As a new engineering student at UCLA many years ago, the Los Angeles Council of Black Professional Engineers (LACBPE) exposed me to valuable role models in my chosen field of study. I volunteered to be the liaison between LACBPE and the UCLA chapter of the National Society of Black Engineer (NSBE) and soon became the third president of the UCLA chapter of NSBE. LACBPE helped me secure engineering summer internships starting after my freshmen year and later awarded me with a scholarship to help pay for my education. Upon graduation, I became the College Relations Chairperson for LACBPE and worked closely to mentor engineering students across more than ten engineering universities in the Southern California area.

As a Senior Program Manager at Raytheon Intelligence & Space Systems and one of the 2019 recipients of the 50 Phenomenal Black Women award, I was proud to return to LACBPE and serve as the Vice President for 2019-2020.

As the newly elected President of LACBPE, I am excited to work with legacy and new members towards our aligned vision and goals for the organization. We strive to increase the number of disadvantaged youth that pursue a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education; help students become well-prepared upon entering the various universities; and to be a positive influence in our community.

Let’s work together to make math and science less intimidating for more young students in our communities and help to significantly increase the number of black students who pursue STEM careers. The LACBPE wants to help prepare these students for an exciting future with infinite possibilities.

Please join me as we grow our organization, and our relationships with businesses and corporations, so we can reach more students and see that twinkle in their eyes as they explore how exciting math and science can be! Early exposure to these fields is critical to their success.

Thank you for your support!

Regina Owens Dillard

LACBPE President, 2020 - 2022