The Tepper School's Community & Inclusion Fund Provides Vital Support in Building an Inclusive Community

The Tepper School of Business is deeply committed to advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB). To support these values, the school has established a dedicated fund to foster its diverse communities. This fund provides financial assistance for events, programs, and initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within the Tepper School. By doing so, it aims to cultivate an environment that celebrates and strengthens the inclusive community at the Tepper School. Colleen McMullen, executive director of community and inclusion, in collaboration with the Tepper School advancement office, established the Community & Inclusion Fund in 2019.

“In working here over the past 25 years, I used to get discouraged because students in clubs would share creative and innovative ideas for initiatives to highlight our inclusive community, but there were limited resources to support them,” McMullen explained.

In her travels and talks with Tepper School alumni about starting the fund, she encountered enthusiasm for creating such a fund and subsequently saw a flood of support from alumni, student, staff, and faculty during the first year it was established. This past year, with additional support from two alumni who offered a match for funds raised on Giving CMU Day (right after Thanksgiving), the fund attracted nearly $50,000, triple McMullen’s goal for the year.

Citing best-selling author and consultant, Dr. Damon A. Williams (Strategic Diversity Leadership, 2013), McMullen says Williams’ thought leadership — “Commitment without currency is counterfeit” — is central to her efforts. “Tepper’s C&I fund is designed to support initiatives and programming that build community or provide ways to celebrate culture. We now have resources for programming and activities that align with our goals and advance our DEIB work,” she explained.

The C&I Fund Builds Cultural Bridges and Appreciation

The fund has been used to welcome and help onboard the latest cohort of international MBA students and enhance their sense of belonging in their new community via guided tours of the Tepper School building and the Carnegie Museum of Art and National History; a luncheon at Schenley Park; a happy hour social at Mario’s; and Molly’s Trolley Bus Tour of Pittsburgh.

Another C&I Fund recipient, Out&Allied (a Tepper MBA LGBTQ+ Club) used funds for their Pink Party, an exciting event that also supports Pittsburgh Sisters, an organization that focuses on Black trans women in Pittsburgh. Wellness Week, targeting health and well-being, is another example of how the funds are being utilized.

C&I Funding is used by student clubs for cultural events, such as the annual Hispanic Heritage Gala and the Lunar New Year Gala. The latter gala is presented in February by the Asian Business Association (ABA) MBA group, and the group’s President, Napasorn Phiphobmongkol (“Mo”), has been involved in the planning and execution of it since its inception in 2023.

Lunar New Year Gala: An Iconic Celebration — Around the World and at the Tepper School

The first ABA Lunar New Year Celebration was not a gala, and it was held on a smaller scale. This year’s gala was held at the Carnegie Museum of Art, a stunning venue which is an easy commute from the Tepper School. Ticket sales were brisk, as many who attended last year’s inaugural event were impressed and excited to celebrate together again this year.

“Without this C&I Fund support, this event could not happen,” Mo said. “We would not be able to host this event, the biggest event we’ve had. We could only have a DJ dance and no cultural activities, no decorations, no performance of the dragon dance.”

In the straightforward application, Mo provided a description of the event, why it’s important to the ABA and a budget inclusive of venue and activities costs.

“The Lunar New Year Gala is the flagship event of our club because it’s one of the most iconic celebrations in many Asian countries,” she said.

In addition to dressing up in fancy red and gold clothes, eating Asian-inspired dishes and DJ-dancing the night away, the gala features beloved traditional customs. Attendees draw fortune sticks, play Mahjong, put wishes in a red envelope to hang on a wishing tree and watch Pittsburgh’s outstanding Steel Dragon Club dancers and martial artists perform.

“We love the 30 minutes of dragon dancing. They had teams of people with instruments making rhythms and people dancing in the dragon outfit, and there was also a cultural aspect — like making a sacrifice of fruits to the gods. I think their show is the most important part of our event,” Mo said.

Gathering to Understand and Celebrate Community Culture

The ABA is one of the largest MBA student organizations. They host smaller, regular gatherings such as potlucks with food prepared by area Asian restaurants and caterers. “The idea is to get people who have similar interests together,” Mo explained. “Our members include non-Asians, and many people join to experience different types of foods from different cultures.”

“The purpose of our club is not just to gather Asian students together, but it is also to provide comfort for those from our culture to feel seen and to promote our community and our culture to others. There are so many different Asian cultures and people don’t really understand that” she said.

McMullen applauded the student creativity and the broader community support (faculty, staff, student, alumni and corporate) that make the C&I Fund a vital resource for building community at the Tepper School. “The impetus for creating this fund was really to advance activities proposed by our key stakeholders — students, faculty and staff — that align with our DEI&B goals,” McMullen said. “This year on Giving Tuesday, I was just totally blown away by the amount of money that folks donated to the C&I Fund. It’s going to support some really great initiatives for our students, faculty and staff.” Though MBA student organizations have funding for regular club activities, this fund offers additional resources to support initiatives that require a larger budget.

“The C&I Fund ultimately aligns with our goals to create a sense of belonging and a space where everyone can thrive. I’m going to celebrate a contribution of $5 just like I celebrate $50,000. Our alumni are engaged in ‘paying it forward’ and often return to serve as a speaker for a club that utilizes the C&I Fund, or they participate on a panel during one of many events for prospective applicants,” she added. “These activities are supported by the fund too, so those kinds of indirect engagement offer opportunities as well.”

A Life Journey of Fostering Connections

“I really enjoy being a connector, not only for our students and staff, but I have 25 years of alumni in my head. I’m always thinking of ways in which we can build community,” McMullen said. “Everyone’s journey is unique to them, and their life journey really informs how they engage with people one-on-one and in a group."

McMullen’s work is guided by her concept of nurturing what she calls her ‘personal board of directors.’ “As I have moved forward in my career, I’ve been honored to have mentors whose guidance has provided a road map to my success. They have really shaped my understanding of how I show up in places, and of how the higher education space works,” she explained. She carries this knowledge forward in her vision for the C&I Fund.

“As the fund grows, I’d love to encourage more of our staff and faculty to utilize it,” she continued. McMullen suggested the fund could also be used for unique research that supports the C&I Fund’s goals. “It’s not just for sponsoring speakers and cultural events. It could be aligned with enhancing course development goals or for building stronger connections between young and seasoned faculty. It is for new and innovative ideas.”

To contribute to the Community & Inclusion Fund, please visit tepper.cmu.edu/give/inclusion. You may contact Colleen McMullen at colleen@andrew.cmu.edu to request an application to apply for funding or ask questions about the fund.