At the Isenberg School of Management, our community is firmly committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming environment for our current and prospective students and their families, faculty, staff, and all visitors. Our mission is to create and disseminate knowledge related to the value of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging for businesses and stakeholders through impactful, multidisciplinary, practice-oriented research and educational outreach that advances meaningful organizational and societal change aimed at increasing inclusivity. Isenberg promotes the exchange of varying perspectives and the inclusion of different experiences, which prepares our students to lead in an increasingly global market.
“At Isenberg and the Office of DEIB, we work collectively to create a culture of belonging—one that recognizes the value of diversity and creates an antiracist and just learning community. We recognize that we must wholeheartedly embrace the perspectives and experiences that arise from the diversity of ideas, identities, experiences, and backgrounds to ensure that every member of our community can be their authentic self.”
The Isenberg Community Leadership Council consists of faculty and staff representatives from across various academic departments and office units dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging work across Isenberg. These convenings enable Council members to meet and share best practices, strategize, collaborate, and pursue coordinated efforts with greater intentionality and impact.
The Isenberg Community Leadership Council for students looks to advocate for underrepresented students by providing a diverse set of voices with the goal of maximizing the accessibility of college resources, provides insight into pressing student issues and concerns, and provide feedback on priorities and policies impacting the student experience at Isenberg. In addition, the Council strives to enhance the relationship between students and the school administration and equips students with the knowledge, support, and resources to become successful student leaders at Isenberg.
The Executives in Residence Program is comprised of invited senior executives from C-Suite companies in industries such as technology, retail, health care, manufacturing and consumer goods as well as senior partners from strategy consulting, private equity, and financial services. The program has two areas of focus: Mentoring members of the Isenberg student community by contributing "practice" to the school’s strategy of bridging theory to practice with Industry and functional expertise and volunteering to other programs and centers at the School. Mentorship programs include Lunch and Learn programs, Fireside discussions, virtual programming, one-on-one private meetings, group meetings with student clubs and/or school committees.
Graduate Fellows collectively will advance and implement goals for the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Isenberg. Critical components of this work will include but are not limited to, supporting an inclusive community and enhancing the cultural, academic, and professional experience of historically underrepresented students (e.g., students of color, low income and first-generation college students, LGBTQ+ students, undocumented students, etc.). Graduate Fellows will work across and within academic units to assist in creating healthy communities and report directly to Assistant Dean for DEIB.
The Partners in Education Program is an exciting initiative at the Isenberg School of Management to help promote diversity in business professions. The initiative includes a first-year academic program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst for students from underrepresented populations who are interested in pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in business.
Visit our IConnect platform for dedicated resources for our underrepresented student population to assist in navigating the path towards their future and articles around diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace for all students to learn from.
At the Isenberg School of Management, we strive to provide the resources, opportunities, and support that underrepresented students need to thrive. Here are just a few of the ways Isenberg fosters an inclusive culture.
From the study of gender and organization to the inclusion of marginalized groups in sport, Isenberg faculty are on the cutting edge of research that develops the understanding and promotion of diversity and inclusion on our campus and beyond.
Isenberg supports our diverse community with a range of both need- and merit-based scholarships for students from underrepresented groups, including people of color, women, international students, and others.
The Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Isenberg has active partnerships with a number of offices and centers on campus:
Isenberg Office of Career Success
Isenberg Office of Undergraduate Programs
The Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging supports a number of student organizations at Isenberg that advance the academic, professional, and social needs of our community, provide leadership opportunities, and help connect students with specific identities, backgrounds, and interests.
As a school of management, Isenberg has the unique power and privilege to enact change in two worlds: the business world and that of higher education. We see ourselves as being uniquely able to flip the system from one of brutality, violence, and deep-rooted injustice to one of liberation. Here we have outlined various initiatives and actions we will use to move us forward.
