Taking our mission to heart — and to task.
The Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management is guided by the motto “Our Business Is a Better World.” That means preparing graduates to address the business challenges of a diverse, interconnected world.
The Dyson Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) helps advance this mission by fostering a sense of belonging for everyone in our community through enrichment, engagement, and educational opportunities and support systems. Belonging is what unlocks the power and value of diversity. At Dyson, we support the principles of Belonging @ Cornell by creating intentional connections, building trusting relationships, inviting diverse opinions and perspectives, and engaging in opportunities that strengthen our community.
Our school, as part of the SC Johnson College, recognizes and honors the land on which we live, work, and learn. Cornell University is located on the traditional homelands of the Gayogo̱hó:nǫɁ (the Cayuga Nation).
“My favorite part about the Dyson School’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion is the accessibility students have to peers, faculty, and staff. Being able to find someone who can help me professionally or simply to just have a conversation makes me feel welcomed and supported.” —Gabriela Carmona ’25
“Representation. I believe that students of all identities/from all socioeconomic backgrounds deserve a voice as a Dyson student. This is why the work at the Dyson Office of Diversity & Inclusion is so important—it plants the seed of inclusivity that will blossom and eventually be reaped by the entire community.” —Raymond Li ’24
“Unlike other schools, Dyson’s DEI efforts go far beyond just career. There are frequent trips around Ithaca, NYC, and DC that encourage both learning and leisure. There is a snack closet designed to address food insecurity among first-generation, low-income (FGLI) students. Most importantly, you’ll always have a community to lean back on.” —Maream Adous ’26
“There are lots of spaces at Cornell that can prepare you for the workforce. However, being a first-generation Latina student, knowing what these resources were or how those resources could be applied to my experience didn’t come naturally. Luckily, the Office of Diversity & Inclusion and the amazing students that were a part of it at that time knew how to nurture me my freshman year and teach me about what it meant to recruit as a student of color and how to enter corporate spaces.” —Amy Escalante ’24
Our approach to diversity and inclusion includes programming and resources in three intersecting areas: enrichment, engagement, and education.
Among the enhanced academic and social support resources available to students is the Accelerator Scholars program that helps first-generation students thrive in college.
Students build connections with diverse peers through clubs, organizations, social belonging programs, and more. Engagement opportunities with alumni and employers are offered through workshops, mentoring, and industry treks.
Building a sense of belonging also happens in the classroom with courses from the Grand Challenges Curriculum and classes that fulfill the CALS diversity curriculum requirement, such as AEM 3015 Inclusive Leadership for Organizational Impact.
Explore our calendar for upcoming events.
Our campus community comes together to form several organizations driven by inclusive student leadership.
Supporting both the ethos of the Dyson School–Our Business is a Better World–and the principles of Belonging @ Cornell, the Dyson Diversity Council works to strengthen intentional and meaningful connections across the school, the college, the alumni network, and industry through a variety of events and initiatives. The Dyson Diversity Council collaborates with the Johnson Diversity Council and Nolan Diversity Council to promote cross-college community and sense of belonging.
The Dyson Faculty Fellows for Inclusive Excellence program is designed to help facilitate casual engagement between Dyson faculty and Dyson students. Faculty Fellows contribute to the intellectual and social life of the Dyson community by supporting opportunities for informal learning and engagement through scholarly, artistic, social, campus, athletic, cultural, and professional experiences. Research indicates that faculty-student contact outside the classroom is empirically associated with multiple positive outcomes, including retention and persistence to graduation, academic achievement and performance, and critical thinking.
Dyson students are involved with various business student orgs including these that welcome and support students from diverse backgrounds: Dyson Diversity Council, Undergrad Out for Business, A Seat at the Table, BlackGen Capital, Association of Latino Professionals for America, Diversity and Inclusion in Real Estate, Diverse Leaders for Tomorrow, Diversity in Cornell Economics, and Women Leaders of Color.
Diversity and inclusion is a critical component of the accreditation standards set forth by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Its guiding principles state: “Diversity in people and ideas enhances the educational experience and encourages excellence in every business education program.”
We’re among the few institutions that meet AASCB’s standards, including demonstrating our commitment to creating a campus community that fosters diversity, inclusion, and belonging among its faculty, staff, students, alumni, and partners.
Learn more about initiatives from the Dyson School’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion and other related news and stories from across our school.
