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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Diversity is critical to the mission of Poole College and NC State. It is embedded in everything we do. Explore the college's vision and initiatives to create and advance a culture of diversity and inclusion.

Our Commitment

NC State defines diversity as an inclusive community of people with varied human characteristics, ideas and worldviews whose interactions both benefit and challenge each other to grow while making the community better.

Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is more than just words. It is a commitment to the work that has been done and the work that we still need to do to make sure that every person is welcomed and included at Poole College.  

Alumni Gateway on a cold winters day. PHOTO BY ROGER WINSTEAD

The Think and Do mindset of our university leads us to be better, to think broadly and critically, and to take action that improves upon where we are today. We believe that diversity, equity and inclusion drive innovation and excellence and create a stronger society.

Jenkins MBA is
No. 4 in Diversity

Our full-time Jenkins MBA program has been ranked No. 4 in the B-School Diversity Index by Bloomberg Businessweek in 2023-24.

Faculty Diversity: 38% are Female, 12% — Underrepresented Minorities

Among tenure, tenure-track and professional faculty in the 2020-21 academic year.

Freshman Class:
49% are Female,
51% — Male

For the first time in the history of Undergraduate Programs, we have almost equal gender representation in the fall 2021 freshman class.

Recent Initiatives and Successes

During the summer of 2020, Dean Frank Buckless initiated a robust effort to help faculty and staff members cultivate a more equitable, inclusive environment at the Poole College of Management. He identified four key focus areas as a framework for developing DEI within classrooms and workspaces on campus:

  • Creating an inclusive environment
  • Increasing representation of faculty
  • Increasing diversity content within curricular
  • Increasing diversity of the student body

Learn more about the college’s diversity vision and our progress towards it.

Signature Events

Poole College heritage celebrations have become a fun way for our college to contribute to the campuswide calendar of heritage events. We organize several community celebrations, including Latinx Heritage Month, Women’s History Month, Black History Month and Diwali, and the college held its inaugural Poole Pride Conference in March 2020.  

Faculty Scholarship

The college’s focus on diversity isn’t limited to campus events. Poole College faculty are busy creating and disseminating original scholarship on the value of diversity and the pervasiveness of bias.

Explore Further