Tuskegee University hosted the 2026 Business and Engineering (TUBE) Conference on March 27, bringing together students from the College of Business and Information Sciences and the College of Engineering for a two-day event focused on leadership, academic skills, and workforce readiness.
The conference aimed to help students develop skills needed for success in their future careers by encouraging interdisciplinary teamwork. Students managed all aspects of planning and executing the event, which featured workshops and panel discussions with industry leaders from companies such as Amazon, The Boeing Company, Nucor Steel, and PepsiCo.
Senior Brianna Phillips from the College of Engineering and junior Alexander Littlejohn from the College of Business served as co-chairs. Dr. Heshmat Aglan, Dean of Engineering; Dr. Kai Koong, Dean of Business; Karan Dyson, Vice President at Procter & Gamble; Paul Jones, retired Vice President at Procter & Gamble; and Toya Dean also supported student efforts throughout the conference.
This year’s theme was “The TUBE League,” drawing parallels between athletic achievement and academic rigor. Dr. Thierno Thiam, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Tuskegee University said: “Today in the age of the Tuskegee Renaissance, our students are training rigorously to build and lead industries, build innovative solutions, and shape the future… This conference is a celebration of this spirit of problem solving, resilience, teamwork, discipline, and the relentless pursuit of greatness—values deeply embedded in the Tuskegee legacy.”
Dr. Thiam added: “We’re bringing it out of the classroom and on the field…in this case, the field of endless opportunities that await students as they leave Tuskegee equipped to be champions.”
Collette V. Smith—a Tuskegee alumna who became both the first woman coach in National Football League history with her role as defensive backs coach for the New York Jets in 2017—delivered a keynote address highlighting perseverance beyond campus life. Smith told attendees: “The game doesn’t start in the locker room… It begins with practice.” She urged students to value every role within a team setting—whether engineering or business—and said: “Your talent may get their attention but your character is what will sustain your success.”
Smith concluded by challenging participants to pursue their dreams with determination while honoring Tuskegee’s legacy: “Tuskegee creates leaders… When you walk into a room you are bringing the Tuskegee University legacy with you.” She ended her remarks by reminding them that obstacles will come after graduation but encouraged them to be prepared when opportunity arises: “At Tuskegee greatness is not optional—it is expected.”
