University of Michigan Ross School Dean Pushes for Diversity
The outgoing dean of the University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business (Michigan Ross School) recently spoke to The Times Higher Education about her term-long push for diversity among the school’s students and faculty.
Dean Alison Davis-Blake gave credit to the school’s community for its widespread support of her initiatives.
“Students want a diverse environment in which to learn, we know students learn better – in the long-run – in an environment that’s diverse,” she said. “Recruiters want a diverse workforce. All constituents want a diverse campus and they want [these issues] to be addressed in the curriculum.” All undergrads at Michigan Ross are required to complete an Identity and Diversity in Organizations program, which involves seminars that increase self-awareness on issues of cultural intelligence. The program sharpens skills related to flexibility within different contexts, whether they are ethnic, generational, or organizational.
Dean Davis-Blake notes, “Anecdotally, students have really enjoyed [the program]. They feel much more self-aware and that … is making them much more confident learners. Diversity is, relatively speaking, easy to work on … Pushing all the levers that affect inclusion and how people feel and how others treat them, is much more difficult.”
Since Davis-Blake became dean, Michigan Ross has attained the highest proportion of tenured female faculty, or those who are tenure tracked, of the nation’s top 10 business schools.
Dean Davis-Blake will conclude her time at the school in June 2016, citing her desire to bring her wealth of knowledge and ideas to address “the broader problems and opportunities facing universities”.
About the Author
Maggie Boccella
Maggie Boccella, a lifelong resident of Philadelphia, is a freelance writer, artist and photographer. She has consulted on various film and multimedia projects, and she also serves as a juror for the city's annual LGBTQIA Film Festival.
