Never has the role of chief diversity, inclusion, and equity been more important.
Participate in interactive instructional approaches to develop strategies and learn skills essential to enhance or create a lasting, high-impact DEI structure and ensure meaningful investment from all stakeholders in your company or organization.
A company’s approach to diversity, inclusion, and equity are critical to the internal well-being and external reputation as they seek to navigate existing challenges and prepare for ones. Our chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer program, presented in partnership with industry, government, and educational leaders, offers hands-on opportunities to create high-functioning DEI programs or evaluate existing ones. You’ll also learn to develop additional approaches to DEI in the workplace and measure progress through the lens of all stakeholders.
Who Should Attend?
The ideal candidate has...
- Experience as an organizational leader with a track record of leading DEI principles in the workplace culture.
- A collaborative approach to leadership.
- Exceptional problem-solving skills with the maturity to work with stakeholders at all levels and disciplines.
- Proven team-building skills that can transcend traditional power dynamics.
- Project management and change management capabilities, including the ability to recommend process improvements, system overhauls, and solutions toward greater efficiency and effectiveness.
- Sufficient quantitative skills and financial fluency to deploy a DEI-focused budget and to measure impacts.
- The ability to listen.
- An undergraduate degree or equivalent experience.
Sample Schedule
- In-Person Opening Oct. 24 - 26, 2023
- Online Sessions Nov. 1 - Dec. 13, 2023
- Mid-Program In-Person Session Jan. 9 - 10, 2024
- Online Sessions Jan. 17 - Feb. 28, 2024
- In-Person Closing March 5 -7, 2024
Program Topics
- DEI Analytics and Processes 30%
- Culture and Leadership 20%
- Building Business Acumen 20%
- Strategic Thinking 15%
- Transforming the Organization 15%
Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Act in a DEI leadership role at the executive level or for assisting and advising such an individual.
- Clearly communicate their company or organization’s DEI vision and expectations.
- Bring together all stakeholders into an effective DEI program that will enhance leadership credibility, employee belonging, and performance.
- Add significant value to users of the company or organization’s products and services.
- Understand effective strategies and structures to maintain growth in DEI and to anticipate and manage emerging challenges.
Badge of Certification
This program is delivered as a non-degree, School of Business executive certificate. Attendees have the opportunity to add a badge credential from Credly for successful completion of the program to their resume for organizational recognition (internal and external) and to indicate the accomplishment of obtaining a George Mason University credential.
Program Information
Dates: October 24, 2023-March 7, 2024
Delivery: Hybrid; online sessions and in-person sessions at Mason Square (formerly the Arlington Campus)
Cost: $8,500
Personal Consultation
Contact us to schedule an advising session:
Email ❭
(703) 993-6725 ❭
"Chief diversity officers have responsibility for guiding efforts to conceptualize, define, assess, nurture, and cultivate diversity as an institutional and educational resource...[they] define their mission as providing point and coordinating leadership for diversity issues institution-wide."
Meet Your Instructors
Co-founder, Everyone Matters Inc.
Anne Altman is the former general manager of IBM Corporation's U.S Federal Government and Industries sector and the co-founder of Everyone Matters Inc.
Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Department of the Navy
Dr. Charles Barber assumed the duties as Director of the Department of the Navy’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs in September 2021. In this role, he is responsible for the integration and implementation of strategic DE&I initiatives into Department of Navy culture, policies, programs and core functions.
Senior Vice President and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, LifePoint Health
Lisa Estrada is Senior Vice President and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer at LifePoint Health.
Director of Business Engagement
Additional Roles: Instructor, Business Foundations; Professor of PracticeChristine Landoll is the director of business engagement and an instructor within the Business Foundations Area in the School of Business at George Mason University.
Instructor, Business Foundations
Additional Roles: Dean's Teaching Faculty FellowAnne Lauer is an instructor within the Business Foundations Area in the School of Business at George Mason University.
Assistant Deputy, Chief of Naval Operations for Manpower, Personnel, Training, and Education
Dr. Mark Livingston assumed the duties as Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Manpower, Personnel, Training, and Education (ADCNO MPT&E) in May 2020. In this role, he serves as the civilian executive advisor to the Chief of Naval Personnel.
Professor, Marketing
Saurabh Mishra is a professor within the Marketing Area in the School of Business at George Mason University.
Principal, Human Capital Strategies LLC
Stephanie Platz-Vieno, PhD started Human Capital Strategies, LLC to help companies deliver innovative talent solutions with a sure vision
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are faculty from George Mason University?
A combination of Mason faculty, adjuncts, and subject matter experts teach in the program.
How was the curriculum created and courses chosen?
An advisory council of professionals at the c-suite level help George Mason University develop the program curricula, which is dynamic and changes based on feedback and emerging practices.
Is this program eligible under the GI Bill?
Not at this time.
Are there any discounts to attend the program?
Preferred pricing for government employees is $7,650. A promotional code will be provided to those accepted into the program. Please call (703) 993-8275 if you are a Mason employee or would like to discuss a group rate.
What does the cost of the program include?
The $8,500 program cost includes all materials, activities, catering, receptions, and a certificate of completion.
How do I register and pay for the program?
You must first submit an online application. Once accepted into the program, you will be provided directions on how to register and pay.
How much time will participants need to devote to the program?
Participants should expect to spend six full days at the George Mason University Arlington Campus as well as participating in 5-6 online topics delivered in two-week increments. For each two-week topic there will be approximately 8-10 hours of learning including readings, videos, video presentations, live sessions, discussion boards, and assignments.
How are the courses conducted?
As a hybrid program, topics are covered during two multi-day in-person sessions and online.
There are six in-person days and approximately four months of online delivery.
Online topics include a combination of asynchronous components such as discussion boards, presentations, videos, and assignments, as well as live synchronous sessions. Expect one to three scheduled live sessions for each online topic. These generally start between 7 and 8 p.m. ET. Live sessions are recorded and posted the next day.
Zoom or Blackboard Collaborate is used for live online sessions. A tutorial is provided to participants in pdf form, and an optional live tutorial session is offered as well. All registered participants are given access to Blackboard approximately two weeks prior to the start of the program.
Do I get university credit for this program? Will I be graded?
This is a non-credit executive development program so you will not earn university credit. However, CEUs (continuing education units) authorized by George Mason University are available upon request. At least two weeks prior to the start of the program, please send your request to execdev@gmu.edu. You will be asked to provide additional personal information in order to have your CEUs properly recorded.
Participants will not be graded, but In order to receive a certificate of completion, participants will need to complete a minimum of 80 percent of the work assigned (including assignments, deliverables, discussion boards, and live sessions). At the end of each topic, faculty are asked to provide a summary of participant’s engagement.
How many participants are enrolled?
The maximum number of participants for a single cohort is 20.
What are some common student personas/backgrounds/job titles?
Most participants have at least six years of management experience and are at the Director level or above. Approximately half of the participants have been from the public/non-profit sector and half from the private sector. The average age of participants is 45.
Is there an application deadline?
No. Participants are admitted on a rolling basis up to the start of the program or until the cohort is full.