A new scholarship endowment initiative in the Naveen Jindal School of Management has an ambitious goal to empower generations of local students for success in college and beyond.
Led by Pamela Foster Brady, director of the Executive MBA program at the Jindal School, the campaign intends to raise $25,000 toward the establishment of the EMBA Equity Scholarship for the Jindal Young Scholars Program. Once established, this fund will provide scholarships for students participating in the Jindal Young Scholars Program to attend the Jindal School.
“With recent events highlighting racism in our society and the differences that are still evident, I want to make an impact,” Foster Brady, a 2011 Executive MBA and 2016 MS in international management studies alumna, said. “I want to make a statement that says, ‘This is wrong, and we need to change it.’ ”
Bridging the financial gap for those who may not have the means to pursue a postsecondary education is an effective way to positively influence student outcomes, Foster Brady said.
That approach dovetails with recent efforts by Dr. Hasan Pirkul, Caruth Chair and Jindal School dean, who started the Jindal Young Scholars Program in 2018 for the same reason.
JYSP supports the academic, social and emotional development of high-achieving students from nine Dallas Independent School District schools. It helps increase their chances of postsecondary readiness for collegiate and career success by addressing critical needs, promoting a culture of academic excellence and instilling a mindset of achievement. Through scholarships, mentorships, campus tours and regular workshops, the program helps members build confidence and hope, instills effective strategies for academic success and removes obstacles to personal growth.
“This is an opportunity for the UT Dallas EMBA community and beyond to make a contribution to that cause and build on what Dean Pirkul has started,” Foster Brady said. “There are a lot of people out there, like me, who want to make a difference, but they don’t know how. By helping these students when they’re young, we give them an opportunity to be part of a future in which students of all backgrounds can achieve their goals.”
