The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) recognized North Carolina A&T State University alumnus, James Lindsey, as the 2013 Mike Shin NSBE Distinguished Member of the Year. 

Lindsey, a graduate student at the University of Arkansas, was a member of the N.C. A&T chapter of NSBE, where he held membership and served in e-board positions as treasurer and then president.

“A&T definitely served as my foundation, this is where I found myself,” Lindsey says. “Going to A&T allowed me to network. Like people say, you can find Aggies anywhere.”

It was the work that the spring 2012 graduate did at A&T, which put him in a position to apply and be chosen for the honor.

During his senior year, Lindsey’s vision for the student run organization was “Building Upon A Great Foundation.”

“I was able to do some things that were new. We had the first ever NSBE week and the first ever leadership and black history month,” he said.

Under his leadership, the A&T chapter won NSBE’S 2012 Mission Competition and the university’s Student Organization of the Year Award. Through his encouragement the chapter was able to align their new ideas with the mission of the national organization, which is to “increase the number of culturally responsible black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community.”

Since graduating from  A&T, Lindsey has been able to get a better view of the lack of diversity in the engineering world.

“I’m the only African American structural engineering student here at Arkansas,” he says. “I know that I need to make it so people can say, I want to be a structural engineer and I can do it.”

Lindsey is pursuing a master’s degree in structural engineering and has a passion for designing bridges and plans to own an engineering firm in the future.

“When I do start my engineering firm I want to give back to NSBE by providing internships and scholarships, and most definitely to A&T for giving me my foundation.”