Nosakhare Idiaghe is helping Lincoln-area youth discover engineering through hands-on learning in an after-school program.
That focus on expanding access to STEM education has earned Idiaghe, a doctoral candidate in engineering education research at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, the 2026 Mike Shinn Distinguished Member of the Year Award from the National Society of Black Engineers.
The award is presented annually to two members of the society and recognizes excellence in leadership, academic achievement, professional development and community impact. Idiaghe received the honor during NSBE’s Golden Torch Awards ceremony in Baltimore.
Idiaghe said his work is grounded in expanding opportunity for students who may not otherwise see themselves in engineering or believe college is out of reach.
“Some students just haven’t been exposed to what’s possible,” he said. “When they see it — and when they have someone who believes in them — it changes how they think about their future.”
That belief helped shape a STEM outreach initiative he helped launch in partnership with the Malone Community Center. Through the program, members of UNL’s NSBE chapter visit the Malone Community Center regularly to lead hands-on engineering activities and introduce students to engineering concepts they may not have encountered before.
For many students, the sessions provide a first introduction to engineering concepts and college pathways.
“We wanted them to see that they belong in those spaces,” Idiaghe said.
The program has become a central part of the NSBE chapter’s community engagement efforts, with ongoing conversations about expansion.
“The work is about planting seeds,” he said. “The results may come later, but they matter.”
Idiaghe came to Nebraska in 2022 from Nigeria to pursue graduate study. He was drawn by the university’s discipline-based education research approach, which places researchers inside engineering departments to study how the field is taught. It also impresses the need to collaborate across disciplines on questions that shape engineering education.
“It felt like the right place, like home,” he said. “It was a strong academic and personal fit.”
At UNL, he also served as president of the NSBE chapter in 2024-25, leading a period of growth that expanded membership, strengthened professional development programming and increased the organization’s visibility on campus and in the Lincoln community.
Alongside his leadership and outreach, Idiaghe has maintained a 3.96 GPA, earning a master’s degree in engineering management in December 2025 while completing his doctorate. His honors include the Complete Engineer Award, multiple fellowships, a best student paper award and recognition for graduate teaching.
He described receiving the national honor as humbling.
“I wasn’t working toward recognition,” he said. “I was focused on doing the work. To see it acknowledged like this — it means a lot.”
As he prepares to graduate in May, Idiaghe is exploring career opportunities while hoping to continue work centered on mentorship, learning and community engagement.
“Wherever I go, the goal is the same — to make a difference and leave something positive behind," Idiaghe said.
