guardians of legacy,builders of tomorrow
Saturday, February 14, 2026 • 8:00 AM – 9:45 AM EST
Ballrooms I & II and BEYA World I - Baltimore Convention Center
Doors open at 7:30 AM EST
guardians of legacy: builders of tomorrow
Saturday, February 14, 2026 • 8:00 AM – 9:45 AM EST
Doors open at 7:30 AM EDT
BALLROOMS I & II, BEYA WORLD I - BALTIMORE CONVENTION CENTER
HBCU ENGINEERING DEANS’ BREAKFAST SPONSOR: BGE and Pepco
CONFERENCE CO-HOSTS: Lockheed Martin, The Council of Engineering Deans of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities, US Black Engineer & Information Technology Magazine
CONFERENCE SPONSOR: Actalent
OFFICIAL AIRLINE: Southwest Airlines
The HBCU Engineering Deans embody the spirit of commitment. As custodians of heritage and champions of equity, they are building sustainable pipelines that will carry talent into the future of STEM. This event highlights deans who not only guide their institutions but also invest in broader communities, reaffirming that excellence means leaving the door open for those who follow.
EMCEE:
PAMELA R. MCCAULEY, PH.D., CPE
DEAN AND PROFESSOR
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING WIDENER UNIVERSITY
INTRODUCTION OF THE HBCU ENGINEERING DEANS
DR. ZHENGTAO DENG
Dean of the College of Engineering, Technology, and Physical Sciences (CETPS)
Alabama A&M University
DR. YASSIR ABDELRAZIG
Associate Dean for Strategic Operations
Florida A&M University-Florida State University College of Engineering
DR. JOYCE SHIRAZI
Dean of the School of Engineering and Technology
Hampton University
DR. KIMBERLY JONES
Dean of the College of Engineering and Architecture (CEA)
Howard University
DR. WILBUR WALTERS JR.
Dean of the College of Science, Engineering, and Technology (CSET)
Jackson State University
DR. OSCAR BARTON JR.
Dean of the Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr.
School of Engineering
Morgan State University
DR. STEPHANIE LUSTER-TEASLEY
Dean of the College of Engineering
North Carolina A&T State University
DR. MICHAEL KEEVE
Dean of the College of Science, Engineering, and Technology (CSET)
Norfolk State University
DR. PAMELA OBIOMON
Dean of the Roy G. Perry College of Engineering
Prairie View A&M University
DR. LEALON MARTIN
Dean of the College of Sciences and Engineering
Southern University and A&M College
DR. LIN LI
Dean of the College of Engineering
Tennessee State University
DR. MARK WEATHERSPOON
Dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology (COSET)
Texas Southern University
DR. HESHMAT AGLAN
Dean of the College of Engineering (COE)
Tuskegee University
DR. DEVDAS SHETTY
Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS)
University of the District of Columbia
DR. DERREK DUNN
Dean of the School of Business, Engineering, Applied Sciences, Technology, and Tourism Management (S-BEAST-TM)
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
DR. DAWIT HAILE
Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology
Virginia State University
DR. FRANK HALL (in absentia)
Dean of the John W. Garland College of Engineering, Science, Technology, and Agriculture (JWGCESTA)
Central State University
HBCU FUTURE LEADER AWARD
TREVOR TRAN
Computer Engineering, Senior Hampton University
JORAN LATEEF SIMMONS
Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Senior Norfolk State University
DESMOND KOMLA
Manufacturing Engineering, Senior Virginia State University
KIRSTEN HILL
Electrical Engineering, Senior Tuskegee University
ELZY FURDGE
Computer Engineering, Sophomore Jackson State University
AXEL TOMLINSON
Electrical Engineering, Senior Tennessee State University
MILES DAVIS
Transportation Systems Engineering, Junior Morgan State University
GILBERT PINKETT
Mechanical Engineering, Junior University of Maryland Eastern Shore
EMANUEL MATTHEWS
Mechanical Engineering, Junior Southern University and A&M College
STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARD
BEREKET MEGO
Biomedical Engineering (Undergraduate) University of Houston
NICK MILLER
Petroleum Engineering (Undergraduate) University of Houston
GEM OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNUS AWARD
IMANI ADAMS
Graduate Research Fellow
Purdue University
SHAUNA ADAMS
Graduate Research Assistant Purdue University
SHORMA BIANCA BAILEY, PH.D. Founder & CEO Agriwater Corporation
SHANTONIO BIRCH, PH.D. Founder & CEO ThermoVerse
ALEXIS NOELLI PEÑA, PH.D.
Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer Good Fibes
MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY DEAN'S AWARD
KOFI NYARKO, D.ENG.
Director, Center for Equitable AI and Machine Learning Systems Morgan State University
HBCU PRESIDENTIAL AWARD
DARRELL K. WILLIAMS
President Hampton University