Howard University Engineering College Receives Historic $5M Gift From Autodesk

Howard University’s College of Engineering and Architecture (CEA) has received a $5 million gift from Autodesk Inc., the global leader in software for the Design and Make industries.

According to their press release, this marks the largest unrestricted philanthropic donation in the college’s history.

A $5M Gift From Autodesk

The new funding will support the College of Engineering and Architecture Design and Make Lab, which will provide software, state-of-the-art equipment, and educators who will empower future engineers.

“We are immensely grateful for Autodesk’s gift to Howard’s College of Engineering and Architecture,” said Howard University president Ben Vison III, PhD.

“Howard is a leader in graduating Black engineers, and this gift will expand our ability to provide our students with the best and latest resources throughout the course of their education here. This is increasingly important to us as competition for entry-level jobs continues to increase and as the need for tech and AI skills becomes all the more critical.”

According to research from career and jobs website Zippia, only 3% of mechanical engineers in the US are Black.

Now, Autodesk and Howard College, as part of a collaboration the two have shared for six years, are committed to increasing opportunities for this under-represented cohort and ensuring equal opportunities for hands-on software training for future engineers.

“At Autodesk, our software not only helps people design and make things; we also help shape tomorrow’s design and make leaders,” said Andrew Anagnost, president and CEO of Autodesk.

“We’re honored to support Howard University’s students on their journeys to building the future.”

The Design And Make Lab

Howard University will unveil the state-of-the-art Design and Make Lab in the fall of 2024. The lab will serve as a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration across the University.

The Lab will also support K-12 activities to inspire young students to explore Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) by incorporating SAE International’s award-winning, hands-on A World in Motion PreK-12 Stem Program.

The program supports equitable access to STEM through SAE’s AWIM Program and has reached more than 6 million students since its inception in 1886.

“The opening of the lab will enable students to transform their budding design ideas into working prototypes,” said John M.M. Anderson, Ph.D., dean of CEA.

“Through their use of the lab’s design and making technology and peer collaborations, students will have immersive learning experiences that connect theoretical knowledge with real-world problems that require diverse teams.”