Baltimore Hosts National Society of Black Engineers' Annual Convention

The gathering brings thousands of engineers, technologists and students to explore career opportunities and professional development.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 9:05pm

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For the first time, the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) is holding its annual convention in Baltimore, attracting thousands of engineers, technologists and students. The conference features career-building opportunities, professional development workshops, technical competitions and networking. Baltimore's history of cultivating Black ingenuity and its status as a technology hub made it an ideal location for the event.

Why it matters

The NSBE convention highlights Baltimore as a center of innovation and a hub for Black STEM professionals. It also underscores the city's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in the tech industry, even as some localities distance themselves from these values.

The details

The NSBE Annual Convention is taking place at the Baltimore Convention Center from March 18-22. Jazmine Bullock, the planning chair, noted that Baltimore's 'legacy of Black excellence' made it a perfect fit for the conference. NSBE CEO Janeen Uzzell echoed this sentiment, praising Baltimore's 'legacy of Black excellence' and the energy and excitement building in the city.

  • The NSBE Annual Convention started on March 18, 2026.
  • The convention runs through March 22, 2026.

The players

National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)

A professional organization dedicated to increasing the number of Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community.

Jazmine Bullock

The planning chair for the 2026 NSBE Annual Convention.

Janeen Uzzell

The CEO of the National Society of Black Engineers.

Calvin Young

The interim Deputy Mayor of Baltimore.

Marcus Mitchell

The Vice President of Engineering at Google.

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What they’re saying

“Baltimore has always been a city of Black excellence. From its deep cultural roots to the generation of leaders, innovators and changemakers it has produced, that legacy runs through the city's DNA.”

— Jazmine Bullock, Planning Chair, 2026 NSBE Annual Convention

“This is a proud city with a legacy of Black excellence. It doesn't take long to feel the energy and excitement that's building here, and that's largely thanks to the mayor's office, the governor's office and their partners in industry.”

— Janeen Uzzell, CEO, National Society of Black Engineers

“The mindset that I would strongly encourage anybody here at any level to have is to take advantage of this moment of disruption. What's happening is we have the opportunity to rethink the way we do all kinds of things— our workflows, how we operate, how effective we are. I'm very confident that there's always going to be a very strong role for human judgement, for the ability to not just be displaced by AI, but to point it at the right kinds of problems and to ensure there's alignment with the values that we as humanity need—whether that's business or societal outcomes.”

— Marcus Mitchell, Vice President of Engineering, Google

“When we talk about how Black people, in particular, who are technologists can really thrive, there's no place in America that's like Baltimore. We have both the technology and the cultural appreciation for diversity, equity and inclusion.”

— Calvin Young, Interim Deputy Mayor, Baltimore

What’s next

The NSBE Annual Convention will continue through March 22, 2026, offering attendees opportunities for career development, networking and exploring the latest innovations in engineering and technology.

The takeaway

Baltimore's hosting of the NSBE Annual Convention underscores the city's status as a hub for Black STEM professionals and its commitment to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion in the tech industry. The event highlights Baltimore's legacy of Black excellence and its potential to be a center of innovation.