Collaborative agreement establishes the Lehigh 1-MBA Program as a diamond tier partner.

(Black PR Wire) Lehigh’s College of Business has announced it will award a range of tuition scholarships to qualified incoming students who are National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) members for its full-time, one-year MBA program. The initiative, in partnership with the association, begins with the Lehigh 1-MBA summer 2021 cohort.   

NBMBAA is the premier business organization serving Black professionals, and its mission is to lead in the creation of educational, wealth building and growing opportunities for those who are historically underrepresented throughout their careers as students, entrepreneurs and professionals.

“At Lehigh Business, our one year MBA program prepares each student to take on problem-solving challenges that enable them to grow as future policy leaders," said Georgette Chapman Phillips, the Kevin L. and Lisa A. Clayton Dean of Lehigh's College of Business. "Our unique curriculum and dedicated faculty provides the framework for a student experience that truly shapes one’s future.  With the NBMBAA as our partner, Lehigh can access NBMBAA members that add value to the cohort through diversity in life experiences.

She added, "The NBMBAA/Lehigh combined experience makes for a unique MBA program, one where a diverse set of business-related viewpoints are expressed and debated. This leads to better business decisions in the end.” 

“The National Black MBA Association is very honored to now include Lehigh University among its trusted collegiate partners," said Joe Handy, president and CEO of the association. "This collaboration will serve our 21,000 talented members extremely well as NBMBAA members not only have access to such a prestigious institution as Lehigh but can do so with generous scholarship awards, thus paving the way for future business leaders.

To be eligible for scholarship awards, applicants must be an active member of the association and meet the qualifications for admittance into Lehigh’s 1-MBA program.

Lehigh’s 1-MBA program is joining a small select group of MBA programs as a Diamond Tier member. “The Diamond Tier status really works well for both organizations as it allows historically underrepresented groups access to an MBA education, while NBMBAA members continue to cultivate new industry relationships,” Phillips said.

The agreement also provides future opportunities for Lehigh 1-MBA students who are association members to participate in the association's annual conference, establish a team to compete for $50,000 in cash prizes and employment opportunities for the National Black MBA Association Graduate Case Competition, and access other professional development opportunities offered by the association.       

The final application deadline for the Lehigh 1-MBA Summer 2021 cohort program closes on May 15, 2021 for domestic applicants and April 19, 2021 for international applicants.

For additional information, contact Kevin Ezzell, 1-MBA program director at kje318@lehigh.edu or 610-758-3418.  Information on the NBMBAA Partner Scholarship opportunities can be found here.