DuPont and chair of the board and chief executive officer Ellen Kullman have been selected by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law to receive the 13th Annual A. Leon Higginbotham Corporate Leadership Award for exemplary leadership in advancing diversity in the workplace and fostering economic opportunity. The gala black-tie dinner, themed “Together, we can accomplish what no one can do alone,” will be held at the Grand Hyatt New York on June 28, 2012, with a 6:30 p.m. reception and 7:30 p.m. dinner.
“We are honored and privileged to be recognized by the Lawyer’s Committee with the Higginbotham award,” said DuPont chair and CEO Ellen Kullman. “Treating people with respect has been a DuPont core value since our company’s founding more than 209 years ago. Our legacy continues today as inclusion and diversity is what catalyzes our world-class science and innovation to help address some of the world’s most pressing challenges.”
“We are excited to bestow this year’s award upon DuPont and Mrs. Kullman, the first female CEO to lead DuPont in its 209-year history and the first woman to receive the Higginbotham Award. Coincidentally, this year also represents the first time in the Lawyers’ Committee’s history that two women currently serve as co-chairs of our board,” Ms. Arnwine added.
DuPont has a long history of support for diversity, especially in education. The company encourages participation in diversity networks to foster dialogue and support among employees. There have been more than 100 networks representing gender, ethnicity, disability and sexual orientation, including a Black Employees Network and a Women’s Network.