Texas Opportunity Rodeo: Naval Workshop Showcases Exceptional Talent from HBCU/MIs

In a bid to expand its reach in Texas, the Department of the Navy’s (DoN) Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI) Program recently organized its annual Naval Opportunity Awareness Workshop (OAW) at Texas Southern University (TSU) in Houston.

TSU stands among the largest HBCU/MIs in the United States.

Capt. David Murray, Assistant Chief of Naval Research, highlighted the significance of the event. In his welcome address, he stated, “A foundational attribute of our Naval S&T Strategy is cultivating our relationships with scientists, engineers, and academic partners, especially those at HBCU/MIs.”

“Students, faculty, and leadership teams at HBCUs/MIs offer unique perspectives and serve as valuable pipelines for talent, creative thinking, and knowledge,” Capt. Murray emphasized. “They are crucial in maintaining and expanding our naval science and technology ecosystem.”

HBCU/MIs enroll over 5 million students, many from underserved communities or the first in their families to attend college. Although they form less than 2% of U.S. higher education institutions, they produce 25% of African-American STEM graduates.

The DoN HBCU/MI Program, based at the Office of Naval Research, aims to tap into this talent through the Naval OAW. The Naval OAW is the DoN HBCU/MI Program’s key annual event, targeting university leaders, faculty, staff, and students from HBCU/MIs. It showcases research opportunities within the Navy and Marine Corps, summer faculty/sabbatical research opportunities, and student internships.

Acting as a vital engagement platform, the Naval OAW connects the DoN with key stakeholders, funding grantees, and future partners. It helps involve more HBCU/MI faculty in naval-relevant scientific research and attracts students to internships.

“This year’s Naval OAW expanded awareness of our initiatives in Texas and was highly successful,” said Anthony C. Smith Sr., director of the DoN HBCU/MI Program. “Participants made valuable networking connections and learned about faculty fellowships, student internships, and research awards, while considering careers in naval science and technology.”

The DoN HBCU/MI Program enables faculty and students at HBCU/MIs to collaborate with scientists and engineers at naval labs and warfare centers. Internships, summer faculty research experiences, and sabbaticals facilitate mutual projects. Faculty can also engage in longer-term sabbaticals through the ONR Summer Faculty Research Program and ONR Sabbatical Leave Program.

The DoN HBCU/MI Program works with the DoD HBCU/MI Program and Outreach to provide the Distinguished Fellows Program. This initiative gives HBCU/MI professors three years of faculty release time to focus on naval-relevant research, academic writing, and mentoring students.

The DoN HBCU/MI Program has three primary goals:

• Expand grant and contract opportunities in basic and applied research for schools.
• Offer fellowships to faculty and internships to students in STEM studies.
• Promote student interest in STEM degrees at HBCU/MIs.

Learn more about the DoN HBCU/MI Program at [official website link].