Burgess Mitchell, assistant dean for minority affairs in the School of Engineering, has been honored for his leadership of an 11-state region by the National Association of Multicultural Engineering Program Advocates (NAMEPA).
Region B (West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and Tennessee) was recognized as the 2012 Region of the Year at the 33rd annual NAMEPA conference this spring in Scottsdale, Ariz. Mitchell, chair of Region B, was honored for his outstanding participation, dedication and leadership efforts in support of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.
The Region of the Year Award was established to provide national recognition to the region that has been exemplary in its support of NAMEPA’s goal of enhancing the recruitment, admission, retention and graduation of traditionally underrepresented minority engineering students through the implementation of various projects and programs.
NAMEPA is a national network of educators and representatives from industry, government and nonprofit organizations who seek to improve the recruitment and retention of African Americans, Hispanics and American Indians earning degrees in engineering.
Mitchell also is adviser to Vanderbilt’s National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) chapter, and a co-leader for Vanderbilt University, which is a partner in the Tennessee Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (TLSAMP) program.