At a time in our national discourse when many of us are asking what we can do to make a difference, SMU Cox Dean Matthew B. Myers has announced the creation of a new Cox School scholarship fund that will give the Cox Community an opportunity to contribute to a tangible need.
“The Cox Community Scholarship will support underrepresented minorities in the Cox School’s graduate and BBA programs,” Myers said. “The Cox School is making the initial contribution of $100,000 to establish the fund, with a goal of reaching or exceeding this amount each year in our fundraising efforts. These will be operational funds, not an endowment, and thus will be ready for immediate use. For reference, $100,000 in operational funding each year is equivalent to the earnings on an endowment of over $2.2 million.”
SMU Cox Executive Board member Thaddeus Arroyo MBA ‘89 and CEO of AT&T Consumer has made a generous personal contribution to help grow this important effort.
“The SMU Cox Community Scholarship Fund is a crucial endeavor that I am pleased to see underway, because we create a stronger society and economy with a talented workforce that is as diverse as the communities we serve professionally,” Arroyo said. “Developing and investing in diverse talent is fundamental to delivering future innovations as it brings with it diversity of thought, approach, and understanding to companies and to our world.”
The fund bears the moniker “Cox Community Scholarship,” according to Myers, specifically because “it provides Cox faculty, staff, students and other supporters with an opportunity to show our support for underrepresented students, and to expand the opportunities to attend the Cox School of Business.” For the BBA program, the fund is especially timely, as the new freshman admit process will enable the Cox School to use these funds more strategically to recruit students of color.
If you would like to donate to the Cox Community Scholarship, click here: www.smu.edu/Coxgiving or contact Ashley Pitts, director of development for the Cox School, apitts@smu.edu or 214-768-4988.
