College of Management establishes Diversity Advisory Board
January 23, 2008 – Raleigh, NC – North Carolina State University College of Management announced today the creation of its first Diversity Advisory Board.
“The college will be working with our new board members to provide advocacy, advice, mentorships, internships, and program assistance to our students,” said David Washington, assistant dean for Undergraduate Programs at the College of Management and the college’s liaison to the board.
The board will hold its first meeting Friday, Jan. 25, in the college’s Nelson Board Room, bringing together diversity leaders, managers and directors from 14 companies with strong diversity initiatives, as well as three other College of Management faculty members.
“We are working with a broad understanding of diversity in developing our activities, to include race, ethnicity, religion, gender and disability,” Washington said. “We also will be working to develop scholarship opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds.”
On the board’s agenda for its first meeting are presentations by several College of Management seniors from diverse backgrounds. Talking about their experiences at the college will be: Kevin Le, Steven Blumberg, Anna Gabriela Rangel and Princeton White, Jr.
“Formation of this advisory board supports one of our key goals as a college,” said Ira R. Weiss, dean. “That goal is to provide an exemplary educational opportunity that prepares students to lead in an ever-changing technological and global business climate. This includes expanding our efforts to support high achieving students from diverse backgrounds and experiences.”
The advisory board also will help support College of Management faculty who are working on diversity-related research. “In addition, we anticipate developing a scholars lecture program for faculty on diversity-related topics to further support the values that we uphold as a college,” Washington said.
“The Diversity Advisory Board will be a systematic way to ensure that diversity is truly incorporated throughout the college,” he said.
Washington said members of the advisory board were chosen for their commitment to diversity, as evidenced by recognition they have received over the years in publications such as Black Enterprise Magazine.
“I thank the members of the board for their time, support, leadership and involvement as we launch this initiative. On behalf of the board, I also thank the college and university administration, particularly Chancellor James Oblinger, Provost Larry Nielsen, Vice Provost José A. Picart, and the deans of the College of Management,” Washington said.
Following are the industry members of the NC State College of Management Diversity Advisory Board.
- Terrian Barnes, global diversity officer, Yum! Brands Inc., Louisville, K.Y.
- Joy Dorsey, director of diversity, Pepco Holdings, Inc., Washington, D.C.
- Kim Drumgo, chief diversity officer, BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina, Durham, N.C.
- Randy L. Moore, chief executive officer, RLM Communications, Fayetteville, N.C.
- Tammy Seals, vice president of diversity, Kelly Services Inc., Troy, M.I.
- Lorraine Stephens, president, L. Stephens & Associates, Inc., Raleigh, N.C.
- James Speed, president & CEO, North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance, Durham, N.C.
- Ralph Johnson, SPVN Supply Management, Nortel Networks, RTP, N.C.
- Lynn Henderson, director, US Pharmaceuticals Diversity Initiatives, GlaxoSmithKline, Durham, N.C.
- Alberto Roman, manager, World Wide Sales Enablement, Cisco, RTP, N.C.
- Gracie Johnson-Lopez, vice president of human resources, North Carolina Mutual, Durham, N.C.
- Anne Robie, director of talent and people potential, RSM McGladrey, Raleigh, N.C.
- Renee Alexander Sherrod, vice president, head of diversity and community relations, TIAA-CREF, Charlotte, N.C.
- Terry Johnson, vice president of training and development, BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina, Durham, N.C.
Academic members of the Diversity Advisory Board are:
- David Washington, assistant dean, Undergraduate Programs and assistant teaching professor, North Carolina State University College of Management
- Art Padilla, associate professor, North Carolina State University College of Management
- Fay Cobb Payton, associate professor, North Carolina State University College of Management
- Lorraine Wright, associate professor, North Carolina State University College of Management
About the NC State University College of Management
The North Carolina State University College of Management includes the Jenkins Graduate School of Management, which offers the Master of Accounting, Master of Business Administration, and Graduate Economics programs, offered jointly with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Undergraduate Programs, offering bachelor’s degrees and minors in accounting, business management and economics; and Executive Programs, offering custom programs. The college also has eight centers and initiatives that support curriculum development, research, and outreach activities: BioPharma Management Initiative, Center for Innovation Management Studies, Enterprise Risk Management Initiative, Entrepreneurship Education Initiative, Foundations for a Free Society, Service and Product Innovation Management Initiative, Supply Chain Resource Cooperative, and the Technology, Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Initiative.
- story by Cailin Deery, communications intern