Professor Emeritus Augustine O. Esogbue and Chancellor Gary May Endowed Award in Engineering Diversity

Augustine O. Esogbue and UC Davis Chancellor Gary May formed a lifelong friendship while May was a rising senior studying electrical engineering at Georgia Tech. Esogbue was the founding faculty advisor for the Georgia Tech chapter of National Society of Black Engineers, or NSBE, for which May served as president. Among many achievements, their partnership earned the a chapter National NSBE Chapter of the Year Excellence Award.

Fast forward to the present, and both Esogbue and May served on NSBE’s National Advisory Board. Both are now elevated to National Advisor Emeriti status. The sum of their individual careers, accomplishments and societal impacts could fill the pages of multiple books.

The advancement and promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion is a cause that Esogbue is passionate about and has spent his life championing. Thus, when he decided to contribute to UC Davis — his “adopted” institution — a fitting gift name was identified: “Professor Emeritus Augustine O. Esogbue and Chancellor Gary May Endowed Award in Engineering Diversity.” Not only does it immortalize the bond between the two friends, but it addresses a challenge both are committed to fixing.

Gifts to the Esogbue-May Endowed Award in Engineering Diversity will support graduate students who share the passion for excellence and have a demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the field of engineering and computer science.