OSU chapter of NSBE follows mission to increase number of Black engineers, create support group for students
Monday, June 24, 2024
Media Contact: Tanner Holubar | Communications Specialist | 405-744-2065 | tanner.holubar@okstate.edu
The National Society of Black Engineers aims to encourage Black students to pursue engineering careers and help foster a community and support group. NSBE has more than 600 chapters with more than 24,000 active members in the U.S. and worldwide.
The Oklahoma State University chapter of NSBE hosts student events, holds peer review sessions, connects with the national NSBE chapter annually and provides opportunities to help students academically and professionally.
Jasmine Taplin, a spring 2024 CEAT graduate, served as president of the OSU chapter of NSBE in 2023-24. She said NSBE successfully hosted more student events on campus and increased group membership during the past school year.
Taplin said the OSU chapter provides students with various activities to help them come together as a community, which is essential in helping Black engineering students meet their peers and create a support system.
"With there being a low percentage of Black engineers at Oklahoma State, it is important for us to have activities that allow us to work around others who look like us, especially since we are typically the only Black student in most of our classes,” Taplin said.
NSBE’s activities allow for Black students to interact with their peers and help provide them with encouragement and support to continue pursuing engineering and help make sure all students feel safe and supported.
The OSU chapter of NSBE hosts professional development events on campus that connect students with companies such as OG&E and Valero. Other events held in 2023-24 included a resume review, elevator pitch overview and social events such as a bingo night, movie night featuring the film, “Hidden Figures,” and a game night to kick off the year. The group also held study nights during preparation for finals week so that members could study with one another.
Taplin said events like Into the Streets, where students help members of the Stillwater community, and a bake/rose sale with all proceeds going to Tiny Paws were enjoyable experiences that helped NSBE members get involved with the local community.
NSBE members were also able to attend the national conference in Atlanta in March for the first time after COVID-19, with 10 students attending.
“The executive team worked hard this year on hosting events every two weeks outside of our national convention preparation time,” Taplin said. “We focused hard on providing a community for the students through social activities and professional activities, as well.”
Taplin said her favorite thing about being a member of NSBE was spending time with everyone in the group and bonding together, upholding NSBE’s mission to “increase the number of culturally responsible engineers who succeed professionally, excel academically, and positively impact the community."
"I personally enjoy being able to see all of us come together as a community and truly just enjoy one another's company as well as bond with the executive team and see us grow as a team over the academic year,” Taplin said.
Taplin said NSBE’s co-advisors, Brenda Morales and Yokolanda Speight, have been integral to the group's success in helping provide a community for Black engineering students at OSU.
Speight worked in CEAT for about 18 years and has long supported NSBE. She was an advisor through 2020 and has been a co-advisor since 2024. Speight said NSBE, like many student organizations, tried to increase its membership since the COVID-19 pandemic but was able to grow membership in 2023-24.
"Through intentional fun engagement meetings and collaboration with other organizations on campus, there was an increase in student participation to meetings and events such as game night, NSBE Week and attending the NSBE national conference,” she said
Speight said her favorite thing about being involved with NSBE is the students she has helped, as she appreciates their drive, passion and how they give so much of themselves to their peers and community at OSU. She said NSBE has made an integral impact on student success, as well as connecting students with those in engineering who both look like them and know what they’ve experienced.
“Representation in any field is important, and NSBE is no different. Black and brown students in STEM are historically marginalized, but every individual and voice is of value and has much to contribute,” Speight said. “For NSBE students, seeing an engineer that looks like them gives them the courage to pursue their STEM degree and to know there's a community to support them in reaching their goals.”