Thurgood Marshall College Fund’s DevCon converges on Houston in July

June 26, 2026

Top-tier early talent students from the nation’s public historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and predominantly Black institutions (PBIs) will descend on Houston July 8-11 for DevCon, a regional professional development conference hosted by TMCF. 

Designed for first- and second-year students representing public and private HBCUs and PBIs, the upcoming three-and-a-half-day conference offers a deep dive into professional and leadership training. Through collaborative workshops, attendees will connect with industry leaders to learn what it takes to launch a successful career.

“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. Harry L. Williams, president & CEO of TMCF, said. “Our corporate partners are vital to this event’s success, and they truly look forward to building relationships with our emerging talent.”

In 2025, DevCon began hosting conferences under a new format, allowing focused attention on attendees from specific regions. In February, the conference took place in Baltimore and last year was held in Atlanta and near Washington, D.C. 

“Houston is an incredible location for DevCon,” Dr. Williams said. “We look forward to convening with our extraordinary students in such a historically rich city.”  

Approximately 400 students from 32 HBCUs and PBIs are expected to attend. The average attendee GPA is 3.52, representing academic disciplines such as agriculture, communications and engineering, among many others. 

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