For the second consecutive year, The Consortium presented a merit-based, full-tuition fellowship in partnership with the National Black MBA Association at our annual Orientation Program & Career Forum, this year in Phoenix.
This year, the scholarship went to Marissa Smith, an Atlanta native who graduated in 2011 from Washington University in St. Louis with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Marissa was a mentor and case competition coach with NBMBAA’s Twin Cities chapter of its Leaders of Tomorrow program and the NBMBAA Collegiate Chapter at Washington University. She will attend the University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business to pursue her MBA.
The joint scholarship is only one element of a five-year partnership between our two organizations, which are both dedicated to seeing broader diversity and inclusiveness among students in top MBA programs and the halls of corporate America.
Chanelle Gandy presents at The Consortium’s 2015 Orientation Program
“We’re so well-aligned; the partnership makes so much sense,” said Chanelle Gandy, NBMBAA’s associate director of chapter, member, and university relations, who presented the fellowship award to Marissa Smith. Gandy lauded The Consortium’s general approach to encouraging diversity, paired with NBMBAA’s particular focus on African American students. “There’s very much a need for organizations that are committed to developing black talent.”
In recognition of NBMBAA’s annual contribution to The Consortium’s Annual Fund, one student who is judged to be particularly aligned with National Black MBA’s mission receives a full-tuition fellowship in the name of both organizations. It is awarded to an African American student who is an active member of NBMBAA and has demonstrated leadership and community commitment. Applicants submit a resume, transcripts and letters of recommendation. They must also be enrolled in an MBA program with one of The Consortium’s partner schools.
“We’re privileged to work with National Black MBA on this partnership,” said Janice Wells-White, vice president for program administration at The Consortium. “The partnership makes a powerful statement about the need to drive diversity in education and business.”
NBMBAA has 10,000 members nationwide, half of whom are studying business as undergraduates or MBA prospects; the other half are business professionals who share a dedication to diversity in business.
That network dovetails with The Consortium’s annual class of 400-plus new fellows, 800-plus current students, 8,000-plus alumni worldwide and representatives from our 18 partner MBA programs and more than 75 corporate partners.
While Gandy appeared at The Consortium’s annual orientation program to award the scholarship, the organizations’ partnership extends into NBMBAA’s annual conference as well, which attracts some 10,000 people annually. The two organizations pair up on a diversity networking reception that gives partner companies early access to top-tier students at the top 30 MBA programs. Last year, 230 participants took part in the networking event. This year’s NBMBAA conference is Sept. 22-26 in Orlando.
“The reception is an intimate venue for quality contact between our corporate partners and a select group of top-tier MBA students,” Gandy said. “It’s really a great chance for them to interact and learn more about their career interests.”