlier, Berry was instrumental in the establishment of the
multidisciplinary minor in robotics, funded by a Lilly Endowment Inc.
Faculty Success Grant. This program has far exceeded its original goals
and proven to be a great mechanism to recruit more students to campus.
She has served as a judge at the FIRST Robotics Boilermaker Regional,
recruited prospective minority students at the Indiana Black Expo, and
made presentations to visiting high school and middle school youths at
events organized by Rose-Hulman’s Society of Women Engineering, NSBE and
Explore Engineering program.
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Diversity Advocates: Leaders of student diversity advocacy organizations
help promote diversity at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Honoring
these leaders were Chrysler Corporate representatives Brian Crothers
(left) and Brack Benge (right), along with national National Society of
Black Engineers leader Delano White (middle). The leaders included
Jinwoo Baek of the International Student Association, Kristen Latta of
the Society of Women Engineers, Gubinder Sran of the Asian Society of
Engineers and Scientists, EJ Oruche of NSBE and Keegan Superville of the
Society of Hispanic Engineers. |
“Carlotta’s tireless efforts in regard to her teaching, service and
professional development demonstrate her sincere dedication to a spirit
of inclusion and to the success of all students,” stated faculty
colleagues Robert Throne, interim head of the Department of Electrical
and Computer Engineering. “She has been vocal about her strong desire to
improve diversity on the Rose-Hulman campus and increase the exposure of
the school to the community at large in order to attract a more diverse
population. Several of her activities allow her to be seen as an
integral part of the community and illustrate it as a welcome place for
people from all backgrounds.”
Meanwhile, Ahmed has been an advocate for leadership development at
Rose-Hulman, being a founding member of the college’s Leadership
Academy, which provides a select group of students valuable skills to
enhance servant leadership, community service and personal development.
He also has been an active leader in Terre Haute’s United Way of the
Wabash Valley and Leadership Wabash Valley. He regularly serves as a
program reviewer for the United Way, served as chair of the group’s
community impact committee and is chair of LWV’s strategic planning
committee.
“Jameel’s actions, coupled with his clear commitment to both leadership
and service, make him an inspiration to everyone he encounters,” stated
Bill Weiner, associate professor of applied biology and biomedical
engineering.
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