Two engineering alumni honored at annual Black Alumni Weekend

Kenneth Kelly, ’90 electrical engineering, and Metrick Houser, ’93 chemical engineering, were honored Saturday, April 5, as part of Auburn University’s Black Alumni Weekend.

The annual Black Alumni Weekend is a three-day celebration focused on cultivating community through engaging social events and networking opportunities. 

Houser, who serves as director of Global Sourcing NA at Sylvamo Corporation, was honored with the Black Alumni Award. Representing the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, Houser is one of 10 recipients from several colleges at Auburn. This award ‘recognizes recipients for outstanding achievements in their professional lives, personal integrity and stature and service to the university.’

Houser is an active member of the Auburn University Department of Chemical Engineering Alumni Advisory Council, the Auburn Alumni Engineering Council, the Auburn Pulp and Paper Foundation Board and the Auburn University Alumni Association. 

“I am honored to be recognized by the College of Engineering as the 2025 Black Alumni Award recipient,” said Houser, of Memphis. “I always enjoy engaging all the students in engineering to help them gain perspective and encourage them with their studies. I would also like to thank President (Christopher )Roberts, Dean Eden and Dr. (Selen) Cremaschi for their support in helping connect me with students for the past 30+ years. Lastly, a special thanks to the Black Alumni Council for creating the atmosphere with a wonderful gala.”

Kelly is the chairman and CEO of First Independence Bank of Detroit, the nation’s seventh-largest African American-controlled bank. He also chairs MAC Leasing, a Michigan-based, minority-owned equipment finance company. Before entering the financial sector, Kelly held key leadership positions at Southern Company, where he led $3.4 billion in solar project acquisitions. Kelly is the first African American chair of the Auburn Alumni Engineering Council.

Kelly is the third engineering recipient of the Franklin Brittain Matthew Award, which was established in 2023 to ‘recognize and honor outstanding Black Alumni who are stellar leaders to the Auburn University community, their college and schools, and in their local communities through professional, volunteer, or personal contributions.’

“I am humbled to receive the Franklin Brittain Matthews Legacy Award. It is truly an outstanding opportunity to honor the trailblazing efforts of Dr. Harold A. Franklin and Dr. Josetta Brittain Matthews' historic feats to make Auburn a better university,” Kelly said. “I will continue to demonstrate the values of our Creed in a manner to strengthen their legacies and to inspire future generations of Auburn Alumni of the values that appreciate hard work, and the human touch, which cultivates sympathy and mutual helpfulness for all.”

Engineeiring Dean Mario Eden praised their selection as representatives of the college.  

“We are honored to have alumni such as Kenneth and Metrick representing our great college,” said Eden, the Joe T. and Billie Carole McMillan professor. "Their devotion to the field of engineering, Auburn University, and supporting the next generation is truly inspiring. The recognitions they each received from the Black Alumni Council are well-deserved.”