A Cummins Inc. executive will highlight the theme of “Equity and Economic Opportunity in South Central Indiana” at a free IUPUC event to mark the Rev. Martin Luther King holiday at 11 a.m. Jan. 21 at the Columbus Learning Center, 4555 Central Ave.
Carolyn Butler-Lee, executive director of corporate human resources, mentioned that her father participated in King-related civil rights marches in the 1960s in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she grew up.
“As an African American woman, and as a mother of an African American (teen) son who lives in a society and world where race is certainly a factor, equality and equity — the theme that IUPUC has set for this event — is very important to me,” Butler-Lee said.
She also mentioned, besides King’s legacy on behalf of equity and equality before his assassination April 4, 1968, she appreciates the work and impact of former longtime Cummins chairman J. Irwin Miller. He was for years a leader in the civil rights movement — he led the National Council of Churches when it helped organize the historic March on Washington in 1963 — and in hiring and promoting minorities long before much of the corporate world began doing so.
“I feel fortunate to work for a company that has a history of being committed to equity and equality, beginning with J. Irwin Miller and up to current leadership at Cummins,” she said. “And I feel fortunate to work for a company whose core values have, for a long time, encompassed diversity and inclusion — and a company that endeavors to ensure we live out those values.”
Lori Montalbano, associate dean for academic and student affairs at IUPUC, lauded the idea of having Butler-Lee speak.
“With her experience as a leader at Cummins, she provides deep insight into how a diverse population contributes to the economic and cultural growth of our community and our region,” Montalbano said.
Butler-Lee joined Cummins in 1995. She has held multiple leadership roles with the company, including director of global logistics strategy in Cummins filtration and compensation and benefits strategy director for Cummins business services.
In addition to the keynote address, IUPUC will present its annual Excellence in Diversity Awards, according to organizers. Created in 2010 by the IUPUC Diversity Council, the awards recognize internal and external individuals, organizations, groups, units, projects, or institutions that meet the defined criteria.
Last year’s winners included Kevin Jones, business and leadership professor at IUPUC, and Su Casa Columbus, a nonprofit organization helping Latinos locally.
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What: "Equity and Economic Opportunity in South Central Indiana" at a free IUPUC event to mark the Rev. Martin Luther King holiday
When: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 21
Where: The lecture hall in the Columbus Learning Center, 4555 Central Ave.
Admission: Free, and includes a light lunch
Information: Visit iupuc.edu
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