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Dell's Global-Diversity Icon Thurmond Woodard Dies at 58
By Jennifer Millman
April 06, 2007
Dell's Thurmond Woodard, vice president of global diversity and chief ethics, privacy-compliance officer, died today after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 58.
Woodard was the company's first vice president of global diversity. As chief ethics and privacy-compliance officer, he supervised the tech giant's global business conduct office and guided global strategy.
"Thurmond's impact was wide reaching. He was instrumental in helping us define and promote our distinctive winning culture. His vision and dedication to diversity and ethics were critical in helping us extend Dell's global reputation for business ethics and integrity," chairman and CEO Michael Dell said in a note to Dell's global employees. "His sensible counsel, generosity of spirit, tireless dedication and optimism were appreciated and admired by all he touched. His passing leaves a void impossible to fill."
A member of Dell's Global Diversity Council, Woodard earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from Hampton University and had more than 30 years' experience in business finance, marketing, sales and human-resources management. Prior to joining Dell in October 2000, Woodard was president and chief operating officer for the Atlanta-based R. Thomas Consulting and Training, where he advised CEOs and senior leaders in corporate America on how to integrate diversity within business strategy and how to formulate policies to recruit and retain talented individuals.
A leader in his company and community, Woodard earned a reputation for being an engine of change. In 2006, he received the Austin Area Urban League's Whitney M. Young Jr. Award for his work in strengthening business and community partnerships to provide access to opportunity for all individuals, where inequities may otherwise have prevented many from achieving their maximum potential.
As Woodard said at a 2002 National Association of African Americans in Human Resources conference, "We cannot resist change that is inevitable—we have to get on board and help drive that change."
He will be remembered for doing precisely that. Dell will endow a scholarship in Woodard's name to honor his contributions and provide educational opportunities for students of color and students from disadvantaged economic backgrounds around the world.
Services will be at King-Tears funeral home at 1300 East 12th Street in Austin, Texas.
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