Pamplin hosts annual Spring Inclusion Dinner

The Pamplin College of Business Office for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) held its annual Spring Inclusion Dinner on Feb. 1, 2023, at the Inn at Virginia Tech. The formal dinner was the first held since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event recognizes Pamplin’s corporate partners who are enhancing access to employment opportunities and professional development for diverse communities in the college. Representatives from PwC, CoStar Group, EY, Target, RSM, Deloitte, KPMG, Summit Human Capital, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, CGI Federal, SEO Career, and more, were in attendance.

“These firms have continuously sponsored our diversity initiatives,” said Emily McCorkle, DEIB’s director for student success. “They have shared opportunities for our students to connect the dots between DEIB in higher education and the workplace. We were also joined by our wonderful faculty and staff at the college who have been advocates and champions for our underrepresented and underserved students throughout the years.”

Pamplin Interim Dean Roberta (Robin) Russell provided introductory remarks. She spotlighted goal two from Pamplin’s Implementation Plan for Strategic Initiative 5.6: Build a model inclusive community, which highlights Pamplin's committment to achieving 40 percent representation of underrepresented minority or underserved students in the entering undergraduate program (both first-year and transfer students). Interim Dean Russell shared how Pamplin recently surpassed the goal with a current representation of 41 percent and emphasized that DEIB’s work was just beginning.

“Engagements like the Spring Inclusion Dinner honor the key stakeholders who invest in the personal and professional development of Pamplin’s underrepresented and underserved students, taking the onus of shaping the lives of future business leaders who will make an impact in their organizations and beyond,” said Janice Branch Hall, associate dean for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. “We are building a model inclusive community in Pamplin where all students have equal access to professional opportunities, and our corporate partnerships are critical to fulfilling this vision.”   

“The Spring Inclusion Dinner was so refreshing,” said Lucy Ingles ’23 and New Horizons Scholar. “I had a great time and it was so good to see all my friends in one place networking and building relationships with others that can last a lifetime.”

Ingles continued, “I am grateful for the Office for DEIB and all the amazing events and programs they offer students. I can meet new people with impeccable knowledge and fresh perspectives. I advise current and future students to get involved. Your future self will thank you for putting yourself out there and taking charge of your future.”

-  Written by A’me Dalton