Princeton alumni from engineering and the sciences will gather on campus April 27-28 for a conference focusing on leadership and diversity in academia and industry.

“Leading Change in Science and Technology: A Princeton Engineering Conference for Black Alumni” will feature panels on current engineering research and education at Princeton, strategies for increasing diversity, connections between student leadership and leadership in the real world, and the interplay between technology and entrepreneurial endeavors.

Among the speakers are several distinguished Princeton alumni, including:

Wesley Harris *68, head of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a member of the National Academy of Engineering’s Grand Challenges for Engineering Committee;
William Massey, Edwin S. Wilsey Professor of Operations Research and Financial Engineering at Princeton and recipient of the 2006 Blackwell-Tapia Prize;
Kneeland Youngblood ’78, co-founder and managing director of Pharos Capital Group and chairman of the board of the American Beacon Funds.

“The plan for this conference grew out of several conversations during the strategic planning process for the School of Engineering and Applied Science as well as the ‘Coming Back and Looking Forward’ and ‘Kaleidoscope’ conferences, which were held on campus during the fall semester,” said H. Vincent Poor, dean of engineering, in an invitation to alumni. “Many of you asked about future opportunities for continuing dialogue with a particular focus on leadership in engineering, science and mathematics.”

The conference includes a poster session, reception and buffet dinner on the evening of April 27 and a breakfast and conversation with Dean Poor on the morning of April 28. The conference is free and open to all members of the University community. Register by visiting the conference Web site or contacting Christine Fairsmith, 609-258-6828, cfairsm@princeton.edu.