The PhD Project Announces 2012 Inductees Into Hall of Fame

MONTVALE, N.J., Oct. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The PhD Project, an award-winning program to increase diversity in management, announced the 2012 inductees into its PhD Project Hall of Fame. They are: Dr. Carolyn M. Callahan, KPMG Distinguished Professor and Director, School of Accountancy, University of Memphis; Dr. Ralph Katerberg, Department Head, Management, University of Cincinnati; Dr. Thomas J. Lopez, Professor and Steven Ross-Hugh Culverhouse Chair of Accountancy, University of Alabama.

The PhD Project 2012 Hall of Fame's inductees will be honored at the organization's annual conference in November. A new class of inductees is selected annually, with supporters of The PhD Project and the public invited to submit nominations for each year's class. 

The PhD Project established the Hall of Fame in 2011 to recognize a select few who have inspired many. These individuals have sustained an unwavering commitment to The PhD Project's mission and their positive leadership has resulted in significant encouragement and impact within The Project's network of minority business doctoral students and faculty.

"We are pleased to present the 2012 inductees to The PhD Project Hall of Fame. Since our inception, these individuals have served The Project as presenters, mentors and advisors," said Bernard J. Milano, President of The PhD Project and of the KPMG Foundation, the founder and lead funder of the Project.  "They have put forth great effort to create diversity in academia and through that, the  business world."

In the early developmental meetings of The PhD Project, it was Dr. Carolyn Callahan's personal testimony of the struggles she faced while in her doctoral program which prompted the creation of the Accounting Doctoral Students Association to provide a network of peer support to doctoral students.  Through the years she has continued to serve as a mentor to accounting doctoral students and was the faculty liaison to launch the Finance Doctoral Students Association.  Dr. Callahan said, "I feel very blessed to have been one of many involved in the success of The PhD Project. The PhD Project's mission reinforced my core values surrounding why I selected an academic career…I wanted to open the doors in academe to all students and help them succeed so that they have an opportunity for a rewarding career and life."  

Since the Project's inception, Dr. Ralph Katerberg has served the organization in several capacities which include; reviewing prospective candidate applications for the annual conference, presenting as a keynote speaker at the annual conference, representing the University of Cincinnati's doctoral program during the annual conferences' doctoral program fair and providing guidance and direction as the Project has evolved through the years. Dr. Katerberg said, "From a January meeting on Montvale to the most recent November conference, I have been blessed to be associated with the visionary leaders whose systemic approach to addressing diversity is changing the face of business education. I am delighted to have been a part of the PhD project from the beginning and thrilled to have a front row seat each November where I can see who will become some of our future business school faculty."

While still a doctoral student at Arizona State, Dr. Tom Lopez served as a presenter at the first PhD Project Conference in 1994.  He has not missed a conference since then and continues his involvement as a faculty advisor to the Accounting Doctoral Students Association.  Now a Full Professor at the University of Alabama, he continues to serve The PhD Project as a member of the conference planning committee, a presenter and a recruiter for his university's doctoral program. Dr. Lopez said, "I am honored to have been given the opportunity to play a small part in the successes of The PhD Project.  In contrast, The Project has played a huge role in my academic career.  From financial support as a doctoral student, to several published co-authorships with PhD Project-affiliated students and faculty, to deep lifelong friendships, my association with The PhD Project has provided me way more than I could ever possibly repay." 

The PhD Project was created in 1994 to address the severe under-representation of African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans and Native Americans in management by diversifying the front of the classroom-the business school faculty. A diverse faculty encourages more minorities to pursue business degrees, thereby increasing the pool of minority applicants for positions in today's multicultural corporate environment. Since its inception in 1994, The PhD Project has increased the number of African-American, Hispanic-American, and Native American business professors from 294 to 1,158. Further, 374 minorities are currently enrolled in doctoral programs, and will take a place at the front of the classroom over the next few years.

Some of America's top companies, foundations, associations and academic organizations support The PhD Project. They are: KPMG Foundation, Graduate Management Admission Council, Citi Foundation, AACSB International, 275 universities, AICPA Foundation, DiversityInc, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, The Merck Company Foundation, Microsoft Corporation, Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP, Rockwell Collins, American Marketing Association, John Deere Foundation, AT&T, CIGNA, ADP, American Express, The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, California State University System, Edison International, Lincoln Financial Group, Greater New York Hospital Association and Aerotek/TEKsystems (operating companies of Allegis Group).

For more information visit: http://www.phdproject.org or contact Lisa King at 646-234-5080 or [email protected].

Contact
Lisa King
646-234-5080
[email protected]

SOURCE The PhD Project