In early 2015, two (2) Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation engineers, Natalie Thompson and Danielle Henry, sat down and figured that with all the engineering talent in Savannah and the various professional organizations, one was critically missing. In a city where approximately 60% of the population is minority or underserved in STEM areas; a desire to bridge the gap was born (hence the bridge in our logo). They pulled in veteran NSBE members and new volunteers from nearby groups and companies (Georgia Power, Georgia Pacific, and International Paper) to charter a new chapter in the Low Country.
The Savannah Coastal Empire chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (SCE NSBE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the academic and professional success of African-American engineering and technical students and professionals. NSBE offers its members leadership training, professional and academic development, mentoring opportunities, community service outreach programs, and scholarships.
We are a Professional Extension chapter while overall NSBE is the largest student-managed association, comprised of more than 400 chapters, nationwide and overseas. These chapters are geographically divided into six regions and are governed by a national executive board. Our chapter is in Region III.
NSBE has nearly 30,000 collegiate and professional members. Its membership has also grown to include over 3,600 pre-college students in addition to chapters in Africa, Asia, Canada, the Caribbean, and Europe.
NSBE offers programs that are designed to promote Technical Excellence, Academic and Professional Development, Leadership Development and Pre-College Initiatives. NSBE programs and activities include career fairs, graduate school fairs, technical research projects, academic competitions, scholarships, and awards.
NSBE annually hosts 18 regional conferences, a national leadership training institute, an international conference and a national convention, which draws close to 10,000 attendees.