MBA Program Advances DEI Initiatives Through Scholarship Fund

In an ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business recently established a new DEI MBA Scholarship Fund to further DEI efforts for the MBA program. 

Embedded in the Jesuit value of women and men for others, the McDonough School of Business is committed to fostering a community in diversity. The DEI MBA Scholarship Fund originated from the MBA Alumni Advisory Council (MAAC) DEI subcommittee to ensure all students at Georgetown — including those with diverse backgrounds — have access to the resources they need to pursue graduate education. 

“Here at Georgetown, we believe deeply in the importance of diverse perspectives in our classrooms, our careers, and our relationships,” said Prashant Malaviya, senior associate dean for MBA programs. “The DEI MBA Scholarship Fund aims to reinforce these beliefs and create new opportunities for MBA students to reach their academic and career-related goals. This fund will make a direct impact on our ongoing efforts to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the McDonough MBA Program.”

The scholarship fund is part of a larger movement at the McDonough School of Business to evaluate the state of DEI and identify new opportunities to advance inclusion across all facets of the school. In October 2020, Dean Paul Almeida convened a Standing Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion composed of faculty, students, staff, and other McDonough stakeholders to define what DEI means at McDonough, gather data and report on the state of DEI at the school, and make recommendations on where to go next.

The committee has since established Georgetown McDonough’s 7Cs for DEI as a framework for establishing goals that encompass all aspects of DEI across the business school, including the composition of the student body and administration; how the school communicates its values; the emphasis on DEI in curricular and co-curricular activities, the careers and organizations in which students work; and how McDonough’s community and culture reflects its commitment to DEI and Jesuit values. 

These efforts have resulted in record years for diversity at the McDonough School of Business. In Fall 2021, Georgetown MBA welcomed its most selective and diverse incoming classes to date. 

“We continue to aspire for a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive McDonough community — the work is never done,” said Serafina Smith, director of MBA admissions, diversity partnerships. “The DEI MBA Scholarship Fund is an important component in furthering this mission and creating a better future for McDonough School of Business students and alumni.”

To contribute to the DEI MBA Scholarship Fund, please visit give.georgetown.edu/mba-dei.