About Darden

Inclusive Excellence

Living our values as a global community that encourages opportunity for all.

What We Mean by Inclusive Excellence at Darden

As part of our commitment to pre-eminence as a global business school, we aspire to build a culture of inclusion and opportunity as an essential way to deliver on our mission to better business and society. Our inclusive excellence framework helps us infuse inclusion and belonging into every aspect of our operation and culture. As a global business school that engages millions of learners in person and online, we appreciate and value difference and diversity of thought. We acknowledge the various forms of human experience, perspectives and backgrounds that shape individuals and our social and cultural world. Inclusive excellence and enabling Darden's global and diverse members to collaborate and excel is a core value of our mission.

"In our global world, leaders must have the capacity to engage, lead and manage across differences. We believe that business education must excel at developing this competency in tomorrow's leaders. Our approach at Darden is unique as we examine and fine-tune three phases of stakeholder engagement with the School. Our goal is to be as thoughtful as we can be at every touchpoint.”

— Martin Davidson, Johnson and Higgins Professor of Business Administration, Senior Associate Dean and Global Chief Diversity Officer and thought leader on ‘Leveraging Difference’

Entry as a prospective learner
Experience as a community member
Engagement as alumni and lifelong learners

I aspire for students, faculty and staff to achieve their full potential, unencumbered by discrimination or bias based on race, ethnicity, gender, nationality, disability, military status, religion, generation, sexual orientation, socioeconomic position or views. I believe education can be a great equalizer in our society, and that inclusive excellence is critical for Darden's long-term success.

Scott Beardsley

Dean and Charles C. Abbott Professor of Business Administration

Entry

Getting to Know Darden

Darden actively recruits and fosters a merit-based, diverse learning community, with the goal to enrich the experience of students, learners, faculty and staff who choose Darden as their business school of choice.

The Socratic case method taught at Darden thrives on diverse perspectives — every voice shapes the conversation, and every viewpoint sharpens understanding. By requiring active listening, critical thinking and respectful debate, it cultivates a culture of inclusive excellence where difference drives deeper learning.

Women@Darden Initiative

Aims to position Darden as the business school of choice for women interested in management education. Hosts an annual women's leadership summit.

Darden Center for Global Initiatives

Strengthens and expands Darden’s global community through educational opportunities and partnerships. Publishes Global Voices of Darden.

Degree Programs

The three formats of the MBA (Full-Time, Part-Time and Executive) and the MSBA reflect our focus on merit and inclusive excellence.

All students admitted to Darden through our highly competitive application process bring exceptional talent. Our merit-based Admissions Committee is skilled at recruiting incredible classes.
Darden strives to be among the world’s most accessible business schools and has a wide range of scholarships and financial aid opportunities.

Non-degree Programs

Darden Executive Education & Lifelong Learning, delivered by the Darden School Foundation, offers an array of custom and open programs focused on inclusive excellence.

Experience

Students Leading From the Front

Darden has over 50 student-run organizations that enhance and integrate students’ academic, social, cultural and professional lives. See the Full-Time MBA clubs and Part-Time and Executive MBA Clubs. Here are a few highlights: