On February 21st, 1990, the presidents of four historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) signed an agreement formally establishing the Science and Engineering Alliance, Inc. (SEA) at a ceremony at the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, DC. The four institutions were Alabama A&M University (AAMU), Jackson State University (JSU), Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) and Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge (SUBR). The SEA signed an agreement with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) on June 16th, 1990, to establish programs for advancing knowledge in the physical sciences and engineering.

Dr. Robert L. Shepard, founding executive director, opened the SEA headquarters on November 26th, 1990, with the purpose of ensuring for the nation an adequate supply of top-quality minority scientists, while meeting the research and development needs of the public and private sectors. Our headquarters is located in Washington, DC near key federal agencies and related businesses.

In 1992, SEA acquired Nonprofit Section 501(c)(3) Tax Exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Obtaining this status strategically enables us to work more effectively with our customers and business partners while entitling contributors and benefactors to personal tax deductions when making a gift or donation to our organization.

Since its opening, SEA has continued to support numerous projects and activities which have led to the growth of the organization. In 2004, this growth included the expansion of the Washington, DC office to include a new training center which will double as a resource center in support of the District of Columbia Public School (DCPS) science and mathematics teachers.  SEA also supports, in part, summer internship programs, small business mentoring programs, logistical services and an annual technical conference.

For a more detailed timeline of the SEA history, please click on the links to the appropriate years of interest.

2007

SEA Receives Additional Funding to Involve K-12 Teachers and Undergraduate and High School Students in the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) Initiative

17th Annual SEA Student Technical Conference (Gaithersburg, MD)

5th Annual Alumni Symposium

BACK TO TOP

2006

Awarded National Science Foundation's National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) grant to facilitate the involvement of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) in national-scale research and education on environmental challenges unfolding across the United States. 

SEA Executive Director awarded the National Emerald Honors Award for Educational Leadership by Science Spectrum Magazine

16th Annual SEA Student Technical Conference (Gaithersburg, MD)

4th Annual Alumni Symposium

BACK TO TOP

2005

Awarded W. K. Kellogg Foundation grant to help enhance Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) develop contract management capacity

NIST provides funding for the Guest Lecturer Series (GLS) program at all four SEA institutions

Enter discussion on the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) project

15th Annual SEA Student Technical Conference (Washington, DC)

3rd Annual Alumni Symposium

BACK TO TOP

2004

LLNL provides funds for the establishment of the Faculty Fellowship Program (FFP)

Dr. Robert L. Shepard designated as a Sigma Xi Distinguished Lecturer (2005-2006)

14th Annual SEA Student Technical Conference (Washington, DC)

2nd Annual Alumni Symposium

BACK TO TOP

2003

Winston & Strawn Foundation provides funds for establishment of the SEA Winston & Strawn Education Training Institute (WSETI) to provide support to District of Columbia Public School students and teachers

DOE selects SEA as a mentor organization for its intern Student Diversity Partnership Program (SDPP)

Creation and design of the SEA Training Center

13th Annual SEA Student Technical Conference

1st Annual Alumni Symposium

BACK TO TOP

2002

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between SEA and the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Implements the SEA Alumni Technical Symposium as part of the SEA Student Technical Conference

Implements the SEA Partnership Breakfast

Executive Director hires contracting consultant Ms. Eva M. Owens - Project Manager for Program Enhancement (PMPE)

12th Annual SEA Student Technical Conference

BACK TO TOP

2001

11th Annual SEA Student Technical Conference (Gaithersburg, MD)

BACK TO TOP

2000

Establishes Small Business Mentoring Programs at each SEA institution

Implements the SEA Research Division by expanding the DC office to 1628 square feet

Implements the SEA Student Intern Program through a joint venture between SEA and the DOE/EPSCoR Summer Undergraduate Student Research Program at Southern University and A&M College (SUBR)

10th Annual SEA Student Technical Conference

BACK TO TOP

1999

FIPSE provides funds for creation of Centers of Excellence for Math and Science Teacher Preparation at each SEA institution

DOD funds ID/IQ contract for a variety of IT support services for DISA customers

9th Annual SEA Student Technical Conference

BACK TO TOP

1998

SEA-HPCC team granted membership in RCI, Ltd. through sponsorship by IBM

SEA-HPCC team participates in the National Supercomputing Forum sponsored by RCI, Ltd.

EPA funds SEA workshop on climatic changes in the Gulf Coast region of the United States

Army Research Laboratory (ARL) funds enhancement of STARS program

SBA, DARPA, and EPA funds project to build strategic alliances between HBCUs and Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SBDS)

8th Annual SEA Student Technical Conference

BACK TO TOP

1997

Enter discussion on the U.S. Global Climate Change Research Program

7th Annual SEA Student Technical Conference

BACK TO TOP

1996

NASA funds Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) project

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funds environmental justice and empowerment training program

EPA funds scientific awareness workshop for culturally diverse colleges and universities

Executive Director hires second employee - Ms. Tanisha Gray - Administrative Assistant

6th Annual SEA Student Technical Conference

BACK TO TOP

1995

DOE funds radiation research at the J. Bennett Johnston, Sr. Center for Advanced Microstructures and Devices (CAMD)

Cray Research, Inc. extends offer to expand SEA High Performance Computing and Communications (HPCC) research initiative

5th Annual SEA Student Technical Conference

BACK TO TOP

1994

DOE funds SEA-HPCC research project

4th Annual SEA Student Technical Conference

BACK TO TOP

1993

3rd Annual SEA Student Technical Conference

BACK TO TOP

1992

U.S. Department of Education's Fund for Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) jointly fund a proposal to establish Teacher Enhancement Workshops at each SEA Institution

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) grants nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status

Established Design Team Working Groups:

(a) High Performance Computing and Communications (HPCC) and

(b) Broadband (UV to Hard X-Ray) Radiation Beam Line

2nd Annual SEA Student Technical Conference

BACK TO TOP

1991

Executive Director hires first employee - Mrs. Halima Adasi - DC Office Manager

SEA is incorporated in the state of Delaware

Establishes LLNL Summer Research Program for faculty and student enhancement

First Annual SEA Student Technical Conference (Washington, DC)

BACK TO TOP

1990

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the SEA schools and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)

Robert L. Shepard, PhD, founding Executive Director, opens SEA headquarters

BACK TO TOP

Attention SEA Alumni Members!

We want to know what you are doing. Please update us on your accomplishments!