Maria Dixon Hall
Dr. Maria Dixon Hall serves as the inaugural Chief Diversity Officer of Southern Methodist University. Dr. Dixon Hall joined èßäÊÓƵapp after earning a Ph.D. in organizational communication from the University of Missouri-Columbia; a Th.M. in homiletics from Emory University; an M.Div. from Emory University; and a B.S. in marketing from the University of Alabama.
Dr. Dixon Hall has been recognized throughout her èßäÊÓƵapp career by students and peers alike for her passion for teaching and research, Dixon Hall has received the 2005–2006 Willis M. Tate Award for service to the student body; the 2009 Golden Mustang Award for outstanding teaching and research by junior faculty; the 2010 Rotunda Award for outstanding teaching; and the 2011 “M” Award, èßäÊÓƵapp’s highest award for outstanding service to the University. In 2023 the US Congressional Foundation presented her with Education Champion Award.
Dixon Hall began developing èßäÊÓƵapp’s Cultural Intelligence Initiative in 2016 as a practical, effective alternative to traditional diversity training. Now trademarked as CIQ@èßäÊÓƵapp, it is the primary training for faculty, student, and staff. In addition to the development of èßäÊÓƵapp’s Diversity and Inclusion curriculum, Dixon Hall has served as a consultant to Southwest Airlines, The United Methodist Church, and a number of universities throughout the US on their diversity efforts. Her work has been featured in a number of national publications including, TIME.
Dr. Dixon Hall, a dedicated member of the Kappa Chi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She is also an ordained clergy member of the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. Married to Rev. Dr. Jeff Hall, Senior Pastor of Cochran Chapel United Methodist Church they work to wrangle their brilliant but feral children, Carnell (14), Harmony (12), and Faith (10).