The “Leveling Up Your Professionalism” Engineering Professionalism Conference took place on Nov. 7, at Alabama State University, bringing together students, industry leaders and academic professionals. Held at the ASU Stadium Club Lounge, the event was organized by the university’s newly established engineering department to foster career networking, enhance job-search skills and support professional development.
Chair of the Biomedical Engineering Department Derrick Dean underscored the importance of the conference as a pivotal opportunity for students to connect with industry leaders and gain essential career insights.
“The purpose of the conference is to give students an opportunity to interact with companies so that they can learn more about career opportunities and also gain some professional development skills as well,” Dean explained.
He emphasized the importance of the department’s external advisory board, noting that several participating companies are either board members or long-standing professional contacts. Dean added that as the university expands its network, it continually leverages these relationships to support various departmental initiatives and provide enhanced opportunities for students.
Dean highlighted the impact of the conference, particularly given that the university’s engineering program is relatively new. “It’s very significant, especially at Alabama State University,” he said. “First, because the engineering program is new here. Normally, you don’t have these types of things going on a lot.” He also touched on the broader significance of the event from a diversity standpoint, saying, “From an HBCU point of view, increasing the number of engineers is something that’s really needed because the number of minority engineers who graduate every year is very low.”
Dean expressed optimism about the potential for increased collaboration across different departments within the university. He shared an example, saying, “We hope that we can have some hope to use this opportunity to open some doorways for our students to possibly minor in business or have some other courses in business as they prepare themselves for a career.”
Dean of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Audrey Napier highlighted the conference’s role in exposing students to a wide range of career opportunities within engineering. “The goal of the conference is to expose students to different careers in engineering and to help them prepare themselves for a future in that career,” she explained.
Napier noted that students benefit from direct interactions with industry leaders, engaging in mock interviews, asking questions and networking, which may lead to internships and job offers. “They get to do mock interviews or mini interviews. They get to ask questions and network with these industry leaders and possibly establish a connection,” she said.
Napier also underscored the importance of increasing diversity within STEM fields, especially in engineering, where minority representation remains low. “The number of minority employees in STEM disciplines, especially engineering, is kind of low right now,” she remarked. Napier emphasized the role of HBCUs in addressing this disparity, saying, “HBCUs are very good avenues in order to reach minority students and help to fill the gap that exists between minorities and other students.”
Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering Vineeth Vijayan spoke to the ongoing impact of the conference, crediting Dean, for initiating this annual event. “This conference initiative was actually taken by Dean,” Vijayan said. “Every year, we invite folks from industry as well as academia, and I actively participate because I believe such a conference is very useful for the students.” He noted the importance of providing students with flexibility and opportunities to network, whether they are interested in pursuing graduate school or entering the industry. “Most of the time, our engineering students are pretty much interested either to go for grad school or to industry. This gives them a lot of flexibility and opportunity to network with a lot of people,” Vijayan added.
Vijayan also highlighted the skills students gain from interacting with industry experts and guest speakers. “The students get a good platform to interact with different people and realize the importance of effective communication,” he explained. “They learn how to prepare for a job interview and understand what kind of skill sets they need to hone further to be successful in their career.”
Plant Manager at Nalco Water and speaker on the “Effective Leadership” panel Calvin Cummings shared his perspective on the value of the conference, focusing on the opportunity to impart industry knowledge to the students.
“The ultimate purpose is to impart information, some great information to the engineers here and share our industrial experience, our professional experience with the students at ASU,” Cummings said. He noted that while this was only his second year participating, he had already seen the significant impact of the event. “You have your leadership and your staff, your instructors and professors, looking to empower and impart to all of the students that are getting involved.”
Cummings highlighted the importance of leadership skills for aspiring engineers, drawing from his own experience as a plant manager. “My session was on effective leadership from the standpoint of a plant manager,” he explained. “It is important for students to understand that one of the key points to their success is how effectively they leverage their experience and share that information with others.”
Research chemist at Forest Products Laboratories under the USDA Roderquita Moore provided guidance to students at her presentation table, focusing on the broad skills needed for career success. “I really try to give them career and life processes to help them navigate through college life as well as their careers,” Moore said. “Not so much just focus on the major, but focus on the experience and getting the foundational needs for whatever career they’re going in. All careers are multifaceted.”
Moore noted the value of face-to-face interactions during the conference, particularly in an age where students often rely on digital communication. “A lot of times our young people are more so talking to each other, talking to Facebook, not really getting that face-to-face interaction,” she remarked. “This right here helps them navigate their way through a real conversation with a real person, with a real personality, to ask the questions that are needed in order to help them move forward.”
Assistive Technology Specialist with the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services Bria Parker highlighted the diverse range of technologies showcased at her presentation table.
“We have a variety of items ranging from different types of technology, different version amounts and other assistive devices that help people understand what we do in the rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology department,” Parker said. She discussed her role in educating students about the field, noting, “What I’m hoping to share with the students today is to help them understand how we have various types of things that can not only help them in the long run but can also help those with disabilities.”
Parker emphasized the creative possibilities within rehabilitation engineering, describing the hands-on work involved in the field. “It shows that you can do a lot with the engineering program, and it helps students understand that in the world of assistive technology and rehabilitation engineering, they’re able to curate so many different things from scratch,” she explained.
Bryant Pleasant, a sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering, attended the conference to gain exposure to industry professionals and learn from peers with internship experience.
“I got an email, and I just wanted to come in, get my feet wet and see what it’s like to be around others who have been in internships,” Pleasant said. Reflecting on his experience, he noted that the most valuable lesson was not to be discouraged by rejection. “Don’t be afraid of ‘No,’” he explained. “The more no’s just bring you closer to a yes.” Pleasant emphasized the importance of events like this for HBCU students, saying, “It will help us know how to move, what to do and how to speak professionally. It’s teaching us practice and helping us prepare for interviews.”
Iqra Salid, a senior biomedical engineering major graduating in the spring, served as a student panelist for the “A Student’s Perspective on Internships” session. Salid explained that her advisor had encouraged her participation, as she had secured several internship opportunities. “We have this conference every year, and it helps prepare us for when we graduate,” she said. Salid highlighted the value of developing soft skills, such as public speaking and networking. “Connections mean everything,” she remarked. “Not that you won’t be anywhere without them, but they definitely help you. Don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone and talk to your professors.”
Salid admitted that speaking in front of a crowd felt intimidating initially, despite the small audience. “It felt nerve-wracking in the beginning. I don’t like talking in front of crowds, even though this is a small crowd,” she shared. “But as you get up there, you get more comfortable. It was cool to talk about my experiences.”
Stewart McCall II, a sophomore biomedical engineering major, was attending the conference for the second consecutive year. “I attended this conference previously last year, and I want to attend every year because I’m always open to learning,” McCall said. He emphasized the importance of networking, saying- that it could lead to unexpected internship opportunities. McCall shared an experience from the speed interviews, where he asked about balancing confidence with overthinking. “I asked a question about how I was an overthinker but still have confidence,” he noted.
Looking ahead, McCall expressed a desire to either pursue a master’s degree or enter the medical device industry after graduation. “By networking and building up your network, you never know who you might meet or who’s already where you want to be,” he said. “You could land a job that way.”
Elijah Barnes, a senior biomedical engineering major, was attending the conference for the fourth time. As a senior panelist, she aimed to share his experiences and offer guidance to younger students. “This year, being a senior, they wanted me to be on the panel to share my experiences and give guidance to the lower classmen that I have gained throughout my four years at Alabama State,” Barnes said. She praised the department’s efforts in bringing a diverse array of professionals to the event, ranging from research experts to industry leaders.
Barnes highlighted the importance of understanding personal branding and using it effectively. “The most valuable thing I’ve learned throughout attending this conference over the last four years is knowing your brand and how to use your brand to get what you want,” she explained. “Not only that, but also how to empower and always give back to your community and peers.”
