Since AMIE started operating in 1992, the partnership has grown into an integral part of the annual BEYA STEM Conference.  Each year, the coalition of academic deans meets with top supporters of historically black college and university engineering schools on the sidelines of the event.

“As the executive director of AMIE, my goal is to position the organization as a conduit through which agencies, universities, and corporations can make an impact on the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) pipeline through strategic partnerships,” said Veronica Nelson.

“Giving HBCUs more exposure will increase their access to funding, scholarships, summer bridge programs, contracts, research, curriculum development, etc,” she said.

AMIE’s partners include Abbott Labs, The Boeing Company, Boston Scientific, Corning Incorporated, IBM, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Penn State Applied Research Laboratory, Raytheon Company, Siemens PLM Software, and major U.S. Army commands.

“While many of our partners are doing great things and have taken the time to learn and take advantage of the capabilities that exist at HBCUs, there is much work that can be done to strengthen the talent and opportunity flow for everyone,” Nelson said.

AMIE’s academic partners include all of the historically black colleges and universities that have ABET-accredited Schools of Engineering. Combined, these 15 schools are responsible for graduating more than 30 percent of all blacks with a bachelor’s degree in engineering:

• Alabama A&M University
• Florida A&M University
• Hampton University
• Howard University
• Jackson State University
• Morgan State University
• Norfolk State University
• North Carolina A&T State University
• Prairie View A&M University
• Southern University and A&M College
• Tennessee State University
• Tuskegee University
• University of the District of Columbia
• University of Maryland Eastern Shore
• Virginia State University