Pamplin’s DEIB Student Org Coalition Meeting was held on March 14, 2023, at the New Classroom Building. Photo by A’me Dalton for Virginia Tech.

The Pamplin College of Business Office for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) recently held their first-ever DEIB Student Org Coalition Meeting on the evening of March 14, 2023. This workshop was a safe space for students to gather to have “real talk” conversations and discussions around the topics of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, what it means, and why DEIB work is so important in today’s culture.

“These organizations know that diversity has been the core in what we do and the work we have done, and I know as a current MSBA student, an alumna, and a faculty member who works with students, there is still a lot of work to do,” says Emily McCorkle, Pamplin’s Director for Student Success and Pamplin alumna. “Part of this coalition is developing opportunities and ensuring that we’re highlighting our diverse student organizations.” 

Lead by student leaders from Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA), Collegiate Women in Business (CWIB), Finance for Females, Fluid: Professional Growth for LGBTQ+ Students, National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), Pamplin Multicultural Diversity Council (PMDC), and Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS), provided feedback. Such feedback included recommendations on fully integrating DEIB into curriculum as a core course or graduation requirement, designating a safe space within Pamplin to serve as a DEIB resource lounge, inviting DEIB workshops into classes to serve as substitutions rather than canceling classes when professors are absent, the creation of focus groups and climate surveys lead by students, and more.

Students continued their dialogue by taking a deeper dive into their lived experiences as students, both good and bad, discussed how to best advocate for themselves, be active allies for one another, and help Pamplin College of Business in developing a safe space that encourages belonging for everyone from different walks of life.

-        Written by A’me Dalton 

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