Tennessee State to Host Women in Automotive and Motorsports Summit
STEAM Sports Foundation to Coordinate Agenda, Speakers
HBCU GO TV to be WAM’s Official Media Partner
NASHVILLE, TN (August 4) – Tennessee State University’s College of Engineering is partnering with STEAM Sports Foundation for the Women in Automotive and Motorsports (WAM) Summit this fall.
The conference will be held September 24-26 on the TSU campus. Its target will be aspiring female engineers who seek careers in the motorsports or the automotive industry. Students from engineering universities throughout the region will be targeted, but any female student studying automotive/motorsports engineering is encouraged to attend.
“The goal of the WAM Summit,” said Tennessee State’s Dr. Lin Li, dean of the university’s engineering department, “is to empower, educate, and connect college female students with career pathways, industry leaders, and hands-on opportunities in the automotive and motorsports sectors, equipping them with the knowledge, confidence, and networks needed to successfully enter and advance in what has been a traditional male-dominated field.”
While 52 percent of the U.S. population is female, on 47 percent comprise the overall workforce. In the automotive sector, only 24 percent of the workforce is female. In professional motorsports, approximately one percent of engineers are minorities with females making up less than one-tenth of one percent.
“This is a bold initiative,” said Dr. Charles McCurry, associate dean of the university’s engineering department. “This is more than a summit. It is a workforce pipeline strategy, a leadership platform, and a call to action for industry partners who believe in innovation, representation, and the future of engineering.”
“The motorsports industry has a rich history of innovation and technology,” says Bob Dickinson, founder and CEO of STEAM Sports Foundation. “It is a very integral part of the automotive research and development cycle. With the automotive industry such a vital part of the transportation industry, key advances in motorsports often impact the entire transportation industry, which has a direct impact on the world economy. If we can’t transport goods and services efficiently and economically, the world economy suffers.”
HBCU GO will serve as the official media partner for the WAM Summit, supporting the event through promotional PSA campaigns and on-site video production. Content captured during the summit will be developed into original programming highlighting career pathways and opportunities within the motorsports and automotive industries.
"HBCU GO is proud to partner with the WAM Summit in its mission to inspire and prepare the next generation of talent for careers in the motorsports and automotive industries," said Curtis Symonds, President and CEO of HBCU GO. "By working alongside Tennessee State University to amplify awareness of this important initiative, we're not only helping connect students with meaningful opportunities, but also creating compelling content that showcases the innovation, leadership, and impact emerging from this event.”
Tennessee State, which recently broke ground for a new $50 million engineering complex to be completed in the fall of 2027, will host the summit, provide marketing, and coordinate videography opportunities at and from the event. STEAM Sports Foundation will collaborate with TSU to create agenda topics and arrange speakers from the automotive and motorsports industry.
For more information about the summit and how to register: https://epay.tnstate.edu/C20204_ustores/web/store_main.jsp?STOREID=30&FROMQRCODE=tru
About Tennessee State University
Tennessee State University, located in Nashville, was founded in 1912 as a comprehensive, educational, land-grant institution. It has two campuses, one the 500-acre main campus nestled alongside a beautiful residential neighborhood along the Cumberland River, the other, a downtown Avon Williams campus near the center of Nashville’s business and government districts. Its College of Engineering offers 13 technical and non-technical degrees with an emphasis on another six areas of engineering, including automotive and motorsport. For more information: www.tnstate.edu
About STEAM Sports Foundation
STEAM Sports Foundation, based in Alpharetta, GA, is a 501c3 Georgia-based non-profit organization that concentrated on career development opportunities for underrepresented students who seek to focus on careers in motorsports and the automotive industry. Its four-pronged development path includes scholarships, Immersion Tours, internships, and the career summit. To date, it has awarded __ scholarships totaling $___,000 to __ students who have participated in five Immersion Tours to major race weekends and OEM headquarter facilities. For more information: www.steamsportsfoundation.org
About HBCU GO
HBCU GO is the leading media destination for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, delivering live football games, original series, news, entertainment, and lifestyle programming that celebrates the rich legacy, culture, and excellence of HBCUs. Now in its fifth football season, HBCU GO reaches audiences nationwide through an expansive distribution network that includes broadcast television, streaming platforms, connected TV, and the HBCU GO mobile app.
Owned by Allen Media Group, HBCU GO is committed to amplifying the voices, stories, traditions, and achievements of the HBCU community while connecting audiences to the culture through premium sports and original content. Led by an award-winning team of media and production professionals, HBCU GO continues to expand its reach through strategic partnerships and innovative programming that inspires, informs, and entertains.