MAE's First African-American Graduate Honored

As a kid, Jeffrey Clements never thought about the world much beyond his own yard in the working-class community of San Pedro. As he grew older, though, and his horizons loomed larger, he began to consider his future. In 1967, he became the first African-American student to graduate from Long Beach State with a bachelor’s degree from the Mechanical & Aersospace Engineering Department. He went on to receive a masters and doctorate and helped produce space hardware for aerospace companies, such as Hughes, TRW and Raytheon. 

Now retired, Clements was honored as part of this year’s Golden Graduates and celebrates color in wholly different medium as a diverse artist, with a portfolio of pencil drawings, portraits and nostalgic pastimes. Read more