The University of Windsor chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) is hosting the NEX-GEN 2026 conference, bringing together students, alumni, industry professionals and community members starting Friday, May 22 at the Ed Lumley Centre for Engineering Innovation. (University of Windsor)
By Lindsay Charlton
Engineering students may know what they want to study, but not always where that path could lead.
Sometimes, all it takes is a single conversation to uncover a new opportunity.
Designed to foster those connections, NEX-GEN 2026 will bring together students, alumni, industry professionals and community members for a two-day conference beginning Friday, May 22, hosted by the University of Windsor chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE).
“What will be inspiring is that you're seeing some of the graduates, and what they have attained in the professional world. We've got a good lineup of industry insiders for students to speak with,” said NSBE president and event organizer Stanley Madziyire.
“It’s not just about talking to someone and getting their job. I think that's what most people would want, right? But it just takes that one insight to change your life and put you on a new direction.”
A rooftop mixer will open the weekend, helping attendees break the ice and connect in a more relaxed setting ahead of the conference sessions.
“It’s an opportunity to relax and get to talk to each other, get people to unwind, so that the networking isn't as awkward,” Madziyire said. “No one's coming to a conference to sit alone in a corner — you want to meet people.”
NEX-GEN is the second conference hosted by UWindsor NSBE.
Following the success of last year’s Black Engineers Network event, organizers said the conference was rebranded to reflect a broader vision of bringing together students, alumni, mentors, industry leaders and allies in STEM.
“As an engineering club, we use it to celebrate Black excellence, from the essence of culture, not isolation,” said Madziyire. “There’s a lot of history behind why these spaces exist and why they’re important, and for us, it’s also about helping students network, connect with people and discover opportunities they may not have considered before.”
Much of that discovery comes through panel sessions, where students hear directly from experienced professionals about their paths, challenges and the insights that helped shape their careers.
“One term I hung onto from last year’s event was ‘you have to have grit.’ There are times when you’re told it can’t be done, or maybe you think you’re out of your depth, but you have to be a little delusional sometimes,” he said.
Skill workshop sessions will also be hosted over the weekend, covering topics ranging from personal branding and effective communication to emerging industries in tech.
“One organization is coming in to help people with AI and project management,” Madziyire shared. “We have speaker sessions from people across different companies, as well as sessions on entrepreneurship and community involvement. It’s a wide range and a mix of skills.”
Beyond the structured workshops and career connect sessions, he said some of the most meaningful takeaways often come from informal conversations throughout the weekend.
“There are a lot of niche careers you can get into, but people just don’t know about them,” Madziyire added. “This opens up people’s eyes and creates opportunities to meet more people, grow their LinkedIn and have conversations that can really redirect their path while they’re still in school.”
NEX-GEN 2026 runs May 22–23 at the University of Windsor campus. Tickets and programming information are available at nsbewindsor.ca.
