Black History at Rose

With nearly two decades of experience in higher education, Mercedes Clay is helping to build relationships and share insights as Rose-Hulman’s Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts.

Mechanical engineering alumnus Greg Hawkins has taken skills as a Rose-Hulman student leader to become manager of diversity supplier development initiatives for Stellantis, one of the world’s leading automakers.

Mechanical engineering student Ruth Hammond has made the most of her Rose-Hulman experience, studying abroad, having several internships, helping improve diversity in STEM, and contributing to innovative classroom projects.

Senior mechanical engineering major Addison White has held many leadership positions at Rose-Hulman. Watch as he shares how these opportunities helped prepare him for the future.

Electrical Engineering alumnus Jeff Harrison leads one of Indiana’s largest utilities and is a major contributor to the Indianapolis community. He is also a member of Rose-Hulman's Board of Trustees.

LisAnne Francois never imagined graduating in four years with a master’s degree in engineering management along with her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. But that's just what she's doing in Rose Squared, a concurrent degree program that allows students to take graduate-level coursework while working toward an undergraduate degree.

Paul Palmer Jr. II graduated from Rose-Hulman in 1989 before turning his skills from engineering to marketing for Star Wars toys and other iconic brands. 

A former all-conference collegiate athlete, Ayanna Tweedy has helped lead athletic departments across the U.S. and is involved in several campus, conference and national committees on a variety of administrative and student-athlete issues.

Aniyah Richardson Finds Her Calling as an Optical Engineering Student 

Watch alumni Dr. James Stewart, the Honorable Robert Wilkins and Board of Trustees member Tonya Combs discuss their time as underrepresented students at Rose-Hulman and the positive impact of diversity and inclusion initiatives in the STEM fields.

Associate Professor Richard Onyancha is head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. A Fulbright Faculty Scholar and native of Kenya, Onyancha uses his engineering skills to help others throughout the world and is passionate about bringing global educational experiences to Rose-Hulman students. 

Associate Professor of Civil Engineering John Aidoo is the Roland E. Hutchins Endowed Chair of Civil Engineering and a winner of the Dean’s Outstanding Teacher Award. Aidoo is also the new director of Rose-Hulman’s Operation Catapult summer program.

Biomedical engineering major Deven Cobb is a member of the Rose-Hulman chapter for the National Society of Black Engineers and player for the Fightin’ Engineers football team. Cobb shares why he wants to help aspire younger people to be engineers, and why he says listening to each other is important.  

Danny Tetteh-Richter, a Senior Instructional Designer in the Office of Learning & Technology, talks about his hometown in Ghana and how he brings his culture to Rose-Hulman, and shares the multicultural campus activities he most enjoys.

Dexter Jordan reflects on the special relationship he’s built with students and families in his 14 years as Associate Director of Admissions and Multicultural Recruitment at Rose-Hulman.

Warren Mickens, a 1977 mechanical engineering alumnus and current Trustee, shares the impact being a Rose-Hulman graduate has had on his career leading technology and manufacturing companies throughout the world.

Chaikou Sow is a sophomore mechanical engineering major, an officer with the campus chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers and a member of the football and track and field teams. He discusses difficult conversations that were had during Black Lives Matter protests, as well as the value in sitting down and learning from each other so everyone can grow.

Meet Rashard, a mechanical engineering major who is also a member of the Rose-Hulman football team and an officer with the campus chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers. He talks about what drives him to be the best person he can be and how Rose-Hulman supports students from different cultures.

Meet Winston a mechanical engineering major who is also an officer with the campus chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers. He shares his thoughts on Black leaders who have been influential to him, as well as on the increase in students of color at Rose-Hulman and the positive impact it has on the campus culture.

Professor of Mathematics Yosi Shibberu is an expert in dynamics and control theory and scientific computation, a former Endowed Faculty Chair, and recipient of several Rose-Hulman honors, including the Dean's Outstanding Teacher and the Martin Luther King Award.

Associate Professor of Chemistry Alexander Kamasah earned his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Cape-Coast in Ghana before earning his master's at East Tennessee State and his PhD. from the University of Missouri. His teaching interests include analytical chemistry and general chemistry, and his research interests include electrochemistry.

Board of Trustees member and chemical engineering alumnus Darin Moody has spent his professional career with Eli Lilly and Company, now as senior vice president overseeing global corporate internal manufacturing operations. That role had him cited among the 2020 Most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America by Savoy magazine.