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

Oct 24, 2025

Is the Construction Industry Attracting Younger Workers?

According to the 2023 American Community Survey (ACS), the median age of construction labor force is 42 years old — one year older than a typical worker in the national labor force. However, the construction industry has seen an increase in younger skilled labor since the peak of the skilled labor shortage in 2021.

Codes and Standards

Oct 23, 2025

NAHB Requests Member Feedback on ICC Review of International Residential Code

The International Code Council (ICC) has announced it will begin a holistic review of the International Residential Code (IRC), the national model construction code for one- and two-family dwellings that ICC updates every three years.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Oct 24, 2025

Inflation Picks Up in September

Inflation increased in September to the fastest pace since the start of the year, showing tariff pressure on prices continues to materialize gradually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) latest report.

Economics

Oct 23, 2025

Existing Home Sales Increase in September

Existing home sales rose to a seven-month high in September as mortgage rates eased and inventory improved, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Resale inventory matched to the highest level since May 2020, though it remained below pre-pandemic levels.

Economics

Oct 22, 2025

Where are Porches Most Common for Newly-Built Homes?

Although the share of new homes with porches edged down in 2024, porches continue to rank as the most common outdoor feature on new homes, according to NAHB tabulation of the latest data from the Survey of Construction (SOC, conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau with partial funding from HUD).