Photo: DenisTangneyJr / E+ / Getty Images
Some of the brightest early-career talent from the nation's public historically Black colleges and universities and predominantly Black institutions are converging on Houston this week for DevCon, a regional professional development conference hosted by the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
Running July 8–11, the three-and-a-half-day conference is designed for first- and second-year students from public and private HBCUs and PBIs. Through collaborative workshops and direct access to industry leaders, attendees will gain professional and leadership training aimed at setting them up for career success from the start.
Approximately 400 students from 32 HBCUs and PBIs are expected to attend, with an average GPA of 3.52. Academic disciplines represented include agriculture, communications, and engineering, among others.
TMCF President and CEO Dr. Harry L. Williams said connecting students with corporate partners early is central to the conference's mission. "It's essential to connect students with our corporate network as early as possible to ensure TMCF is actively developing a diverse and talented workforce," Dr. Williams said. "Our corporate partners are vital to this event's success, and they truly look forward to building relationships with our emerging talent."
The Houston conference is part of a regional format DevCon adopted in 2025, allowing the event to give more focused attention to students from specific parts of the country. Earlier this year, DevCon was held in Baltimore, and previous conferences took place in Atlanta and near Washington, D.C.
Dr. Williams said Houston was a fitting choice for this iteration of the event. "Houston is an incredible location for DevCon," he said. "We look forward to convening with our extraordinary students in such a historically rich city."
The Black Information Network is your source for Black News! Get the latest news 24/7 on The Black Information Network. Listen now on the iHeartRadio app or click HERE to tune in live.