Arctic Directory: ExxonMobil helps increase diversity in engineering

The ExxonMobil Foundation said Dec. 8 that it has provided a $520,000 grant to the National Action Council for Minority Engineers Inc., a premier nonprofit focused on increasing the number of underrepresented students pursuing careers in engineering. Of the total grant, $270,000 is part of an annual grant for organization support and scholarships, and $250,000 will go toward NACME’s Pre-Engineering Program and Academies of Engineering strategy. ExxonMobil Foundation, the primary philanthropic arm of the Exxon Mobil Corp. in the U.S., has been the largest corporate sponsor of NACME since the council’s founding in 1974 and has provided the organization with more than $10 million in support. “The ExxonMobil Foundation is focused on improving science, technology, engineering and math education, but we need quality partners such as NACME in order to have a greater impact,” said Suzanne McCarron, president, ExxonMobil Foundation. “When you consider how few minorities there are among engineering ranks in America, it’s imperative that we work together to find solutions to increase the opportunities and exposure for students with diverse backgrounds.”