Source: Dawne Martin, 785-532-4383, dmartin@k-state.edu.
News release prepared by: Melanie Horton.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

DAWNE MARTIN NEW ASSISTANT DEAN FOR DIVERSITY AT K-STATE'S COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

MANHATTAN -- Yar M. Ebadi, dean of the College of Business Administration at Kansas State University, has promoted Dawne Martin to assistant dean for diversity.

Martin, an instructor of marketing, previously served as an assistant to Ebadi for diversity.

Martin has been a champion of diversity enhancement since joining K-State in 1998. At the College of Business Administration she has served as chair of the Faculty Diversity Committee and been key in leading the college's efforts to promote a wide range of diversity activities, including the creation of the Multicultural Business Student Association and coordinating its Diversity in Action Forum; creating the college's Diversity Speaker Series; and expanding student learning outcomes to include diversity.

Ebadi said one of his main goals as dean is to keep the enhancement of diversity at the center of all the college does, and that Martin helps make that happen.

"Dr. Martin's efforts have been instrumental in the college's successful integration of multicultural awareness throughout our curriculum and culture as we seek to sustain and promote the development of our students as global citizens," Ebadi said. "We strive to encourage leaders among our faculty, staff and student body who value the strength of multiple worldviews, experiences and opinions, and who are prepared to conduct business in a manner that reflects the expansive diversity of our culture and the global business community.

"Thanks in great part to Dr. Martin's efforts, 9.6 percent of the college's student body are students from underrepresented groups," he said.

"At the College of Business Administration we understand the inherent strength in promoting our diversity at all levels, and the benefit that diversity provides our students in preparing them to succeed in today's diverse global business environment," Martin said.

To help ensure the academic success of students, Martin is active in mentoring, recruiting and other efforts to retain multicultural students. She has co-organized the Kauffman Scholars Summer Residential Institute at K-State, played a key role in restructuring the Koch College for a Day Recruitment Program, and helped secure a grant to support the MAPS Project Impact Summer Bridge Program, sponsored by ConocoPhillips and Cargill Inc. The program is for incoming K-State freshman.

Martin was recognized in 2009 with K-State's Commerce Bank Presidential Award for Distinguished Services to Historically Underrepresented Students. Her diversity work also helped the College of Business Administration earn K-State's Outstanding Department or Unit Award for Enhancing Diversity in 2005.

Ebadi calls Martin selfless in her dedication to advancing diversity throughout the college and across the university community.

"She has played a key role in helping other faculty embrace diversity as an opportunity to discuss and implement the best ways to work together with greater harmony, understanding and mutual respect," he said.

Martin earned her bachelor's and master's in marketing from Colorado State University and her doctorate in marketing from the University of Colorado.