Foster DEI History

Twelve Chinese students are enrolled as the College of Business Administration’s first international exchange.

“Marjorie Edwina Pitter King joined her sisters at the UW to study for an accounting degree in the College of Economics and Business. She worked for a sociology professor who counseled students in and outside of his discipline, including Pitter (later King). According to her, he always seemed to have a receptive ear for her concerns and tried to advise her as best he could, knowing little about her major. Commercial Law, Anthropology and Statistics were her three most enjoyable courses, because of the creative manner in which they were taught—interactive, with a team approach.
However, Marjorie Pitter King experienced difficult, hurtful moments as well. Frequently she was on academic probation because of low grades. Since few women of any race studied accounting during the Great Depression, her experiences may have been related to sexism, too. She was called unkind names and often ignored by her professors during her stay there. In 1942, she transferred in her senior year to Howard University in Washington, D.C. to complete her graduation requirements.
Later she returned to Seattle and established a successful tax business called M and M Tax and Consultant Services. Extremely active in politics, she was appointed to the State Legislature in 1965, becoming the first African American in that body. King served until 1966. She served as Chair of the 37th District Democratic Party, Vice President of the King County Democratic Party and Treasurer of the Washington State Federation of Democratic Women, Inc. She provided leadership in drafting the National Democratic Party Platform, while attending the 1972 Democratic National Convention.” Read more at blackpast.org

John Gayton was the first African-American to graduate from the Foster School. In 1958, he received his Bachelors degree in Business Administration from the University of Washington — the only Black student in that class. In 1972 he went back to receive a Masters in Business Administration.

Andrew Branch graduated with his MBA in 1968 and in 1969, he was the first African-American to pass the CPA exam in Washington State. After graduation he accepted a position with PriceWaterhouse (now PriceWaterhouseCoopers). In 1972, Branch declined an offer to become the first African-American partner at this firm when he opened his first company Branch, Richards, and Co. He founded and ran two other companies and continues to this day to run Branch, Richards, and Co.

This organization promoting the success of African-American business students was founded by Dr. Earl Vinson, Dr. Aubrey Armstrong, and Dr. Harold Lucius, initially as the Graduate Association of Black Business Students (GABBS). Student leaders will decide to expand membership and change the name to the Association of Black Business Students (ABBS) in 1977.

The School hosts the Women + Business Conference. This model program, co-sponsored by the General Services Administration and the City of Seattle, convenes 500 participants from the public and private sectors, and leads to the publication of the first director of women-owned businesses in the Pacific Northwest.

The William D. Bradford Minority Business of the year Award is established. Named for the former dean of the Business School whose support made the UW Business and Economic Development Program (BEDP) a reality, the award recognizes the minority-owned firm that has made the most significant impact on Washington state through profitable growth, quality management and community involvement.

The William D. Bradford Minority Business of the Year Award is presented for the first time. It is the only statewide minority business award in the US at the time.

The Ernest I.J. Aguilar Endowed Scholarship for Latino MBA students is established, making it the first endowed scholarship for Latino MBA students in the country.

Minority Business Executive Program is launched, designed to increase the competitiveness of minority owned businesses in the region.

African-American Heritage MBA Endowed Scholarship is awarded for the first time. It is the first (and to date only) endowed scholarship for African-American MBA students at the Foster School.

The Bradford-Osborne Research Award is the first national award recognizing research published in peer-reviewed journals that contributes to advancing the growth of businesses owned by people of color. In addition to recognizing groundbreaking research, the award seeks to stimulate additional research, provide public and corporate policy makers with insights to guide decision-making, and equip business support organizations to deliver impactful programming.

Foster School of Business together with the Wharton School launches “The Tenure Project”, an initiative to raise awareness and support for Black, Latine, and Native American junior faculty to achieve tenure in business schools. By increasing the chances that Assistant Professors of color go up for and receive tenure, we help attract a more historically underrepresented student population, further academic research by scholars of color, and contribute to a business community that is more equitable, inclusive, and diverse.

The Consulting and Business Development Center and the Dean’s Office provided summer funding awards ($10,000/year for three years) to three Foster faculty members who are conducting research projects that has the potential to create new knowledge about BIPOC and/or under-represented owned businesses and their communities within the United States.

2023 Awardees were: Esther Uduehi, Mana Heshmati, and Sarah McVay