The PhD Project is a nonprofit organization founded by the KPMG Foundation in 1994 to promote an increase in the number of Black and other minority business professionals who seek doctoral degrees in business disciplines so that they can become faculty at U.S. business schools. The goal of the Ph.D. Project is to diversify the faculty so that more Black and other minority students are attracted to business disciplines in higher education.
Bernard J. Milano, president of the KPMG Foundation, states, “As more minorities achieve positions of tenure and administrative posts, the goal of having a diverse faculty to attract a diverse student body for tomorrow’s work force takes another big step forward.”
No one can argue with the Ph.D. Project’s success. Since its inception in 1994, the number of minority professors in business disciplines has increased from 294 to 1,172. In 2012, 24 minority business professors were granted tenure at U.S. business schools. Another 46 minority scholars completed their doctorates and took places on business school faculties. In addition, 22 minority business faculty were promoted to administrative posts such as department chair or dean.
The Ph.D. Project reports that there are currently 362 minority students in business doctoral programs in the United States.
