Dr. Slaughter’s career has many facets that include extensive work in science and technology policy through his role as president and CEO of the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering; director of the National Science Foundation (NSF); chancellor of the University of Maryland, College Park; president of Occidental College; and engineer for General Dynamics. Slaughter has connected industry, government, and academia through such programs and initiatives as the “M-W (middle school through workplace) Effort”; guiding the establishment of the NSF Directorate for Engineering during his tenure; and overseeing the development of a research park and computer science research institute at the University of Maryland.

Dr. Slaughter received a B.S. in electrical engineering from Kansas State University and an M.S. in engineering and Ph.D. in engineering science from the University of California. He also holds several honorary degrees from institutions such as California Polytechnic State University, Tuskegee Institute, University of Notre Dame, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and the University of Illinois. Slaughter has received numerous awards including the Heritage Award, Executive Leadership Council; American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Hall of Fame; and the U.S. Black Engineer of the Year Award. He also actively participates in many professional engineering societies, has written various professional publications, and has participated as a member on several corporate boards.