Diversity and Education at Duke Energy
Minority Professional Association Scholarship Banquet
Ruth Shaw
Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer
Duke Energy
Dr. Akbar (Na’im Akbar, keynote speaker)—thank you for your remarks.
I want to tell you how proud I am to be here. Our support of education through Minority and Professional Association scholarships is building a tradition. You might say that you are getting this down to a science. Considering that mathematics and science are hallmarks of our Foundation’s community outreach, I consider that a good sign!
In reality, however, I think that diversity and education are both science—and art.
You know how involved I am in the Arts and Science Council. Now—at this point you perhaps are mentally saying to yourself, “Wait a minute! Ruth just finished the ASC campaign, and we made our goal. It’s MPA’s time, not ASC!”
Don’t worry. No fund-raising comments for ASC, except to congratulations and thanks.
I really do believe that there is a lesson from the arts that applies to our company’s efforts in diversity and education. Think about the great works of art—paintings by Vincent Van Gogh, Romare Bearden and others.
Many of the most magnificent works are not realistic; they are Impressionistic, or abstract. No single aspect of the painting is clear up-close and alone. But when you step back and contemplate the whole, you are left with an impression that is powerful and impactful.
Our diversity and education efforts are like that. Taken individually, you might miss the power and impact, but when you stand back—it is a compelling portrait. So let’s do that...
For more than five years, the MPA has helped students get to college and succeed. That says volumes about the creativity and empowerment you feel as Duke Energy employees. Understand that your senior management is proud of that kind of spirit—in fact, we tell people about the organization that you have put in place.
Our MPA scholarship students are brushstrokes in the painting of Duke Energy’s diversity and education efforts.
Here’s another. Recently Clemson University announced that it has achieved a milestone in its graduation rates for African-American engineering students—a full 21 percent above the national average. Our company began a partnership with Clemson’s Department of Engineering to build the mathematics skills of minority students more than a decade ago, and the University says that partnership is a key success factor. Another brushstroke on our canvas.
Soon you will hear about a Duke Energy Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Clemson. We have input into the duties of this professor, and the University agreed with us that this professor will also champion minorities in engineering as part of his or her job. It’s a key expectation. Get the paint ready for another brushstroke!
Want another? Several years ago in Houston, the NAACP approached us and said they needed help. Their special outreach in science and mathematics was faltering. It required organization and leadership. Duke Energy became a partner and has helped the NAACP put new vigor into the program to encourage middle and high school students to become friendlier with the so-called hard sciences.
Our company is finalizing two professorships at North Carolina Central University. One of them is the “Duke Energy Distinguished Professor of Business and Diversity.” Dr. Claudia Harris has done interesting research already in her field and she will be wearing the Duke Energy name as she accomplishes even more. And by the way, this semester, business students at NCCU will hear from three of our professionals through the University’s business student forum—Gayle Long will introduce them to corporate recruiting, Matt Newman will talk about power trading, and Stick Williams will share his thoughts about finding (and being) a great mentor in a corporation. Brushstroke, brushstroke, brushstroke...
In Houston, Project GRAD, which stands for “Graduation Really Achieves Dreams,” is a collaborative effort between schools and the community to increase the graduation and college attendance rates of inner-city students in Houston and other urban areas nationwide. The philosophy guiding the program is that all pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students can be effective learners, regardless of demographic background, with the appropriate interventions. Duke Energy’s efforts here is to help mathematics be better at what they do and to encourage students to learn and appreciate mathematics. Add another brushstroke.
Cecil Smith (senior vice president, Information Management) personifies our diversity philosophy. When I tell people that our Foundation has three focus areas—Mathematics, community leadership and corporate volunteerism—people ask why diversity is not a focus area. The answer is easy, and Cecil applies it well.
At The Duke Energy Foundation, we don’t sequester diversity. It doesn’t stand alone. Diversity is a thread that weaves through programs. It ties us together.
Cecil is the owner of a partnership between our Foundation, his IT organization and corporate recruiting. It’s called the Duke Energy IT Scholars. Each year, students at several universities are chosen scholarships in IT fields, complete with mentors and internships. This isn’t a program that says the students must be diverse, yet more than half of Cecil’s students are diverse. Cecil is a needle pulling the thread of diversity through our company.
Our list goes on and on...
Does this paint a more complete picture of what we do as a company when we talk about diversity? I hope so.
Is our canvas complete? Of course not. It is a work in progress.
We add color and richness to the picture tonight. I am pleased to announce that for 2002, the Duke Energy Foundation will grant the MPA a base amount of $10,000. The Foundation will also match amounts raised over last year’s total of $50,000, up to a total contribution of $25,000.
As we celebrate the sixth anniversary of the MPA, I urge you to add new brush strokes, depth and dimension to that work in progress. Take your mission—and your power to do good—to the next level. Expand the scope of minority involvement in the organization, making the MPA reflective of the many cultural and ethic backgrounds represented in our company.
Ensure that the minority population of Duke Energy sees value in your work—and that they value that work strongly enough to commit the resources needed to effect change and address challenges.
Review your programs and approaches—and make sure they meet your high standards.
There is great talent and vibrancy within this group. I look forward to coming back next year to see how you’ve applied your brushstrokes to our diversity canvas!
