The application is now open for Darden’s fourth annual Diversity Conference, and while the experience will once again take place virtually, the planning team has taken steps to ensure meaningful dialogue, authentic student experiences and plenty of time for connecting with peers!
Who is the Diversity Conference for?
The Diversity Conference is an opportunity for prospective students from across Darden’s degree formats to experience how Darden embraces and celebrates diversity and inclusion, and it has a special focus for prospective students from diverse backgrounds, including women, LGBTQ and members of domestic under-represented racial or ethnic communities. A brief application to attend is due by Friday, 17 September.
New for this year’s conference: All prospective students are welcome to attend — Full-Time MBA, Executive MBA formats, Part-Time MBA and the Future Year Scholars Program.
Where can I learn more about the Diversity Conference?
Great question! Join Associate Director for Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Recruiting Kristian Robinson and members of the student planning committee on 1 September at 6:30 p.m. EDT for an online session featuring insights into this year’s event. The session will feature more information about the application process, goals for the conference and programming highlights. Sign up here. We hope to see you online!
What is the application process like?
The application itself is fairly brief and should take no more than one hour to complete. Students will be asked to share some basic personal information (biographical details, academic background, etc.), upload a resume and answer a short essay question: “Introduce yourself and tell us why you would like to attend the Darden Diversity Conference. (300 words)”
In addition, as a benefit for individuals who submit a Diversity Conference application and have not previously opened an application for one of the 2022 rounds, the information you share in your Diversity Conference application will automatically create a new application. We hope this will save you some time should you decide to apply to Darden in this year’s cycle!
What are some of the event highlights?
- Participate in a mock case
- Get to know Darden’s affinity clubs
- Meet with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion faculty and staff
- Connect with members of the Darden community
- Network with employers and alumni
- Receive a Darden application fee waiver for the current admissions cycle
- And more!
Read more benefits for conference attendees on the Diversity Conference event page.
What did last year’s attendees say about the virtual conference?
Here are a few of our favorite post-event survey responses from 2020!
“I was blown away by the candid community and the passion behind every member of the Darden community. Darden encourages its faculty, students, and staff to push boundaries, think outside the box, and be ambitious – all while being vulnerable and kind.”
“The Conference was a success! I enjoyed every moment of the event, and I was able to connect with current students who shared their Darden experience in the break-out rooms. I enjoyed the case method with Professor Martin Davidson. The Conference was AMAZING!”
“I found the opportunity of hearing from multiple faculty very valuable. I was very impressed with how open the faculty were to difficult conversations and how welcoming they were to all of us. It was clear that diversity and inclusion are top of mind.”
Apply to attend the 2021 Darden Diversity Conference by 17 September.
Check out faculty thought leadership published on Ideas to Action. And stay connected with us via social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, WeChat
