Educating A Diverse Community Of Leaders

Diversity & Inclusion

Diversity at Cox

Director of Diversity Steve Denson provides strategic direction and coordination to all activities that recruit and support under-represented students for all Cox programs. The department's most unique program is the Native American Initiative aimed to actively reach out to Native Americans by providing resources and information about the opportunities of a business education.

The department also maintains active relationships with organizations such as the National Black MBA Association, Prospanica, and Reaching Out as well as maintaining relationships with local Dallas organizations and initiatives.

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Leaders In Diversity 2023 Awards

"It's the type of diversity, a diversity of thought, that better prepares the world leaders that we shape at SMU." Steve Denson Assistant Dean of Diversity

SMU Cox Diversity & Inclusion News

Dallas Business Journal Leaders in Diversity Awards 2023

SMU Cox alumni were honored at the 2023 Dallas Business Journal Leaders in Diversity awards. As a sponsor of the event, we are honored to celebrate Tina Bowers (MBA '04) and Cristina Candia Lopez (GMCP), who were both recognized for their outstanding leadership in the DE&I space. Ms. Bowers, Vice President, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer for Children's Health, encouraged her peers to stay excited and passionate as intentional #DEI changemakers. Congratulations to Tina, Cristina, and all the 2023 honorees.

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Women’s Path to Leadership and the Power of the MBA

Women hold just six percent of CEO roles at F500 companies (that’s 31 women vs. 469 men); of those 31 women, nearly half have MBAs. To talk about what’s happening on the ground level, Jill Melton and Annie Cadigan Dunlap join host Graham Richmond.

Women in Leadership – Leading with Strength & Impact to Change Bias Against Women Leaders

Dr. Candice Bledsoe and Ana Rodriguez join Ivy Exec to review specific examples of bias, discuss research-backed recommendations for what to do to combat these biases and propose actionable steps toward a more equitable (and profitable) workplace.

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Scholarships

SMU and Cox are committed to making the Cox programs financially attainable to all. For example, through the generous support of our Cox School endowment and scholarship funds, approximately 60 percent of the Cox full-time MBA student body is awarded a scholarship each year. These scholarships make a private school education at a reputable university affordable. Scholarships range from 10 percent – 100 percent of the cost of tuition and fees.   For more information on all scholarship, please visit our Admissions pages.

Student Organizations 

SMU Cox is home to several different student-run organization both at the undergraduate and graduate level committed to supporting and increasing diversity at Cox School of Business.  Throughout the year, these student run clubs host networking and professional development events and are open to all students.  Examples of events are pictured below and include:

  • Students from SMU's Graduate  club attending a National Associate of Women MBAs event in Houston
  • SMU Cox hosting the National Association of Black Accountants' (NABA) 15th Annual Accounting Career Awareness Program

Graduate Student Clubs 

Black Graduate Student Association
 The Cox School of Business Black Graduate Student Association is a diverse network of students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community business partners with a membership that is open to students across all of the Cox Graduate Business Programs. Throughout the year the BGSA hosts networking, professional development and social events. The BGSA has a primary purpose of increasing awareness and facilitating access to professional development and career opportunities for all members.

The Cox Fellowship

The Cox Fellowship is a non-denominational Christian organization open to all Cox MBAs. Our purpose is to foster a sense of Christian community and support through prayer, fellowship and outreach to create a life-long network of Christian business professionals.
Latino Business Club

The Latino Business Club is a diverse network of students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community business partners with a membership that is open to students across all of the Cox Business Programs. The primary goal of the Cox LBC is to increase networking opportunities among Cox students and the surrounding business community, as well as to increase awareness and facilitate access to professional development and career opportunities for all members.

The Cox LBC hosts networking, professional development and social events throughout the year on and off campus.
Net Impact Net Impact is a community of more than 50,000 student and professional leaders creating positive social and environmental change in the workplace and the world (). We promote a triple bottom line as part of business: people, profit and planet. We promote collaboration between business, institutions, non-profits and individuals to advance strategic solutions to global, societal problems.

Cox Net Impact events include the annual, national Net Impact Conference, panel events with area corporate leaders in CSR as speakers, happy hours, and higher level volunteering opportunities.
Pride@Cox
 Pride@Cox offers an inclusive, safe, educational, and fun space for LGBTQ+ graduate students and allies at the SMU Cox School of Business to connect with their fellow peers and the Dallas business community.
Veterans in Business

We are an association of veteran students and supporters of the veteran community, committed to assisting each other in the transition from the military into a successful career in the private sector. Furthermore, we believe in giving back to SMU’s Cox School of Business and continuing to honor those who serve by assisting local veteran programs.
Women in Business

The Cox School of Business Women in Business Chapter of the Graduate Women in Business Organization strives to be a support network of friendships and resources for women within the Cox MBA Program.

Undergraduate Organizations

ALPFA
 Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA) is a leading professional association, consisting of 44 professional chapters, 160 students chapters, and more than 72,000 members nationwide.

Our mission is to empower and develop leaders of character for the nation, in every sector of the global economy.

Ascend

Ascend is the largest, non-profit Pan-Asian organization for business professionals in North America. Established in 2005, Ascend has grown to serve professionals and corporations across various professions and across multiple industries.

Ascend reaches 60,000 people with 34 student chapters and 17 professional chapters located in both the United States and Canada around major business hubs and educational institutions.
NABA

NABA (National Association of Black Accountants) is a professional business organization offering members opportunities for development in leadership, interpersonal and soft skills. The organization provides networking opportunities for students to interact with a variety of individuals in upper management. Open to all majors, including pre-business freshmen and sophomores.