The University of New Hampshire’s Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics is launching an Inclusive Leadership Fellows program designed to enhance the college’s efforts to build a more engaged and inclusive experience for students of diverse backgrounds. This includes People of Color, first-generation students, and those with demonstrated high financial need.
“Our long-term goal is to fuel the pipeline of diverse employees and leaders in business, while also strengthening attention to issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in our curricular and co-curricular learning programs,” said Luciana Echazú, associate dean for undergraduate education at Paul College. “The program is part of a larger initiative within UNH Paul aimed at strengthening DEI, belonging in our community and academic programs, as well as better preparing our students to work successfully in the increasingly diverse workplaces in the U.S. and abroad.”
The program will support six cohorts of around 10 Inclusive Leadership Fellows beginning in the academic year 2022-23. Fellows will be selected as rising sophomores through a nomination/application process during the spring of their freshman year. Key criteria for selection will be merit, financial need, and demonstrated interest in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Priority will be given to students who have participated in the UNH CONNECT program during their freshman year.
Fellows will be awarded $5,000 per year of scholarship support, with the goal of reducing financial burden so students can more fully engage in the college experience.
In addition to financial support the program includes dedicated academic and career advising, mentoring, and internships. Fellows will be part of a collaborative learning community where, through in-class and co-curricular opportunities they will develop a deeper understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion, how it impacts organizations, and how to navigate and build their careers successfully in diverse and inclusive organizations.
According to Echazú, the fellows will help drive the program, with juniors and seniors mentoring first year students, and seniors designing and working on a capstone project that will strengthen DEI initiatives within UNH Paul College.
The Inclusive Leadership Program in seed-funded by a $1 million anonymous gift to the college.
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Written By:
Sharon Keeler | Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics | sharon.keeler@unh.edu | 6038623775
