It is one of the largest student-run organizations in the United States, with core activities centered on improving the recruitment and retention of Black and other minority engineers in both academia and industry.

[6] In 1971, two Purdue undergraduates, Edward Barnette and Fred Cooper founded the Black Society of Engineers (BSE) with faculty advisor Arthur J.

So, we didn't know what other black student was studying engineering," and wanted to create a society that could help with representation.

[7] The Purdue chapter held the first national annual meeting in April 1975 with 135 students representing 28 schools.

[4][8] There, the group was renamed to the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and formally incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.