Diversity at Dyson: Inclusion for Impact

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) supports this mission through enrichment, engagement, and education. 

A student in class with her back turned wearing a hat with the word Cornell.

Our Stance Against Hatred

The Dyson School, along with the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, remains committed to the ideals and values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Our community remains committed to respectful, civil discourse, and our immediate focus is on keeping the community safe. We echo Cornell University President Martha E. Pollack’s messages to support one another in standing against hatred.

READ PRESIDENT POLLACK’S STATEMENTS

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Our Commitment to Antiracism

Upholding the motto “Our Business Is a Better World,” the Dyson School has launched several initiatives to advance equity, inclusion, and belonging. We’re taking this mission to heart by engaging in insightful dialogue that reaches across our differences.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR ACTION PLAN

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Land Acknowledgment: Recognizing the Cayuga Nation

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).

The College’s Land Acknowledgment


Hear from Our Students

Headshot of Gabriela Carmona.

“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

Headshot of Raymond Li

“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

Headshot of Maream Adous.

“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

Headshot of Amy Escalante.

“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

Our approach to diversity and inclusion includes programming and resources in three intersecting areas: enrichment, engagement, and education.

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Enrichment

Among the enhanced academic and social support and resources available to students is a diversity scholars program that helps low-income and first-generation students thrive in college.

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Engagement

Students build connections with diverse peers through clubs, organizations, cultural celebrations, and more. Engagement opportunities with alumni and employers abound through workshops, mentoring, and field trips.

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Education

Building a sense of belonging also happens in the classroom with courses from the Grand Challenges Curriculum and individual classes that address diversity and inclusion issues in the workplace, such as AEM 2015 The Business Case for Diversity and Inclusion.


Upcoming Events: Engage with ODI at Dyson

Explore our calendar for upcoming opportunities to learn something new, engage with our community, or participate in the celebration.

Annual Events

ODI Annual Events

  • Impact Week
  • Heritage month celebrations
  • Dyson-Nolan-Johnson Diversity Councils annual dinner
  • DEI industry trek to New York City
  • Lunch & learns
  • DEI workshops
  • Corporate partner programs
  • Alumni programs
  • Faculty Fellows for Inclusive Excellence
  • SC Johnson College of Business ODI social engagement and belonging programs

Belonging, Together: Groups at Dyson

Our campus community comes together to form several diversity-focused groups.

MEET THE COUNCIL

Dyson Diversity Council

Acting as agents of change for our community, the Dyson Diversity Council works to build connections across the school, the college, the alumni network, and industry through a variety of events and initiatives. 

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Faculty Fellows for Inclusive Excellence

The Dyson Faculty Fellows for Inclusive Excellence program creates opportunities for informal learning and engagement through scholarly, creative, social, and cultural experiences.

A female student speaking into a microphone with other students in the background.

Diversity-Related Student Groups

At the Dyson School, students celebrate each other through groups such as the DEI Business Advisory Council, Undergrad Out for Business, A Seat at the Table, BlackGen Capital, Association for Latino Professionals for America, and Women Leaders of Color.


Diversity, Inclusion, and AACSB Accreditation

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.

AACSB Accredited logo fading into a photo of people walking on a sidewalk with Cornell flags.
READ ABOUT AACSB’S DIVERSITY STANDARDS


Read About Dyson

Learn more about initiatives from the Dyson School’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion and other related news and stories from across our school.

Meng Zhou, M.S. ’92, Ph.D. ’96, and his doctoral advisor, E.V. Baker Professor of Agricultural Economics Emeritus Andrew Novakovic.
February 29, 2024

Donor’s New Fund to Support Students, Mentoring

Meng Zhou, M.S. ’92, Ph.D. ’96 established a fund to support doctoral students in applied economics and management.

A pair of hands holding seeds
January 24, 2024

Report: Warmer Planet Will Trigger Increased Farm Losses

Research by Dyson School professor Ariel Ortiz-Bobea quantifies just how much extreme heat is cutting into farmers’ financial security.

Two students with laptops sit near a window in a coffee shop and interview the manager.
January 10, 2024

Students ask, ‘How could reusable coffee cups become standard practice?’

Students at the SC Johnson College of Business proposed a plan for making reusable coffee cups standard practice in Tompkins County.