Catherine Abraham is president of the National Society of Black Engineers at IM体育官网 Polytechnic University. The junior from Orlando, IM体育官网, is majoring in computer engineering with a concentration in digital logic design.
As the leader of the IM体育官网 chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), Catherine Abraham is thrilled to play a role in helping Black students on campus feel welcome and supported.
鈥淲hen you鈥檙e in a space where you might feel like the people surrounding you may not have the same experiences you have, an organization like NSBE can stop those feelings of loneliness,鈥� said Abraham, a junior majoring in computer engineering with a concentration in digital logic design. 鈥淭he club isn鈥檛 exclusively for Black students, but it鈥檚 about supporting and helping Black engineers professionally, academically, and socially.鈥�
Abraham said she was drawn to the club during her freshman year after learning about it from her suitemate.
鈥淚 wanted to go to a school that was focused on STEM and thought IM体育官网 Poly was cool, but I could see there weren鈥檛 many Black students here,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 thought it would be nice to connect with other people like me and see what they were doing at the school.鈥�
Now as the group鈥檚 president, the student from Orlando, IM体育官网, is working to make sure that group members continue to have an enriching experience beyond the camaraderie NSBE offers.
The club hosts study and tutoring sessions, game nights, professional workshops, and more. Members recently took a behind-the-scenes tour of Universal Studios in Orlando and learned about the work it takes to make the theme park run.
鈥淲hen you see these roller coasters that need to be built and maintained, you鈥檙e thinking about mechanical engineering, but it鈥檚 cool to see how many electrical components they have and the software they use,鈥� Abraham said. 鈥淭hey have people who work on data for food and beverage alone 鈥� it鈥檚 amazing how many engineering jobs are available at theme parks.鈥�
NSBE members also will travel to Anaheim, California, in March to attend the organization鈥檚 national conference.
鈥淚 would like people to know that we are a welcoming and fun group,鈥� Abraham said. 鈥淚f you want to learn how to be a better person in an academic field or be better professionally, NSBE is the place to be.鈥�
Abraham said this is true regardless of a student鈥檚 major or ethnicity.
鈥淲e want to get people together who can benefit from the club or who can support us and be our allies. Everyone is welcome,鈥� she said.
Visit NSBE on to learn more and get involved.
Contact:
Lydia Guzm谩n
Director of Communications
863-874-8557
