Committee Chairs & Advisors

Chair: Oriekaose C. Agholor, MI - D

Vice Chair: Tate Chatfield, CA - L

MSI Sub-Committee Chair: Anoushka Buddhikot, DE - A

Eminent Engineer Sub-Committee Chair: Adriel Marie Abad, FL - E

MSI Sub-Committee Secretary: Sophie Arcangel, OR - G

Eminent Engineer Sub-Committee Secretary: Adriel Marie Abad, FL - E

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Committee Advisors:

Ronald Hickling, Josuan Hilerio Sanchez , Leo McWilliams, Tonya Whitehead,

LeVern Faidley, Margaret Goshert, Lupita Montoya

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Overview

• DEI Committee Charter
• Committee Charges
• Reinstatement at 2025 Convention
• Sub-Committee Reports
• Eminent Engineer Program
• Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) Initiative
• Review resources for diversity and inclusivity

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DEI Committee Charter

• To enhance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within Tau Beta Pi and the engineering profession
• To create strategies to recognize underrepresented individuals, positioning Tau Beta Pi as a leader in promoting a diverse engineering community
• To enrich the Tau Beta Pi community, while also strengthening the engineering profession as a whole

DEI Committee Charges

1. Establish strategies and processes for initiating more individuals from underrepresented groups as Eminent Engineers
2. Review the process for establishing chapters, given that current practice discourages outreach by the Association to schools without chapters
3. Review resources for diversity and inclusivity

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DEI Committee in 2025

Reinstate the Ad Hoc Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Convention Committee at the 2025 Tau Beta Pi Convention to continue to create enduring actions.

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MOTION

Charge #1

Establish strategies and processes for initiating more individuals from underrepresented groups as Eminent Engineers.

Recommended Actions

• Chapters invite a number of Eminent Engineers to be initiated equal to 5% of their chapter’s members per academic year starting Fall 2025
• Each chapter that initiates Eminent Engineers should promote their initiations via social media and

report their initiations as chapter projects

• Look into faculty who are eligible.

• Scan QR code for more info on Eminent Engineer initiation!

What is an Eminent Engineer?

An Eminent Engineer is defined to be a practicing engineer who has achieved high distinction by professional attainments, and may be elected to membership without regard to collegiate records.

• 10 years of experience as a practicing engineer for those holding engineering degrees
• 15 years of experience for those with non-engineering degrees

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19 Chapter Officers Expressed Interest

Eminent Engineer Info Session

Charge #2

Review the process for establishing chapters, given that current practice discourages outreach by the Association to schools without chapters.

Recommended Actions

• Continue outreach to colleges and universities that meet or are approaching the eligibility criteria to inform them about the benefits of TBP
• Pair interested institutions with “mentor” schools that are willing and able to provide guidance to the new chapter’s advisors and officers
• Year-long DEI Committee should provide compiled resources to these chapters to streamline the petitioning process

Outreach Subcommittee Actions

• Determined criteria by which to prioritize potential new chapters to reach out to based on eligibility criteria
• ABET accredited engineering programs
• At least three faculty members who are members of TBP
• Minimum of 40 engineering graduates per year
• Gathered data about several HBCUs, Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), and determined several schools to reach out to
• Began developing materials for students at target institutions, district directors, and mentor chapters to support establishment of new chapters

Identified Target Chapters

• Universities that meet eligibility criteria (ABET Accreditation and faculty members in the Association)
• Virginia State University
• Alabama A & M University
• Universities that are approaching eligibility requirements
• Tuskegee University
• Southern University and A & M College
• The DEI Committee may want to prioritize reaching out to these schools

Charge #3

Review resources for diversity and inclusivity.

Recommended Actions

• Guidance for sharing information with candidates who may consider withdrawing
• Improved inclusivity measures at the convention including pronoun badge flags, or pins
• Standard of utilizing auto-captions for TBP presentations