Honoring Diversity and Leadership: The L. Joseph Thomas Suite Dedication
(left to right) Former Johnson School deans Mark Nelson, Robert J. Swieringa, and honoree L. Joseph "Joe" Thomas with Vishal Gaur, current Anne and Elmer Lindseth Dean of the Johnson School, and Andrew Karolyi, Charles Field Knight Dean of the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, at the dedication of the L. Joseph Thomas Diversity, Inclusion, and Leadership Suite (photo by Chris Kitchen)
Five past and present deans and several alumni of the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management came together during Reunion 2024 to dedicate Sage Hall’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion and Leadership Suite (Sage Hall 142) as the L. Joseph Thomas Diversity, Inclusion, and Leadership Suite in honor of L. Joseph “Joe” Thomas, Anne and Elmer Lindseth Dean Emeritus of the Johnson School.
Funded by Johnson School alumni with a generous $750,000 group gift, the newly named L. Joseph Thomas Diversity, Inclusion, and Leadership Suite underscores the school’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment and instilling deeply responsible leadership. The suite includes office and collaborative space and serves as a hub for activities and programs aimed at advancing diversity, inclusion, and leadership at the Johnson School and beyond.
Scott Stewart, MBA ’83, PhD ’85, clinical professor of finance and accounting and faculty codirector of the Parker Center for Investment Research, who is himself a Johnson School alumnus, led the effort to endow the suite and is the endowment’s lead donor. “Dean Thomas has made outstanding contributions to Cornell as scholar, teacher, and dean,” Stewart said. “We wished to recognize these contributions and his persistent efforts to make all students at Johnson feel included.”
The five deans who participated in the suite’s dedication included Thomas, the event’s honoree, who served as the Johnson School’s dean 2007-2012; Robert J. Swieringa, who was the school’s dean 1997–2007; Mark Nelson, who held that deanship 2016-2023, and the current Anne and Elmer Lindseth Dean of the Johnson School, Vishal Gaur. Andrew Karolyi, Charles Field Knight Dean of the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, also participated in the event.
“This unique assembly, spanning over three decades of leadership, underscores the lasting impact of Dean Joe Thomas’s work,” said Karolyi, noting the remarkable gathering of four past and present Johnson School deans. He emphasized that the suite will support critical inclusion and leadership programming for Johnson School students, reinforcing the core values that are integral to the SC Johnson College.
Honoring Thomas in this way recognizes the role he played as a champion for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at the Johnson School. Under his leadership as dean, the school joined the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, an elite nonprofit comprised of top business schools that promotes diversity and inclusion in global business education and leadership; hosted its first Diversity Symposium; established the inaugural Distinguished Latino Alumni Award; and held its first annual MBA Women in Investing Conference. During his tenure, Johnson School MBAs won the Consortium T.E.A.M. (together, everyone achieves more) trophy in recognition of their commitment to enhance diversity and inclusion in global business education and leadership.
“ODI is honored to have the suite named for Joe,” said Michelle Duguid, MS ’05, PhD ’08 (School of Industrial and Labor Relations), associate dean for diversity, inclusion, and belonging at the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business and an associate professor of management and organizations at the Johnson School. “He knew how important the mission and goals of the office were and was an ally before that term was popularized. This gift is an indicator that we are committed to our long-standing mission.”
Celebrating a legacy
Endowing the L. Joseph Thomas suite was a group effort that “gathered steam” in 2018 when Thomas was completing his role as interim dean of the SC Johnson College, Stewart said. “Development officer Joy Chamandy reached out to Joe’s former students and the enthusiastic donors thought the Diversity, Inclusion and Leadership Suite was an excellent fit for a dedication,” he added.
Laura Georgianna, MBA ’04, MILR ’04, executive director of the Johnson School’s Leadership Programs, and the Donald F. Douglas Director of the Roy H. Park Leadership Fellows Program, echoed Stewart’s sentiment. “Given Joe Thomas’s own excellence in leadership within Johnson over the years, it seems very fitting that the alumni would recognize him in this way,” she said. “It was clear when talking to the alumni donors that building inclusive leaders is something they all see as critical for our students’ success. We are honored and privileged to be a part of Joe’s legacy.”
Many alumni who contributed to this naming gift have played leading roles in giving back to the Johnson School over the years, including David J. Breazzano, MBA 1980; Roberto M. Cañizares, 1971, MBA 1974; Byron E. Grote, MS 1977, PhD 1981; Daniel R. Hesse, MBA 1977; Richard A. Marin, 1975, MBA 1976; Barry W. Ridings, MBA 1976; and Scott M. Weaver, MBA 1990. With their contributions, these donors are honoring a beloved professor and dean, underscoring their own commitment to the values the suite represents, and highlighting the Johnson School’s unwavering commitment to fostering a community where inclusive leadership is paramount. With its welcoming, open doors, the suite invites current and future members of the Johnson School community to continue building on this legacy and ensure that these values are instilled in every graduate.
