Monique Bell, PhD Honored at the PhD Project

The PhD Project, an association that supports and encourages members of underrepresented groups to pursue doctoral degrees in business and increase the diversity pool in corporate America, recently honored Monique Bell, PhD, who completed her doctoral studies at Drexel LeBow in 2013 in marketing.

Currently, Bell is an assistant professor of marketing at the California State University in Fresno, Calif. Her recent research examines the effects of firms’ organizational values on marketing outcomes, including customer satisfaction and corporate reputation. Her dissertation earned her the Melvin and Patricia Stith Marketing Doctoral Dissertation Grant, as well as the Drexel University Outstanding Dissertation Award for Social Sciences.

“Attending the PhD Project Annual Conference this year was truly a ‘full circle’ moment for me,” Bell says. “In 2005, I was happy in my career as a director of marketing and my original career aspirations were to be a Chief Marketing Officer – until I came across an ad for The PhD Project Conference. On a whim, I applied to attend the conference and learn more about academia. When I was accepted to attend the conference, it seemed too good to be true. Although it took three years to germinate and almost eight years to bloom, the seeds of my future career were planted by the PhD Project. The PhD Project gave me the knowledge, network of support and belief in myself to successfully complete my doctoral degree. Being honored among those who paved the way for me, as well as those who will follow in my footsteps, brings me such joy and validation. I’m proof of the possibilities.”

LeBow PhD Program Director Christopher Laincz, PhD and Program Coordinator Sarah Haley attended the ceremony, which was held during the PhD Project’s annual conference in Chicago, to support Bell and to meet prospective candidates of the LeBow PhD program.

Michael Paz, a current fourth-year doctoral accounting candidate is also a participant of the PhD Project, as was Mark Tribitt, who earned his PhD from LeBow and is currently an assistant professor of strategy at the Grazizdio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University.

The PhD Project was initially established by the KPMG Foundation in 1994. Its mission is to increase the diversity of corporate America by increasing the diversity of business school faculty.