Blog: My Unforgettable Experience at the NSBE Annual Convention
Meet Isaiah Sneed
I'm a second-year student pursuing a major in civil engineering and a minor in professional writing and an active member of National Society of Black Engineers at UC Davis.
Growing up in the Bay Area, I recall marveling at impressive infrastructure like the Bay Bridge and Salesforce Tower. It always heightened my curiosity as I pondered who created these wonders, how they accomplished them and how such infrastructure has impacted people’s daily lives.
It was this curiosity, plus a passion for math and science, that led me to major in civil engineering at the University of California, Davis.
I love engineering because it is challenging and rewarding. However, there are areas where the field can and needs to improve. As a Black person in engineering, I am constantly aware of how often I am the only minority in the classroom. Wanting to connect with people who share my experience was one of the main reasons why I joined NSBE.
The National Society of Black Engineers, or NSBE, founded in 1975, empowers Black excellence in engineering by providing networking and engineering resources to members who range from high schoolers and college students to retired engineering professionals who identify as Black or within the African Diaspora.
Being part of NSBE for the last two years has encouraged me and fueled my desire to be an engineer because of the knowledge, insight and friendships I have gained. At UC Davis, our NSBE chapter, where I currently serve as a board member, is small and tight-knit. Our camaraderie and shared experiences, being the few Black engineering students in our classes, have been encouraging, illuminating and comforting.
This camaraderie and transference of knowledge occurred at a larger scale at the 2026 NSBE Annual Convention in Baltimore, Maryland, from March 18-22. This event brought together all NSBE chapters nationwide to share ideas, stories, engineering knowledge and fun conversations. It was an amazing experience to attend the NSBE National Convention.
March 19, 2026 — Day 1, 6:25 a.m. EST
Landed in Baltimore after a five-hour flight from Sacramento. I, wearing my UC Davis gear, was driven to our chapter’s Airbnb, where I would meet my group who arrived a day earlier. There were seven of us representing UC Davis at the national convention and staying at the same place.
On the way, I could not help but notice the city’s infrastructure and vivacity. The pavement formulating the freeways, the concrete and steel used to construct the buildings and the unique geometric design of the power plants. My fellow UC Davis NSBE students who had already arrived were getting ready for the convention. After arriving at our vacation rental and unpacking, I got dressed in my grey and blue quarter zip and prepared my resume copies.
March 19, 2026 — Day 1, 12:00 p.m. EST
I arrived at the Baltimore Convention Center, and inside, I was astonished. The enormous center was filling up with thousands of Black engineering students, professionals and engineering companies. The space exuded Black excellence. Being in this space, surrounded by Black engineers, produced a feeling I could not express in the moment.
As I walked through the career fair hall, in an attempt to secure a summer internship, I observed bustling movement and enlightening conversations and had some of my own. One gentleman, who represented a company, was also a civil engineer and gave me tips on preparing for the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam. We talked about future classes I will be taking, such as fluid mechanics, dynamics and structural analysis, which will be on the exam, and he encouraged me to begin early preparation. I was excited and immensely grateful to also walk away with a confirmed date for when a summer internship offer letter would arrive.
March 20, 2026 — Day 2, 4:23 p.m. EST
My second day at the convention was just as exhilarating and really fulfilling. In addition to the career fair, I attended a couple of workshops, including one on the intersection of public policy and engineering that was particularly intriguing.
I spoke with an engineer from a materials and tech company, who shared insights on how I could broaden the applications of my civil engineering degree if I interned at his company. I also spoke with an electrical engineering student from Tennessee about the similarities and differences of engineering classes between our universities, leading us to exchange LinkedIn information.
At the end of the day, all of us representing UC Davis recapped our respective days with each other. There was a lot of joy and so much knowledge acquired. Four members had internship interviews with a renowned medical company, and one of those members successfully secured a job after graduation at the convention. It was really a highlight for me.
The biggest highlight, though, was having the opportunity to take a group photo with UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May, an engineer himself, and other UC Davis NSBE alumni.
March 21, 2026 — Day 3, 7:00 p.m. EST
Our last day at the convention! Earlier in the day, since the main event was at night, we walked the town and explored Baltimore. I was fascinated by the harbors and by how massive the freight ships were. The state’s strong fishing industry was captured by the graphic designs of crabs and other sea-life themes on almost every storefront. We grabbed lunch at a Black-owned restaurant near the harbor called Soul Kuisine Cafe.
Following our walk, we returned to the Airbnb and dressed formally for the gala and closing ceremony, which perfectly punctuated the experience. When I stepped into the ballroom, I could feel the gravity of the moment as we celebrated extraordinary Black individuals who have made remarkable contributions to their respective communities and NSBE.
As we celebrated, I reflected on my experience at my first NSBE National Convention. I am grateful to NSBE for creating this empowering space where people who looked like me were not the minority but the majority — a rarity in this field, and something I have never experienced. I’m so appreciative of the time I was able to spend with my fellow UC Davis NSBE members. I walked away from the 2026 NSBE National Convention with a sense of pride and enhanced motivation in my career pursuits. The sense of camaraderie, relationships and knowledge we were able to acquire and build at this convention was unforgettable.
