The Society of Black Engineers, as NSBE was first known, was founded in 1971 at Purdue University by six students. These students aimed to form a minority engineering organization in order to encourage minorities to regain the interests and visions possessed by their forefathers in the fields of science, mathematics, and engineering. At their first national convention in 1975, it was decided to nationalize this organization. It was in the state of Texas in 1976 that the Society of Black Engineers became incorporated as a non-profit organization and became the National Society of Black Engineers.
The mission of NSBE is to increase the number of culturally responsible black engineers that will surpass all expectations in their academic and professional endeavors, and will have a strong, positive impact in their communities. The Duke Society of Black Engineers, specifically, are on a mission to not only increase the number of successful minority engineers at Duke University, but to form a growing network amongst ourselves, alumni, and other undergraduate engineers within the Triangle area.