UNC Charlotte has received the 2024 Inspiring Programs in Business Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine, for the Doctorate in Business Administration in The Belk College of Business. Charlotte is one of only two universities in North Carolina to receive the recognition this year.
The national award spotlights programs, particularly at universities and colleges, that offer comprehensive support to encourage and equip students from underrepresented groups to enter the field of business. The magazine, which is the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education, will feature Charlotte and 26 other recipients in its April 2024 issue.
"This distinct honor is the latest recognition of our concerted efforts to support each student as they advance in their studies and their careers," said Belk College Interim Dean Dolly King. "Our DBA offering is the only AACSB-accredited program of its kind in the Carolinas, centered on research methodology, students’ original research addressing contemporary issues and the close collaboration among expert faculty and students."
Charlotte’s DBA program in late 2023 also ranked among the best in the nation for awarding degrees to students from underrepresented groups. The program ranked No. 2 in the U.S. for degrees conferred to underrepresented students and No. 4 in the U.S. for degrees conferred to African Americans in Diverse: Issues in Higher Education’s Diverse 100, based on analysis of U.S. Department of Education reports.
Since its inception seven years ago, the DBA program has excelled in attracting students with varied experiences and backgrounds, said Reginald Silver, Belk College’s associate dean of graduate programs and executive education.
"The volume of applications that we receive, including applications from students from underrepresented groups, is a testament to our focus on sustaining the most diverse program possible,” Silver said. “We are intentional about our use of social networking theory to attract top talent from all walks of life. We recruit from historically Black universities, professional societies, major corporations, and historically African American fraternities and sororities, among other sources."
Student cohorts stay intact as they progress, leading to strong, sustained relationships. The program emphasizes that each person’s story is unique and adds value; students often comment that the diversity they find within the program multiplies its impact.
"Our students' connections created through the program live on well beyond graduation," Silver said. "Our students and our alumni frequently serve as ambassadors for the program, helping potential students to see the enrichment that the program brings to their lives. One of the reasons that our program is so popular among historically underrepresented students is that they get to see themselves represented in our faculty and student body. We also are proud that graduates go on to lead sustainable change initiatives within their organizations, extending the program’s impact."
Each student chooses a faculty member who serves as their academic advisor and mentor for their time in the program, said Program Director Alan Turovlin ʼ20 DBA. "Our faculty challenge and encourage students, particularly in the development, publishing and presentation of impactful research," Turovlin said. "This close collaboration and faculty engagement are essential to the deep, applied learning that our students experience."
The Inspiring Programs in Business award is the latest recognition by Insight Into Diversity of efforts at Charlotte. For the past two years, the University has received the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award, also known as the HEED Award. Earlier this year, J. Murrey Atkins Library received the 2024 Library Excellence in Access and Diversity Award.
"We want to honor the schools and organizations that have created programs that inspire and encourage young people who may currently be in or are interested in a future career in business," said Lenore Pearlstein, the magazine owner and publisher.
"We are proud to honor these programs as role models to other institutions of higher education and beyond."
Pictured: Reginald Silver, Belk College’s associate dean of graduate programs and executive education (left) and Pinku Mukherjee, interim associate provost and dean of the Graduate School (right) hooding DBA graduate Denise Wynn.
About Insight Into Diversity
Insight Into Diversity magazine is the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education today and is known for its annual Insight Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award, the only award that recognizes colleges and universities for outstanding diversity and inclusion efforts across their campuses. Insight Into Diversity magazine presents timely, thought-provoking news and feature stories on matters of diversity and inclusion in higher education and beyond. Articles include interviews with innovators and experts, as well as explorations of best practices and profiles of exemplary programs. On our Career Center, readers will also discover career opportunities that connect job seekers with institutions and businesses that embrace a diverse and inclusive workforce. Current, archived, and digital issues of Insight Into Diversity magazine are available online at insightintodiversity.com.