Welcome to the Mother Region!
I am Casey Williams, a fourth-year Industrial Engineering student at Purdue University, and I have the distinct honor of serving as your 2025–2026 Region IV Chairperson of the National Society of Black Engineers. Region IV is the birthplace of our esteemed organization—a region built on legacy, excellence, and relentless pursuit of our mission: to increase the number of culturally responsible Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community.

This year, our Regional Directive—S.T.A.N.D.: A Vision of Strength and Purpose—is more than a theme. It is a call to action and a blueprint for how we lead, grow, and serve. It challenges us to STAND tall in our mission, STAND true to our values, and STAND Fo’ Solid in every space we enter.

Let me break down what STAND means for us this year:

Strength
We will build a Region rooted in organizational excellence, individual resilience, and collective power. Strength means ensuring our chapters are equipped to lead effectively and prepared not just to survive, but to thrive in academic, professional, and personal spaces.

Transformation
We will challenge the status quo and redefine success across NSBE, academia, and industry. Transformation means honoring tradition but not being bound by it. We will evolve our programs, elevate our expectations, and empower our members to innovate fearlessly—while staying grounded in our mission and vision.

Advocacy
In today’s political and social landscape, advocacy is essential. We will speak up and show up for our members and our communities—amplifying voices that go unheard, and fighting for equity in engineering, education, and society. We are our ancestors’ wildest dreams, and their fight lives on through us.

Network
Our strength lies in our connection. We will grow and deepen relationships across chapters, regions, industries, and generations. By building authentic and strategic networks, we unlock opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and growth. Region IV is not just a collection of chapters—it is a family.

Direction
None of this matters without a clear path forward. This year, we will set intentional goals and establish a bold, measurable strategy that prioritizes impact, sustainability, and legacy. Direction gives our efforts meaning. It ensures that everything we build today will still stand tomorrow.

As we step boldly into this year, I invite you to lead, build, and rise with us. Region IV is more than just a region—it is the birthplace of this movement, the foundation upon which the National Society of Black Engineers was built. We are rooted in legacy, but our power lies in how we evolve, uplift, and activate that legacy every single day.

By cultivating mentorship across generations, amplifying collaboration between chapters, and creating spaces where every voice feels seen, heard, and valued, we will build a community that not only upholds NSBE’s mission—but lives it aloud. We are not here to maintain the status quo; we are here to push the boundaries of what is possible for Black engineers across the Midwest and beyond.

So I challenge you—each and every member of Region IV—to STAND. Whether you’re leading an initiative on your campus, guiding the next generation of engineers, or innovating in your field, you are a vital part of this movement. Let’s STAND with Strength as we build resilient leaders. Let’s STAND for Transformation as we redefine excellence. Let’s STAND in Advocacy, in Network, and with Direction as we shape a future that reflects the brilliance of our people.

Let’s lead with intention, collaborate with purpose, and STAND Fo’ Solid in everything we do.

Welcome to the work.
Welcome to the legacy.
Welcome to Region IV.

Stay Solid,
Casey Williams II
2025 – 2026 Region IV Chairperson
National Society of Black Engineers
R4chair@nsbe.org