State of Inclusive Excellence
Azaria Blair, BBA ’23, raises a glass to her fellow graduating Business Fellows at the 2023 Toast. Photo by Joseph Fuqua II.
Lindner faculty, staff and students impress with wide-ranging engagement efforts
The 2022-23 academic year has been one of explosive engagement by Lindner faculty, staff and students, as well as recognition of our collective efforts. With the launch of the Lindner Inclusive Champion certificate program, more than 40 faculty and staff answered the call to participate in training courses and workshops crafted to promote inclusion and belonging. Members of this inaugural cohort participated in six trainings and submitted written reflections for each, detailing how they can apply their learnings to their work in Lindner.
Nick Castro, JP, CDP, Assistant Dean, Inclusive Excellence.
Our students were fully engaged this year. Pride at Lindner, the student organization advancing an inclusive and empowering environment for LGBTQ+ students, faculty, staff and community allies at Lindner and UC, completed a $50,000 fundraising drive to endow a scholarship. The scholarship will support future students who demonstrate initiative in making Lindner and UC a more diverse, inclusive and welcoming space.
Over 250 students — including 30-plus prospective, admitted Lindner students — attended Lindner Women in Business’ annual Empowerment Day, which united students with alumni and business community members to celebrate the organization’s 10th anniversary.
iCats (International Bearcats) returned with impactful cultural awareness programming focused on Pakistan, China and Brazil, among other countries. Business Fellows welcomed its largest-ever incoming class, while our returning Fellows held leadership positions across UC and within other Lindner organizations, such as Lindner Student Association and Neo Initiative.
The Withrow University High School of Business Pathway to Lindner program was recognized by INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine with the Inspiring Programs in Business Award. This honor highlights programs that support underrepresented students on their path to becoming future business leaders by providing resources from recruitment through graduation. The Pathway program supplies Withrow students with unique access to college-level courses that prepare them for future business coursework at UC or elsewhere.
Finally, Lindner has been awarded the Inclusive Leadership Challenge Grant, sponsored by the Offices of the President and Equity, Inclusion & Community Impact. The grant, which is designed to resource new and existing projects in climate, retention and recruitment, will be used to launch the Diversity in Leadership program. This initiative will provide underrepresented business professionals with executive training and an opportunity to earn a Lindner MBA.
The Lindner community has established a high bar and as we look toward the 2023-24 academic year, we will continue to create and promote spaces of belonging in our college — and beyond!
Nick Castro, JD, CDP
Assistant Dean, Inclusive Excellence
