RAAA Hall of Fame
2005

Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Minority Engineering Educational Task
1975 - 2005

The Rutgers University Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) was originally founded as The Minority Engineering Educational Task (MEET) in 1975, the same year as NSBE, at the College of Engineering of Rutgers University in Piscataway, New Jersey. The organization provides academic and social support to minorities who are studying to obtain technical degrees from Rutgers University. MEET provides both an intellectual and social medium as well as a variety of support programs including course files, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, career fairs, and workshops. From the time the organization was founded, membership has escalated from seven to over one hundred members annually.

Founding members include Ian Liang, Mark Buntin, Wayne Brown, Rick Barrow, Warren Birts, Sheldon Myers, and Eddie Sellers. Founding member Wayne Brown states, "There were so few of us, that when you saw someone on campus that resembled you, you smiled and went out of your way to say hello." Consequently, during its formative years, one of the primary functions of the organization was a support structure for people of color and a forum to come together as one.

In 1979, the organization was officially chartered as the Rutgers University chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (now known as MEET/Rutgers NSBE) to globalize the scope and provide additional opportunities to its members. In addition to local success, the chapter has had great achievements at the national level. Its members have held NSBE zone, regional and national positions including National Convention Planning Chair, Region One Chair, Pre College Initiative Chair, and New Jersey Zone Chair. In 2001, the chapter won the distance category ( breaking the distance record )and the design category for the NSBE Boeing Model Airplane Flight Competition. MEET also participates in recruitment of minority engineers through its High School Outreach Weekend, NSBE Jr. Chapter sponsorship and the Program for Acceleration in Careers of Engineering (PACE).

The success of the organization is attributed to its strong foundation, its dedication to its mission to “recruit, retain and graduate” minority engineers, and the ever-present MEET alumni network. MEET/Rutgers NSBE continues to make priceless contributions to increased minority retention efforts and decreased university attrition rates among minority students.

After 30 years, the organization continues to cultivate academic excellence, communication skills, cultural consciousness, organizational skills, and confidence. An astounding number of MEET alumni have earned, master’s, business, doctoral, law, and medical degrees. They have applied the wisdom gained through MEET/Rutgers NSBE to their personal and professional lives as astronauts, entrepreneurs, medical professionals, artists, researchers, religious leaders, educators, musicians, lawyers, managers, professional athletes and community servants.

Visit the MEET/Rutgers NSBE Website