PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The HBCU Energy Leadership Pathways is a collaboration between the historically black colleges and universities in the Carolinas and a wide variety of companies in the energy industry.  The objective is to increase the number of students at the participating schools who train for and seek careers in the energy industry.


 Many students from marginalized communities are unaware of the opportunity for rewarding careers in the energy industry, so the pathway is structured in three phases from first-year through graduation and beyond. The Pathway is designed to operate in parallel with a four-year undergraduate program to provide participating students with experience and credentials for a successful career in the energy industry.

PROGRAM HISTORY

In December 2020, a group of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and energy companies in the Carolinas convened a Council to create a leadership pathway for HBCU students to the energy industry. Participating Pathway students will prepare for energy industry leadership careers beginning in their freshman year. They will acquire experience and credentials in addition to their regular education making them particularly attractive to energy industry employers. Students will be from all disciplines of interest to the energy industry, not just from engineering and technical disciplines.

 

The Pathway activated during the Spring 2022 semester with four focus HBCUs: Benedict College, Johnson C. Smith University, North Carolina A&T University, and South Carolina State University. Cohort 1 is fully engaged and working towards completion of an 8-module energy curriculum, developed in conjunction with SEI. In 2022, 20 students were selected to participate as student ambassadors.

PROGRAM BENEFITS

TRAINING THAT WILL PREPARE YOU FOR A
SUCCESSFUL CAREER IN THE
ENERGY INDUSTRY.


HANDS ON OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH PARTICIPATION
IN THE APRIL 2026 ENERGY INDUSTRY
CHALLENGE, AN ENGAGING EVENT WHERE
STUDENTS COLLABORATE ON REAL-WORLD
ENERGY SOLUTIONS.

 

NETWORK WITH PROFESSIONALS FROM THE
ENERGY INDUSTRY AND ACCESS
RESOURCES, LIKE PROFESSIONAL
ASSOCIATIONS AND CONFERENCES.