Carlson School Announces a Number of Diversity Initiatives
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
In the wake of the murder of George Floyd and too many others, the Carlson School immediately began work to create a more welcoming place for students, faculty, staff, visitors, and more.
A Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Action Work Group, charged by Dean Sri Zaheer, spent the summer months listening to each other, colleagues, students, and alumni. The group is working with the school’s executive committee on taking some immediate steps.
“This work is of the utmost importance,” says Dean Sri Zaheer. “We have begun implementing many of the workgroups suggestions, including initiatives focused on our internal culture and processes, as well as on pipeline programs and education for the larger business community.”
“The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Action Work Group was truly an effort that required us all to be open, honest, and humble. It has been both challenging and rewarding to collaborate on this with others from across the school.”
In order to jump-start these initiatives, Zaheer has committed $1 million in funding to support the work group’s recommendations. The 19-person Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Action Work Group, led by Professor and Accounting Department Chair Pervin Shroff, included a cross-section of students, faculty, and staff from a variety of diverse backgrounds. The DEI workgroup took part in a number of listening sessions and reviewed survey results from faculty, staff, and students to develop their initiatives.
This article appeared in the Fall 2020 alumni magazine
The year 2020 has brought forth unprecedented change. In this issue of our alumni magazine, we explore these changes and the Carlson School’s role in it.