NAHB’s Inaugural HBCU Cohort Paves Way for Future Leaders

NAHB’s first-ever Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Student Leadership program recently completed a successful year of learning, networking and making lifelong memories.

The cohort featured 22 of some of the best and brightest students from 10 HBCUs. Over the course of eight months, the students traveled for two flagship events: a trip to the National Housing Center in Washington, D.C., and a multi-day stay in Las Vegas for the 2024 International Builders’ Show. 

“My experience in NAHB’s first cohort was amazing because of the way the students bonded right away,” said Kendal Phillips, a student at Tuskegee University. The students plan to stay connected with each other and with NAHB after the program as they continue their careers in construction.

Many of the program’s student leaders have already lined up jobs and internships that will begin later this spring. Some of their future employers include companies such as Whiting-Turner, DPR Construction, Brasfield & Gorrie, JE Dunn, Disney/Skanska, Turner/Hensel Phelps, Taylor Morrison, Alpha Construction, Cadence McShane and Kirksey/Perkins & Will, among others.

“Aside from internships, this cohort experience has helped me a lot with my academics,” said Malloy Shamwell, a student at North Carolina A&T. “Within my curriculum, it’s always been about commercial construction, and then suddenly in my senior year, we finally had a class that’s residential. Throughout the cohort, I was able to learn the processes of residential that have helped me be successful in that class.”

The success of the HBCU Leadership Program’s first cohort has opened the door for a second cohort that will gather later this year. Similar to the first group’s experience, the second cohort will kick off in Washington, D.C. in the fall and then take part in additional programming at the 2025 International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas.

Are you interested in being involved with one of these HBCU construction education programs as a mentor, speaker or fundraiser? Complete this form.