About Us

Our mission is to increase the number of culturally responsible, black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community.

The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) has a rich and inspiring history that dates back to its founding in 1975. Established at Purdue University by a group of African American engineering students, NSBE emerged in response to the need for a supportive community for Black students pursuing careers in engineering. Over the decades, NSBE has grown into one of the most prominent and influential student-run organizations in the United States. Its mission has been to increase the representation of Black individuals in engineering and related fields, foster academic excellence, and provide a platform for professional development. Through various programs, initiatives, and conferences, NSBE has empowered countless Black engineers to excel academically, advance in their careers, and make significant contributions to the field of engineering, while also promoting diversity and inclusion within the profession. The organization's history is a testament to the resilience, determination, and collective effort of its members in breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for future generations of Black engineers.


The Society of Black Scientists and Engineers (SBSE) is a student-run organization at Stanford University that is a chartered member of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). NSBE consists of over 300 chapters and over 13,000 members, making it the largest student-run organization in the country. SBSE, chartered in 1973 by Professor Clayton Bates and a few Stanford University graduate students, is dedicated to fulfilling the mission of NSBE: to increase the number of Black engineers and scientists who excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community. As a NSBE chapter, we also seek to promote the NSBE National Directives each year.


This year's National Directives are:


SBSE continues a long tradition of programs on Stanford University’s campus geared towards the successful recruitment, retention, and graduation of talented and enthusiastic Black scientists and engineers. These programs include:


We specifically aim to address the underrepresentation of certain minority groups in science and engineering, but we are also addressing our country’s faltering status as a global symbol of innovation and technology by fostering the growth of dozens of engineers every year.