How NAHB's HBCU Student Leadership Program Shaped Their Futures

Student Chapters
Published

NAHB launched its Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Student Leadership program in 2023 to help cultivate, educate and inspire the next generation of home building professionals. The goal is also to create a more robust, equitable, diverse and inclusive NAHB student chapters community.

Throughout the last two years, NAHB has welcomed 37 HBCU students for a variety of enriching learning and networking opportunities in Washington, D.C. and Las Vegas.

A pair of program alumni shared to their peers the impact the program has had on their skillsets, careers and outlooks on the residential construction industry.

HBCU cohort leadership student Malloy Shamwell speaking at the Black Builder Mixer

At the 2025 Black Builder event at the International Builders' Show, North Carolina A&T State University student Malloy Shamwell shares how the HBCU Leadership program has given her support.

HBCU Leadership Program Is a Support System

Malloy Shamwell, a student at North Carolina A&T State University who will soon begin a summer internship with Clark Construction, spoke to a crowd of more than 110 students, mentors and program sponsors about the impact the program has had on her career.

“Within our departments there’s a lot of push for commercial construction, and not a lot of voice for women, black women or women trying to get into the residential field,” said Shamwell, “so this program has given me a platform and given me an amazing support system.”

After her internship, Shamwell is set to attend the University of Virginia to pursue a master’s degree in commerce with a specialized track in management.

HBCU leadership student Brittany Holt speaks to the crowd at the Black Builder Mixer in Las Vegas

Morgan State University student Brittany Holt speaks to room of 110 students, mentors and sponsors about her journey in construction.

HBCU Leadership Program Helped Provide Vision

Brittany Holt, a student at Morgan State University, gave the second cohort some valuable insight as to how to spend their final weeks in the program.

“I was part of cohort 1,” said Holt, “but when I came in last year, I didn’t have the proper questions because I wasn’t sure of where I wanted to go in construction. This year, I was more focused, my vision was there, and I listened to a lot of developers on the showroom floor.

“NAHB has helped me in a huge portion of my vision so now I know what questions to ask and what I need to do to start my journey as a residential developer.”

After graduation, Holt will begin a full-time job at Holder Construction as a field engineer.

Want to get involved with one of these HBCU construction education programs? Complete this form.

Sponsors:

America's Home Place Logo
Builders Mutual logo
Mitek logo

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

IBS

Sep 02, 2025

NAHB International Builders’ Show Registration Opens for Final Time in Orlando

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) officially opened online registration and housing today for the 2026 NAHB International Builders’ Show@reg; (IBS), the largest annual light construction trade show in the world.

Economics

Sep 02, 2025

Single-Family Construction Down in Large Metros, Up in Rural Areas

In a sign of a soft housing market, single-family construction posted declines in nearly every geographic region in the second quarter of 2025, with the largest percentage drop of 3.8% occurring in large metro, suburban counties where most permit activity occurs. And while multifamily output also fell in large metro core counties, most other markets posted multifamily growth in the second quarter, according to the latest NAHB Home Building Geography Index (HGBI) for the second quarter of 2025 released today.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Aug 29, 2025

Multifamily Absorption Rises in the Second Quarter

The percentage of new apartment units that were absorbed within three months after completion rose in the second quarter, according to the Census Bureau’s latest release of the Survey of Market Absorption of New Multifamily Units (SOMA).

Economics

Aug 28, 2025

Mortgage Rates Move Lower, Hitting 10-Month Low

Average mortgage rates in August continued their steady decline and are now at their lowest rate since last November.

Economics

Aug 27, 2025

Wood-Framed Home Share Increased in 2024

Wood framing continues to dominate the U.S. single-family home construction market, according to NAHB analysis of 2024 Census Bureau data.