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Our Founders
Our mission is to establish the community under the leadership of twelve industry leaders and influencers that bring diversity of thought, talent, and impact to STEM City USA and the participants.
William Brown, SES (Ret) Chairman
A retired industry executive and senior U.S. Army Corps of Engineers executive, William Brown served on the Industry Advisory Group of the U.S. State Department and has directed, planned,
and designed construction projects and programs in Russia, Hungary, Nigeria, and France. He led site planning study for the National Museum of African American History and Culture in
Washington D.C., has lectured at several colleges and universities in the United States and received numerous awards and recognition. Currently, he is chairman of Hampton University's
School of Engineering Advisory Board for Aviation, Architecture, Engineering, and Technology. 2000 BEYA Professional Achievement.
Lt. General Bruce Crawford (Ret)
A decorated combat veteran, Crawford served as principal enterprise information technology (I.T.)and cybersecurity policy advisor to the United States Army and held various operational and
strategic leadership positions in North America, Europe, the Pacific, and Southwest Asia. With Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. since 2020, Crawford brings more than 34 years of executive
management in national security, enterprise I.T., and cybersecurity as the senior vice president of strategic development in Jacobs' Critical Mission Solutions. Crawford holds a Bachelor of
Science in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Science in Administration and National Resource Strategy. He is the 2020 Black Engineer of the Year.
President Darryll J. Pines
Darryll J. Pines serves as president of the University of Maryland (UMD) and the Glenn L. Martin Professor of Aerospace Engineering. He was formerly the Nariman Farvard in Professor of
Engineering and dean of UMD's A. James Clark School of Engineering, where he has been on the faculty since 1995. As dean, Pines instituted changes to improve the student experience,
including revamping teaching in fundamental undergraduate courses, encouraging participation in national and international student competitions, emphasizing sustainability engineering and
service-learning, and expanding innovation and entrepreneurship activities. In 2019, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for his "inspirational leadership and contributions
to engineering education."
Dr. Melvin Greer
Melvin Greer is Chief Data Scientist, Americas, Intel Corporation. He is responsible for building Intel's data science platform through artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain zerotrust
models, and neuromorphic computing to accelerate data transformation into a strategic asset for global enterprises. His systems and software engineering experience have resulted in
patented inventions in cloud computing, synthetic biology, and IoT biosensors for edge analytics. Melvin received the 2012 BEYA Technologist of the Year Award, which recognizes his
outstanding technical contributions that have had a material impact and high value on society. He is a member of the AAAS and the National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine.
He functions as a university professor and principal investigator, where he significantly advances the body of knowledge in basic research and advanced engineering. Melvin is the awardwinning
author of five books, and the managing director of the Greer Institute for Leadership and Innovation focused on the maturing of new leaders and the growth of future innovators.
Dr. Linda R. Gooden, h.c.
The University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents elected Linda R. Gooden as its chair in 2018. A champion for math, science, and technology education, she has served on
executive boards for the University of Maryland A. James Clark School of Engineering and Robert H. Smith School of Business Center for Electronic Markets & Enterprises, University of
Maryland, Baltimore County, and Prince Georges' Community College Foundation, as well as the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education. Ms. Gooden also serves on civic and business
leadership boards, such as the Eisenhower Fellowships program, AFCEA International, and the American Heart Association. A retired executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Information
Systems &Global Services, she currently serves as a board member at GM, Home Depot, WGL, and ADP, Inc. Her many awards include the 2006 Black Engineer of the Year Award.
Dr. Victor R. McCrary
Victor McCrary is currently vice president for research and graduate Programs at the University of the District of Columbia. Before this position, he was vice chancellor for research at the
University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Before that, he was the first vice president for research and economic development at Morgan State University. Previously, he was the Business Area
Executive for Science &Technology at The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). He is a former national president of the National Organization for the Professional
Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE) and an American Chemical Society fellow. In 2011, he was honored as Scientist of the Year by the BEYA STEM
Conference. McCrary is a member of the National Science Board's class of 2016-2022.
Krystal Porter
Krystal Porter is a lead engineer and solutions architect at Leidos. She is also the chief financial officer of the Black Cybersecurity Association. She has extensive experience in solving complex
architecture challenges for defense systems and missions by leveraging internal and external resources for optimal results. She leads and serves in multi-discipline teams at geographically
dispersed locations with maximum resiliency to support those systems and missions. She is a passionate, results-oriented leader focused on innovation, integrated and multi-channel solutions
to deliver customer loyalty and profitable growth. 2021winner of the BEYA Dr. Wanda M. Austin Legacy Award.
Dr. Kevin T. Kornegay
Presently a professor and Internet of Things (IoT) Security Endowed Chair in the Electrical & Computer Engineering department at Morgan State University, Dr. Kornegay's interests include
reverse engineering, hardware assurance, secure embedded system design, radio frequency and millimeter-wave integrated circuit design, high-speed circuits, broadband wired and wireless
communication systems, and cyber-physical systems. He has served on the technical program committees of several international conferences and symposia, including the IEEE Symposium
on Hardware-Oriented Security and Trust, IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference, the IEEE Customs Integrated Circuits Conference, and the Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits
Symposium. 2002 Black Engineer of the Year Award in Higher Education.
Dr. John Brooks Slaughter
In January 2021, the University of Southern California (USC) Rossier School of Education and USC Viterbi School of Engineering announced Dr. John Brooks Slaughter's appointment as the
Deans' Professor of Education and Engineering. Dr. Slaughter's leadership has impacted efforts such as the American Society for Engineering Education Deans Diversity Pledge. Engineering
deans have pledged to take specific concrete actions to broaden the participation of, and outcomes for, demographic populations underrepresented in engineering and STEM fields. In1980,
Dr. Slaughter was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to become director of the National Science Foundation. During his tenure, he implemented policies that supported programs designed
to expand science and engineering education at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). In 2015, the White House recognized his exceptional mentoring with the Presidential
Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring. He also received the USC Provost Mentoring Award in 2016 and the USC Presidential Medallion – the university's
highest distinction – in 2019. He is the1987 Black Engineer of the Year.
David L. Steward
Dave Steward is Chairman of World Wide Technology, Inc, an information technology, and supply chain solution provider headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. WWT now employs1,381 people
in 48 states and six countries—South Korea, Singapore, China, Germany, Brazil, and Mexico. Steward describes the company as "flexible, innovative, with an entrepreneurial spirit, and the
ability to raise the bar in bringing technical solutions and value that go above and beyond." Steward is also co-author of Doing Business by the Good Book: 52 Lessons on Success Straight
from the Bible. Steward and his company support the United Way, Variety Club, Boy Scouts of America, St. Patrick Center, Ronald McDonald House, Girls Inc., St. Louis Science Center, St.
Louis Sports Commission, and the YMCA, and his church, too. He is the 2012 Black Engineer of the Year.
Dr. Lydia Thomas
Dr. Thomas was honored as the 2003 Black Engineer of the Year at the 17th annual BEYA STEM Conference. She is a former president and CEO of Noblis, a nonprofit science, technology, and
strategy organization. Prior to Noblis, Dr. Thomas was with The MITRE Corporation from 1973 to 1996. In 2002, Dr. Thomas was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as founding
member of the President’s Homeland Security Advisory Council. In 2005 she was appointed co-chair of the Government University Industry Research Roundtable of the National Academies.
Dr. Thomas is a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics; American Society of Toxicology; National Defense Industrial Association; the Teratology Society; and the
International Women’s Forum. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Cabot Corporation, Mueller Water Products, Inc., Washington Mutual Investors Fund, the United States Energy
Association, the Northern Virginia Technology Council, the Conference Board and is a member of the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory.
Dr. Calvin Mackie
Dr. Calvin Mackie, the recipient of the 2002 Black Engineer of the Year Award for College-level Education, runs a nonprofit organization to help serve families connected to the military. The
New Orleans-based STEM NOLA promotes opportunities for people of color in the wind power, friction, rockets, and robotics industries. Born in New Orleans, Mackie graduated from the very
first high school for Black Americans in the city. In 1990, he earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Morehouse College and a mechanical engineering degree from Georgia Tech
through a dual-degree program. He also completed a master's degree and a Ph.D., both in mechanical engineering. Following graduation, Mackie joined the faculty at Tulane University, where
he pursued research related to heat transfer, fluid dynamics, energy efficiency, and renewable energy.
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Welcome to Kansas City, STEM City
Kansas City STEM City bridges the digital gap for millions of underserved through community and education. The "City in the Sky" will create a digital-in-the-moment immersive experience, creating an interactive virtual community that will provide personal and professional development tools and resources. From here you can access those important resources that will impact all parts of your life from health, work, education and personal development. The best place to start is the Welcome Center that is straight ahead. Explore and enjoy.
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