National Honors For Rutgers-Camden Business School Duo For Work On Diversity

by KYW's David Madden

CHICAGO, IL (CBS) --  A pair of business professors at Rutgers-Camden have received national recognition for their work in promoting diversity within the ranks of academia across the country.

Julie and Kenneth Kendall of Voorhees work together on the 12 year old PhD project. They were inducted into that group's Hall of Fame in Chicago last week for their ongoing work to encourage professionals from various minority groups to get into teaching, providing an incentive for those studying to become the business leaders of tomorrow.

"A lot of students don't have role models that look like them and I think it's very important that this is happening now," Kenneth Kendall told KYW Newsradio.

Wife Julie added that the project's work is truly a lifelong commitment, for them, and those they mentor.

"Although we're helping with the research portion of their lives, we become involved in their lives and their careers, their academic careers, to really encourage them to achieve and, in doing so, help their students as well," she said.

The project invites those business leaders to annual meetings to consider making the switch to the classroom. On average, only 15% of them do.