Bell receives inaugural Leaders in Diversity Award
A University of Texas at Arlington associate dean in the College of Business is one of two Mavericks selected for the Dallas Business Journal’s first class of Leaders in Diversity Awards.
Myrtle Bell, associate dean for diversity, racial equity and inclusion in the College of Business and a professor of management, is joined by 13 other advocates, including Doug Garner, coach of the Movin’ Mavs and assistant director for adaptive sports and recreation.
The new award recognizes organizations and individuals who have shown exceptional commitment to promoting practices that advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace. These honorees also show leadership and bolster equality across all areas of diversity, including age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race and religion.
Bell, who has worked at UTA since 1996 and is recognized internationally for her diversity research and teaching, said the award is a great honor for her and for UT Arlington.
“We need to make valuing diversity and inclusion a part of our very fiber,” said Bell, who also holds the endowed Thomas McMahon Professorship in Business Ethics. “We need to make it second nature for everyone. That only comes with a dedicated effort on the part of our institutions and requires actions, not just words.”
Harry Dombroski, dean of the College of Business, said Bell’s research resonates nationwide.
“We at the College of Business are thrilled that Dr. Bell is being recognized for her important work in the field of diversity, racial equity and inclusion,” he said. “Dr. Bell is recognized nationally as one of the foremost experts in this field. Her commitment and dedication to the advancement of diversity, racial equity and inclusion greatly benefits our campus and her impactful research reverberates far beyond our campus boundaries. This award is well-deserved, but more importantly, the work Dr. Bell is doing is important and vital to the University’s continued excellence.”
For the past 13 years, the Dallas Business Journal honored hundreds of North Texas leaders with its Minority Business Leader Awards program, which recognized diverse business leaders who held distinguished track records in advocating for others in their communities and workplaces.
This new award program continues that tradition while expanding to highlight efforts across all areas of diversity and inclusion.