Diversity and Inclusion
Committed to Providing a Diverse, Inclusive, and Welcoming Environment for All Students
Diversity of culture, thought, and viewpoint is necessary for growth, in individuals and societies. Diversity expands our potential to develop solutions to global challenges and teaches us how to be agile thinkers and learners.
With a commitment to diversity, Northeastern’s College of Engineering offers several programs to welcome, support and create opportunity for all talented students from all around the world and with a variety of backgrounds. We also proactively engage younger students with several outreach programs to bring awareness of the exciting field of engineering and encourage the next generation. Our efforts are supported by a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee made up of representatives from across the college, including administrators, faculty, and students.
In 2017, the Dean of the College of Engineering signed the ASEE Engineering Dean’s Council Diversity Pledge, and in 2019 the College was selected as a recipient of the ASEE Diversity Recognition Program- Bronze level. In 2020, Northeastern became the only NACME (National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering) university partner in Massachusetts. In 2021, Northeastern was awarded a $10M National Science Foundation grant to build a system and a network to increase engineering degrees among women and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and Other People of Color) nationally.
Recent Highlights
Celebrating Affinity Student Groups at the 18th Annual Joint Recognition Banquet
Students, faculty, and staff were recognized for their commitments to several affinity student groups April 20 at the College of Engineering’s 18th Annual Joint Recognition Banquet. The groups represented included SHPE, SWE, BESS, SASE, and DICE.
Enable Engineering Students Design Inexpensive Wheelchair Sensor System
Students in Northeastern’s Enabling Engineering class designed a wheelchair rear-sensor system for a resident at The Boston Home, a care center for individuals with progressive neurological conditions. The system met the resident’s needs at a fraction of the cost of a typical wheelchair sensor system.
Using Co-op as a Stepping Stone Towards a Full-Time Career
Magdalene Sexton Dwyer, E’23, civil engineering and architectural studies, found that her civil engineering ambitions were influenced by her architectural work on co-op and her service-based extracurriculars. By combining her academics with her personal goals, she decided to focus on affordable and sustainable housing.
Neurodiversity Awareness and Support Presentation at CEIA Conference
Erik Brenner, director of diversity initiatives and neurodiversity support and Maricla Pirozzi, program director for MS programs in multidisciplinary engineering, at Northeastern University’s College of Engineering will speak on neurodiversity awareness and support in higher education and on co-op at the CEIA National Conference in Tampa, Florida, April 7-9.
Student Opportunity and Diversity - 2023
ri.harris@northeastern.edu
ostadabbas@ece.northeastern.edu
Computer Vision; Machine Learning; Artificial Intelligence; Augmented Cognition with Medical Applications; Augmented/Virtual Reality
c.duggan@northeastern.edu
Honored with Two National Society of Black Engineers Awards
Assistant Dean Richard Harris was selected as a STEM Advocate 2019 Honoree by the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Boston and received the NSBE 2019 Golden Torch Award as a Minority Engineering Program Director of the Year for 2018-2019.
Full Article - STEM Advocate NSBE AwardStrong Female Role Models Contributed to Their Success
Jennifer Morales comes from a place where feminist role models are rare and detainees are prevalent. No one, she said, expected her to get a PhD in bioengineering. Joined by fellow bioengineering PhD graduate Jaclyn Lock, she has provided support and guidance to dozens of women and girls during her time at Northeastern.
Full Article - Female PhD Student SuccessesFeatured Student Organizations
Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers
Derek Tran, BS/MS, mechanical engineering, shares his experience as co-president of the Northeastern Student Chapter of the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers.
Society for Hispanic Professional Engineers
Northeastern’s SHPE is a professional organization whose goal is to enable Latinos in the New England area to pursue, obtain and develop successful careers in STEM fields.