College Of Business Recognized For Diversity Efforts

Pacific University’s College of Business is being recognized for being a leader in commitment to diversity and inclusion in higher education.

The college is one of nearly 100 four-year colleges and graduate schools selected to receive Insight Into Diversity magazine’s 2024 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award. Pacific is one of only five institutions in the Northwest and the only private university in Oregon to receive the award, and was one of just eight graduate programs selected.

Insight Into Diversity magazine is the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. Its HEED Award is a national honor that consists of a comprehensive and rigorous application process that measures an institution’s level of achievement and intensity of commitment to broadening diversity and inclusion on campus through initiatives, programs and outreach; student recruitment, retention, and completion; and hiring practices for faculty and staff.

“Receiving the HEED Award is not just a celebration of the College of Business. It is a recognition of how we are redefining business education to reflect the realities of a diverse world,” said Jennifer Yruegas ’96, dean of the College of Business. “It highlights the role of Pacific University in nurturing leaders who view inclusivity as the foundation of ethical business practices, sustainable growth and societal impact.”

The Pacific University College of Business has made transformative strides in supporting underrepresented and first-generation students through mentorship programs, targeted financial aid and flexible internship opportunities. The college has also taken a leadership role in expanding international student recruitment.

The HEED Award also singled out the diversity of the university’s faculty, which includes the university’s first Latinx and Black dean, as well as professors of varying ethnic backgrounds from several different countries.

“The level of understanding and support that the faculty displayed played a significant role in my success,” said Robert Wood ’22, MBA ’23, a Black student who graduated with his Master of Business Administration degree in Fall 2023 and is now in his first year of law school. “They were not only educators but also mentors who understood the unique challenges faced by students of color.”

The award also recognized the commitment of faculty members to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion through research and community engagement.

Those faculty members include Fan Chen, College of Business faculty chair, known for his creation of community in the classroom and his teaching excellence; the work of Lena Cavusoglu, assistant professor of marketing, to highlight the representation of diverse identities in fashion and social media; and the research of Hossein Riktehgar Berenji, associate professor of operations management, on systemic inequities in healthcare and food security.

Yruegas added that the HEED Award underscored the College of Business’ dedication to creating a program where diversity is celebrated, empowering students and faculty alike to thrive in an inclusive academic community.