STARKVILLE, Miss.--A Mississippi State engineering administrator is assuming a key position with a national association that helps promote more diversity in the professional field.
Tommy Stevenson, assistant dean of diversity programs and student development in the university's Bagley College of Engineering, recently was named president-elect of the National Association of Multicultural Engineering Program Advocates.
The non-profit organization serves as a national network of educators and representatives from industry, government and non-profit organizations to encourage more engineers from underrepresented cultures and backgrounds. Stevenson will lead efforts to ensure that members are providing retention and development programs to its 28,000 currently enrolled students.
Amy Freeman, current NAMEPA president, said enrollment of underrepresented students in engineering programs nationwide has tripled since the organization was created 30 years ago.
"It will be my honor to serve by Dr. Stevenson's side as we provide recruitment and retention services to community colleges and high school advocacy programs, as well as help minority students focus on graduate school and other professional development opportunities," added Freeman, Pennsylvania State University's assistant dean of engineering diversity.
In the Bagley College, Stevenson directs the recruiting of minority students and oversees programs to enhance their experience at the university. Chapters of the National Association for Black Engineers, IMAGE (Increasing Minority Access to Graduate Education) and Society of Women Engineers are examples of those programs.
A Brooksville native, Stevenson holds a bachelor's degree in industrial technology and a master's in education administration, both from MSU. He completed a doctorate in higher education administration from Bowling Green (Ohio) State University.
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For more information, contact Dr. Stevenson at 662-325-2270 or tommy@engr.msstate.edu.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.
