KENNESAW, Ga. | Oct 19, 2020

Kennesaw State University professor Jennifer Wade-Berg has been named the inaugural recipient of an American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Research Foundation grant promoting the study of diversity, equity and inclusion among associations.

The Sal Martino Legacy Grant for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Research is a yearlong award supporting researchers who attempt to address issues of diversity and inclusion among associations and nonprofit organizations. Wade-Berg, an associate professor in the Wellstar College of Health and Human Services and campus executive director of the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, was selected for her submission, “Building Diverse Association Memberships Through Pipeline Programs: An Evaluation of the Association of Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action’s (ARNOVA) Diversity Scholars Professional Development Program.”

“I am honored to be the first to receive the Sal Martino Legacy Grant and very much look forward to launching an in-depth investigation into pipeline programs,” she said. “Diversity and inclusion initiatives have been a longtime passion of mine, and I hope this study can serve as a guide stone for professional associations nationwide looking to become more effective in these areas.”

Wade-Berg’s research will attempt to gauge how effective “pipeline programs” are with regard to recruiting and retaining people of color in their respective professional associations. In particular, she will study ARNOVA’s Diversity Scholars Program. Her research aims to provide baseline data for future studies involving the use of pipeline programs as a diversity and inclusion strategy for associations and to underscore the importance of creating such opportunities for underrepresented people of color as a means of equity and inclusion. Additionally, ARNOVA will receive an evaluation of its program along with a deeper understanding of how pipeline programs impact the association and its membership.

– Travis Highfield

---

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.