The IEEE–Eta Kappa Nu honor society for engineers celebrates its one hundred and twentieth anniversary this yr. Based in October 1904, IEEE-HKN acknowledges tutorial expertise in addition to excellence in scholarship, management, and repair. Inductees are chosen based mostly on their technical, scientific, and management achievements. There are actually greater than 270 IEEE-HKN chapters at universities all over the world.
The society has modified considerably over time. World growth resulted from the merger of North America–based mostly HKN with IEEE in 2010. There are actually 30 chapters outdoors the US, together with ones not too long ago established at universities in Ecuador, Hungary, and India.
IEEE-HKN has greater than 200,000 members all over the world. Because the merger, greater than 37,000 folks have been inducted. Membership now extends past simply college students. Amongst them are 23 former IEEE presidents in addition to a who’s who of engineering leaders and expertise pioneers together with GM Chief Government Mary Barra, Google founding CEO Larry Web page, and Superior Micro Units CEO Lisa Su. Final yr greater than 100 skilled members had been added to the rolls.
“If you wish to just remember to’re on the forefront of engineering management, you must undoubtedly think about becoming a member of IEEE-HKN.” —Joseph Greene
In 1950 HKN established the class of eminent member to honor these whose contributions considerably benefited society. There now are 150 such members. They embrace the fathers of the Web and IEEE Medal of Honor recipientsVint Cerf and Bob Kahn; former astronautSandra Magnus; andHenry Samueli, a Broadcom founder.
IEEE-HKN is celebrating its anniversary on 28 October, Founders Day, the date the society was established. Quite a lot of actions are scheduled for the day at chapters and different areas all over the world, says Nancy Ostin, the society’s director.
New chapters in Ecuador, Hungary, and India
A number of chapters have been established in current months. The Nu Eta chapter on the Sri Sairam Engineering School, in Chennai, India, was based in September, changing into the fourth chapter within the nation. In October the Nu Theta chapter debuted at Purdue College Northwest in Hammond, Ind.
College students from the IEEE-HKN Lambda Chi chapter at Hampton College in Virginia rejoice their induction with a cake. IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu
Thus far this yr, chapters had been fashioned on the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, in Guayaquil, Ecuador; Hampton College in Virginia; Óbuda College, in Budapest; and Polytechnic College of Puerto Rico in San Juan, the second chapter within the territory. Hampton is a traditionally Black analysis college.
A concentrate on profession growth
IEEE-HKN’s advantages have expanded over time. The society now focuses extra on serving to its members with profession growth. Profession-related providers on the society’s web site embrace a job board and a useful resource heart that aids with writing résumés and canopy letters, in addition to interview ideas and profession teaching providers.
2024 IEEE-HKN president Ryan Bales [center] with members of the Nu Iota chapter at Óbuda College in Budapest. IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu
There’s additionally the HKN Profession Conversations podcast, hosted by society alumni. Subjects they’ve lined embrace ethics, office conflicts, imposter syndrome, and cultivating creativity.
The honour society additionally holds networking occasions together with its annual worldwide management conferences, the place pupil leaders from internationally collaborate on how they will profit the group and their communities.
Mentorship and networking alternatives
IEEE-HKN’s mentoring program connects current graduates with alumni. IEEE professionals are paired with graduate college students based mostly on technical curiosity, desired mentoring space, and character.
Alumnus Joseph Greene, a Ph.D. candidate in computational imaging at Boston College, joined the varsity’s Kappa Sigma chapter in 2014 and continues to mentor graduate college students and assist manage occasions to have interaction alumni. Greene has held a number of management positions with the chapter, together with president, vice chairman, and pupil governor on the IEEE-HKN board.
He created a professional-to-student mentoring program for the chapter. It companions folks from trade and academia with college students to construct working relationships and to offer profession, technical, and private recommendation. Because the program launched in 2022, Greene says, greater than 40 folks have participated.
“What I discovered most rewarding about having a mentor is they provide a wider perspective than simply your collegiate wants,” he mentioned within the interview with The Institute.
One other program Greene launched is the IEEE-HKN GradLab YouTube podcast, which he says covers “every thing about grad college that they don’t train you in a classroom.”
“If you wish to just remember to’re on the forefront of engineering management, you must undoubtedly think about becoming a member of IEEE-HKN,” Greene mentioned within the interview. “The group, workers, and volunteers are devoted towards ensuring you will have the chance, sources, and community to thrive and succeed.”
In case you had been ever inducted into IEEE-HKN, your membership by no means expires, Ostin notes. Examine your IEEE membership document. The honour society’s identify ought to seem there but when it doesn’t, full the alumni reconnect kind.