Global Citizen Hall of Famer Honored

Diversity and internationalism have long been subjects of interest- and action- for Linda Bates Parker, director of the Career Development Center and adjunct assistant professor for the Center for Organizational Leadership. This commitment was recognized during a reception at the Aronoff Center, where she was inducted into the Greater Cincinnati International Hall of Fame as a Global Citizen.

The Hall of Fame honors individuals, companies, and organizations that promote a spirit of internationalism and a positive image and quality of life for the region. Rather than being located in a building, it is a traveling exhibit featuring photographs and biographies of inductees that are intended to tell stories of greater Cincinnati's global connections and convey the message that the region is more international than people assume. The exhibit is currently on display at the Greater Cincinnati Airport.

Parker founded and directed Black Career Women. She also co-founded Execucircle, an international professional development conference for African Americans that is held in Africa, the Caribbean, and South America. In addition, she co-founded the “Can We Talk?” National Diversity Forum. At UC she created the International Careers Forum as part of the World Fest campus initiative to encourage United States students to understand the importance of work and study abroad and to help international students on campus learn about employment in this country.

Her long list of honors includes having been named a

Cincinnati Enquirer

Woman of the Year, a board member of the International Red Cross, and a recipient of UC Distinguished Alumni and ZONTAS International awards. Parker has also been recognized by

Working Mother Magazine

as a 2000 Champion of Diversity and was honored by Women, Inc., a Jamaican organization for her work following a devastating hurricane in that country.