The new Rosemary and John Brown Family Scholars Program will increase enrollment of women across Goizueta’s graduate programs, reinforcing its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Goizueta Business School is honored to announce a $5 million endowment to establish the Rosemary and John Brown Family Scholars Program open to alumnae of Spelman College and Agnes Scott College. This generous gift is presented by the Browns, parents of alumna Sarah Beth Brown 89MBA.
“Goizueta is proud to launch this exciting initiative to increase representation of women in business,” said Goizueta’s Interim John H. Harland Dean Karen Sedatole. “Women and minorities often are underrepresented in graduate business programs. This imbalance negatively affects students, business schools, and the larger business community. This generous endowment allows Goizueta to execute its bold vision to meet tomorrow’s challenges and reimagine what business education could and should be.”
According to Fortune 500 research, although women make up 50.8 percent of the United States population (39 percent of which are women of color), females represent a record high of only 7.4 percent of top leadership roles of Fortune 500 companies. In Fortune 500 financial services companies, women hold more than half of the financial manager and accountant roles but ultimately only 12.5 percent rise to become chief financial officers.
As reported in The Women’s Leadership Gap, women earn more than half of all undergraduate degrees, but the percentage drops to just 38 percent for MBA degrees. Similarly, though women earn more doctorates than their male counterparts, only 32 percent in academia achieve the rank of full professor, and a lower percentage still become college presidents.
Designed to afford opportunity and increase enrollment of women across Goizueta’s graduate programs, the Brown Family Scholars program reinforces Goizueta’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and aims to provide continued learning and networking opportunities to women to chisel away at the glass ceiling that limits extraordinary women in business from assuming leadership roles.
“My parents, Rosemary and John Brown, and our family are excited to support opportunities for women to enroll in Goizueta Business School graduate programs. We are pleased the Rosemary and John Brown Family Scholars Program is in collaboration with Spelman College and Agnes Scott College for principled women business leaders to advance in their careers,” said Sarah Beth Brown.
Rosemary Brown, a lifelong educator, shared her passion for mathematics with students in East Brunswick, NJ and several schools in Kalamazoo, MI. She received her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Auburn University and her Master’s in Mathematics Education from Rutgers University. She received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Freed-Hardeman University, and was recognized by Auburn University with an Honorary Doctor of Science Degree and the Distinguished Alumni Award from Auburn’s College of Science and Math.
John Brown is Chairman Emeritus of Stryker Corporation. He received his Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from Auburn University, and also received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Freed-Hardeman University, an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Kalamazoo College, and an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from Auburn University.
Brown Family Scholars admitted into any of Goizueta’s graduate programs will benefit from small-by-design program classes known for a collaborative culture and highly experiential learning model. This will help scholars to formally build camaraderie and continue with mentoring and networking during the remainder of their studies.
Sedatole added, “By rejecting the impediments of progress, and fostering broad inclusion, Goizueta is committed to affecting meaningful change, helping every individual become a principled leader who will have a positive impact on business and society.”
To learn more about the scholarship and the portfolio of programs available, schedule a consultation with the Admissions team at https://goizueta.emory.edu/engagement/consultations. To learn more about Goizueta’s graduate programs and initiatives focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion, visit goizueta.emory.edu.
