When Marcus Ashford was studying mechanical engineering at Louisiana State University, there wasn’t a single black faculty member in the department. Now, as an assistant professor at the University of Alabama, he hopes to inspire change. “A lot of kids don’t see themselves in certain positions because they’ve never seen anyone like them doing it,” he says. “We are our own best recruiters. If the work that we do is exciting enough, and you can get people to see that, we’ll draw them in.”

In 2004, the National Society for Black Engineers named Ashford Graduate Student of the Year for his revolutionary design of a fuel preprocessor for the Lincoln Navigator. It reduced emissions by 80 percent, improved fuel economy, and helped start the SUV in cold weather. Part of his doctoral dissertation at the University of Texas at Austin, the invention was patented by UT and Ford. Now, Ashford is working on hydrogen, which he calls “the ultimate fuel of the future.”

Ashford enjoys his role as a teacher. “When you’re discussing something in class, occasionally you’ll notice that ‘deer in the headlights’ look that says they don’t quite get it. You start tweaking what you’re saying, and then you see the lights going on. You can see it in their eyes. ‘Oh! That’s what he’s saying!’ And that’s an amazing feeling.”

Photo by Wyatt McSpadden

Filed under: Environmental, Explore Engineering, Mechanical

Tags: Environmental, Mechanical