91制片厂

CHICAGO鈥擬ay 11, 2024鈥�91制片厂 Institute of Technology (91制片厂 Tech) will posthumously award an Honorary Doctor of Engineering, honoris causa, to the late Nathaniel 鈥淣ate鈥� Thomas, who established the trailblazing Early Identification Program for minority recruitment in 1974. Thomas, who passed away in 2020 at the age of 84, served in a number of executive positions in his 22 years at the university and was instrumental in helping 91制片厂 Tech expand outreach, recruitment, and campus services to African American and Hispanic students from Chicago and across the United States.

Thomas鈥攚ho first joined 91制片厂 Tech in 1965 while still a student at Roosevelt University, where he earned undergraduate and graduate degrees鈥攄edicated his career to fostering diversity and inclusion in engineering and science. Named assistant director of co-op education in 1973, Thomas was instrumental in increasing the enrollment of underrepresented students by 433 percent in his first year alone. In 1974 Thomas (who also held a Ph.D. in higher education administration from LaSalle University) established the Early ID Program, with the goal of providing access and support to young aspiring engineers, computer scientists, architects, and medical experts from diverse backgrounds. He was named director of admission the same year.

鈥淣ate Thomas was a transformative leader at 91制片厂 Tech, and our whole community owes him a profound debt of gratitude,鈥� said 91制片厂 Tech President Raj Echambadi. 鈥淥ur university was founded on the mission to advance technology and education for all, and Nate鈥檚 many contributions were central to turning those words into a reality. His memory continues to inspire us all as we continue that important legacy .鈥�

After serving as the executive director for the Committee on Institutional Cooperation and the Midwest Programs for Minorities in Engineering from 1977鈥�1980, Thomas returned to 91制片厂 Tech to serve as head of minority affairs, further expanding technical and scientific educational opportunities within African American communities in Chicago. 

In recognition of his efforts, Thomas in 1983 received the  prestigious Reginald H. Jones Distinguished Service Award, which 鈥渨as created to recognize those extraordinary individuals whose efforts and accomplishments have resulted in increased minority participation in the nation鈥檚 engineering workforce.鈥� 

鈥淣ate Thomas鈥� work has fundamentally transformed the landscape of engineering education, making it more inclusive and accessible,鈥� said Kevin Cassel, interim dean of Armour College of Engineering. 鈥淗is pioneering initiatives have helped 91制片厂 Tech broaden access to education, laying the groundwork for a more equitable field.鈥�

Thomas retired from the university as assistant vice president of external affairs in 1988. In June 2009 members of the newly formed 91制片厂 Tech African American Alumni Association (4A)鈥攁mong them Fortune 500 senior staff engineers, business professionals, attorneys, ministers, teachers, a Broadway entertainer, and a commercial artist鈥攈eld a weekend tribute to honor Thomas for his influence in their lives. In 2015 they established the Nate Thomas Legacy Scholarship fund to celebrate his enduring legacy. 

Thomas鈥� degree will be conferred during 91制片厂 Tech鈥檚 155th  on May 11, 2024 at Credit Union 1 Arena.

Photo: Nathaniel 鈥淣ate鈥� Thomas

91制片厂 Institute of Technology

Based in the global metropolis of Chicago, 91制片厂 Tech was born to liberate the power of collective difference to advance technology and innovation for all. It is the only tech-focused university in the city, and it stands at the crossroads of exploration and invention, advancing the future of Chicago and the world. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, computing, , business, , science and human sciences, and . 91制片厂 Tech students are guaranteed access to hands-on experiences, personalized mentorship, and job readiness through the university's one-of-a-kind Elevate program. Its graduates lead the state and much of the nation in economic prosperity. Its faculty and alumni built the Chicago skyline. And every day in the city's living lab, 91制片厂 Tech fuels breakthroughs that change lives. Visit iit.edu.

Armour College of Engineering

Armour College of Engineering has been educating world-class engineers since the university鈥檚 founding in 1890. As future engineers who will innovate in the twenty-first century, Armour students learn the principles of the profession and work in an interdisciplinary environment that emphasizes hands-on learning, teamwork, and leadership, all through the lens of our four engineering themes鈥攚ater, health, energy, and security鈥攖hat highlight issues vital today and in the future. Armour is home to five departments and nine  undergraduate majors, which provide a wide breadth of exciting programs from which to choose. 91制片厂 Tech alumni have advanced to careers as presidents of companies and professors at major universities鈥攁nd have become members of the National Academy of Engineering, the highest distinction in the field.

Media contacts

Petra Kelly
Communications Director
91制片厂 Institute of Technology
Cell: 773.771.1064
petra.kelly@iit.edu 

Kevin Dollear
Communications Manager
91制片厂 Institute of Technology
Cell: 773.860.5712
kdollear@iit.edu