Dear GW Business Community,
It is a pleasure to be writing to you following several weeks of engaging and informative programs at the GW School of Business. You may have seen my recent update regarding the successful extension of our AACSB accreditation.
This process occurs every 5 years for business schools in the U.S. and abroad. AACSB is the largest and most widely-recognized accrediting organization for academic business programs. AACSB considers diversity and inclusion is a “critical component” of its accreditation standards. GW School of Business was recognized this month as first worldwide for percentage of women enrolled in our full-time M.B.A. program among the schools on the Financial Times Top 100 Global M.B.A. list. This is one example of many that demonstrate how we have been ambitious and steadfast in our efforts to advance diversity, equity and inclusion.
We have hosted our Diversity & Allyship Week 2024 programming, which had events and points of connection for everyone from our current students to our faculty and staff, and our alumni. I had a great conversation with Sharifa A. Anderson during George Talks Business. We discussed equity in housing policy, and the efforts taking place at Fannie Mae to instill DEI into the housing landscape. You can watch a recording of this session online. It is my goal for our community to take what we have learned during this week and allow it to guide us all throughout the year.
Last month, I shared a few words with students in our Global M.B.A. program as they were beginning the Consulting Abroad Program (CAP). I am proud of this group of students and glad I had the chance to wish them my best as they began their consulting projects and collaborations with the international companies and organizations that partner with us on CAP. This is the 16th year of the program and it has produced many cherished memories and lessons about the world of business.
I recently also attended a virtual launch event for the newest cohort of ELEVATE, an executive education program for minority-owned small businesses in the Washington, D.C. area. The program’s 3-month curriculum features learning in business and organizational management, corporate strategy, financial analysis, and other areas that are key to entrepreneurship. The program is taught by faculty from GW Business and provided in partnership with the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing & Economic Development (CNHED). This fourth cohort is the first that is dedicated to women business owners. This group of 15 women entrepreneurs are leading enterprises in a variety of sectors, supporting our local economy. I am excited for all that they will bring to the program and to their respective businesses.
Earlier this month, it was an honor to testify before the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development. I joined fellow panelists in offering suggestions for senators as they considered approaches and frameworks for both regulating artificial intelligence and maximizing its potential use cases in housing policy. We are excited to be sharing the news that our second annual GW Business & Policy Forum will focus on AI and how it will impact the future. Please look for further announcements soon.
I hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful spring and I look forward to connecting with you in my next message.
Regards,
Vanessa G. Perry, M.B.A., Ph.D.
Interim Dean
Professor of Marketing, Strategic Management and Public Policy
School of Business
The George Washington University