Work in Progress

DEI

WORK IN PROGRESS

The report you hold in your hands is a baseline—a starting point for Georgetown McDonough’s systematic DEI efforts—but work has been underway already, for years in some cases. Read about highlights from our DEI efforts below.

COMPOSITION

A proven Smart Start: Now in its 11th year, the Smart Start program consists of events, workshops, and tools for first- and second-year underrepresented minority students. “If you haven’t been around business or business education, you can be at a disadvantage,” said Patricia Grant, senior associate dean and one of the program’s architects. “This levels the playing field. We’ve seen 100% graduation rates, which is remarkable—and not true for students with the same demographics without this program.” The program is a partnership with PwC, which has become a leader in DEI under the stewardship of Chairman Tim Ryan. Diversifying the student pipeline: Georgetown Reach is a free five-year program that supports underrepresented minority students and their parents from eighth grade through the college application process with expertise and resources. Other efforts to enhance recruiting include hiring Serafina Smith, director of MBA Admissions with a focus on diversity partnerships, and new initiatives. Among the partnerships she oversees are: > The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management > Forté > Pat Tillman Foundation

University Partner > Prospanica > Reaching Out MBA Fellowship > Yellow Ribbon Increasing diversity by program: The percentage of underrepresented minorities among students in Georgetown McDonough’s MSBA program is one of the highest in any such program across the country, including 41% women and 24% U.S. underrepresented minorities. In the Master of Science in Management Program 2022 cohort includes 36% of underrepresented U.S. minorities, 51% are women, and 51% represent overall U.S. diversity.

COMMUNICATION

Foundational analysis: The DEI Standing Committee (see Culture) completed a staff survey and summary of results—meant to drive strategy and tactics for DEI work, including this report and the development of msb. georgetown.edu/dei. Celebrating a milestone: In 2021, Georgetown McDonough published 60 Years of Alumnae: Memories, Milestones, and Momentum, a book surveying the landscape for women at Georgetown and in business since the school’s first female student graduated in 1960.

CURRICULUM

Innovative coursework: In fall 2020, Ella Washington, professor of the practice (see page 18), welcomed the first cohort of MBA students in her course Innovation through Inclusion, designed with a focus on practical problem-solving, dialogue, and critical thinking about DEI issues. DEI at the core: The Baker Trust McDonough DEI Fellows (see page 9) are charged with reviewing and revising undergraduate curriculum from the bottom up. Students envisioning an anti-racist future: Bob Bies, professor of management, has never shied away from social justice. In the past year, he redesigned both undergraduate and graduate courses to put DEI at the forefront and challenge students to develop ideas for a more anti-racist university. “I want to create opportunities for students to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their role in racial equity,” Bies said. DEI across programs: DEI across programs: A two-day opening residency in the Executive Master’s in Leadership program is devoted to responding to other people’s needs and concerns with an inclusive mindset. Master’s in Management courses on statistics, machine learning, fintech, and more include discussions about bias. The McDonough Business Scholars Program leverages the success of the Community Scholars Program led by the Center for Multicultural Equity and Access to offer first-year McDonough students targeted support, academic resources, and co-curricular programming to promote the success and retention of underserved and first-generation college students who pursue studies in the business field.