We honor the Southern University Engineering Legacy and the legacy of our first two deans, John Joe Thurman and Guy Burrell.

Deans Thurman and Burrell presided over the Southern University College of Engineering for the first 31 years (1956 – 1987). Their leadership guided the program from inception to becoming the number one producer of black engineers from 1978 – 1990.

At its peak, Southern’s College of Engineering graduated 300+ underrepresented minority students in a single year. A feat that is still unmatched.