May DEI Digest
Tis the season to celebrate…
Can you believe that fall quarter began nine months ago? The time has been filled with new insights, long nights, crucial conversations, and deep reflections. We’ve made it. Fulfilling our goals and commitments has paid off. It is graduation season and wow, do we deserve it.
Some students are about to launch into the rest of their lives and we have put our hearts and souls into supporting them. Other students are embarking into their first internships, giddy at the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned thus far. What a high energy time!
After early June, let us slow down, take a breath, and reflect on what
we, together, have accomplished. For those of us who are gearing up
for a new round of students, may you also take a respite before they
arrive. Hopefully you have vacations, staycations, and wonder-filled
adventures planned. Even if being under an umbrella with a favorite
book is all you need.
Enjoy catching up on the good news in Foster’s approaches to
inclusion, diversity, and belonging.
Happy Summer
Michelle Purnell-Hepburn
Associate Dean for Inclusion & Diversity
Diversity events of the year
Five Foster students among the Husky 100
Five Foster Undergraduates students were selected for inclusion in the Husky 100. These students were selected based on their passion, leadership, and commitment inside and outside of the classroom and applying what they learn to make a difference on campus, in their communities and for the future.
Congratulations to (from top left): Thomas A. Sefair-López , Lynn Owejan, Citlalli Cruz, Iman Janoo, and Manan Vasdev.
Congratulations Hovind Global Leaders
Congratulations to the 2023-2024 Hovind Global Leaders. The cohort gathered for an end-of-year Leaders Forum on May 15 to celebrate an impactful year of leadership, growth, and community-building. This year’s cohort included a diverse group of future leaders who participated in a weekly seminar, mentorship program, and spring break immersion to Rome to further develop as inclusive, global leaders.
2024 Building Networks Cohort aids in bringing underrepresented students to Foster
We are excited to share that we have concluded the 2024 Building Networks Cohort. This program helps underrepresented undergraduates at UW or a WA community college with their process in applying into the Foster School of Business. They receive support through our mentorship model, where mentors who are current Foster students assist and guide their mentees as they apply and learn more about business. Mentors share their insights and resources with their mentees to best prepare them.
Our weekly Friday sessions included topics ranging from the WSA, academic success, networking, technology in business, and many other topics planned and led by our amazing mentor group. In this year’s cohort we had 14 mentees from different community colleges around the greater Seattle area, along with a total of 43 in the cohort. Mentees who applied to Foster for this cycle recently heard back and as of now the 2024 cohort has a 72% acceptance rate, which is something the BN program takes great pride in. We look forward to the incredible things our mentees will contribute to the Foster community and the continued growth of our impactful program!