In 1979, a group of Minority Engineering Program Administrators met in Atlanta to discuss the formation of an association that would focus on the issues affecting the recruitment, retention, and graduation of minority students seeking degrees in engineering. A Steering Committee, chaired by Dr. William Gamble, then of Michigan State University, met in Berkeley, California in January of 1980, to create an organizational structure, goals, objectives, a constitution, and bylaws for the new association, as well as to select a name in January of 1981, the proposals of the Steering Committee were ratified and the group officially became known as the National Association of Minority Engineering Program Administrators.

The purpose of the Association was to enhance the recruitment, admission, retention and graduation of traditionally underrepresented minority engineering students by working with college and pre-college programs. NAMEPA expanded its founding membership from college administrators to include representative from industry, government and other interested parities involved in the effort to increase the participation of minorities in engineering and technical fields.

One of the most significant products of the Association was developed in 1987 when NAMEPA outlined the issues that members considered vital to the advancement of students in Minority Engineering Programs. A committee, chaired by Dr. Chenits Pettigrew, then of UCLA, started by examining pre-college education and identifying issues that affect the number of minority engineers. A document The Vital Issues was written to outline these issues.

In 1990, NAMEPA developed a strategic plan, Addressing the Vital Issues, that outlined the goals and objectives of the Association. Task forces were created to develop strategies to meet these goals. The strategic plan was created as a three to five year program. NAMEPA is one of many organizations that comprise the minority engineering effort.

In 2001-2001, NAMEPA again revamped its strategic plan and in 2003-04 followed it up with the Work Plan currently entitled “Framing the Future.” This plan is currently our guideline for implementing the changes that the Strategic Long Range Planning team envisioned.