Atlanta – This June, the Atlanta University Center welcomed nearly two dozen exceptional incoming freshmen as part of the 2025 Atlanta University Center Dual Degree Engineering Program (DDEP) Summer Bridge cohort.
These students begin their college journeys this Fall at Atlanta University Center Consortium undergraduate member institutions — Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, or Spelman College — to earn dual degrees in liberal arts and engineering.
The DDEP Summer Bridge Program was a six-week intensive academic and cultural immersion experience designed to:
-Prepare students for the rigors of college coursework,
-Build a strong academic foundation in math, science, and communication,
-Cultivate a sense of community and support,
-Expose students to the vast opportunities within the engineering field.
For nearly a month, students engaged in college-level course work and completed four site visits to engineering companies, HNTB, Southwire, Intuitive Surgical and Microsoft engaging in panels with career professionals and on some sites Atlanta University Center alumni.
Students kicked off their first engineering site visit with an incredible experience at HNTB in Atlanta, where scholars had the unique opportunity to engage directly with HNTB engineers and senior leadership, gaining valuable insights into the real-world applications of civil and transportation engineering, among others.
According to Dr. Christopher Ellis, Senior Director, Institute for Dual-Degree Engineering Advancement (IDEA), Dual-Degree Engineering Program (DDEP), from discussions and Q&A sessions to a guided tour of the firm’s facilities, students were immersed in the culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence that defines HNTB. The visit not only exposed scholars to career pathways, but also reinforced the importance of community, mentorship, and early industry engagement.
Next, students witnessed firsthand why Southwire is a global leader in wire and cable manufacturing—observing the full production process from extrusion to packaging. Beyond the technical, they gained valuable insight into the day-to-day life of engineers and manufacturing professionals, and what it truly means to innovate at scale.
They had the fantastic opportunity to visit Intuitive Surgical for an immersive site tour — and it was nothing short of inspiring. From start to finish, the students were guided by experienced engineers who provided behind-the-scenes access into the various stages of building the groundbreaking da Vinci Surgical System.
Not only did they witness innovation in action, but they also participated in a thoughtful Q&A session where they asked insightful questions and gained valuable career and industry perspectives directly from those leading the way in medical robotics.
The final week, students were privileged to engage in an all-star panel discussion with Microsoft engineers, who generously shared their personal and academic journeys, offering insights into the diverse paths that led them to success. The panelists’ stories highlighted resilience, innovation, and the power of mentorship — lessons that deeply resonated with our aspiring engineers.
Aaron Brown, Technical Recruiter | Cloud Operations & Innovation (Data Centers) for Microsoft, was one of the team members who hosted AUC DDEP students. The moment was what he described as a full circle.
“As a proud Morehouse College alum, I know firsthand how transformational programs like this can be. Morehouse changed my life, and I have no doubt that this program will do the same for these students. Our goal for the day was simple but powerful: expose students early to the wide range of engineering career paths available, especially in Data Center Operations at Microsoft. Through panels, resume and LinkedIn workshops, and a behind-the-scenes facility tour, students got a real-world look at how infrastructure powers the digital world and where they might fit in.” Brown said.
The program concluded with a ceremony congratulating students on their accomplishments from the summer program and motivation to continue in the program in the upcoming Fall semester and beyond!
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About the AUCC
The Atlanta University Center Consortium, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation under the laws of the State of Georgia, formed in 1929 to operate on behalf of its member institutions–Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Spelman College—is the world’s oldest and largest association of historically Black colleges and universities. The Consortium is a vibrant intellectual community with a long tradition of scholarship, service, and community engagement.
