Purdue Legends: Krannert’s Cornell Bell

Cornell A. Bell

1933 – 2009

Father figure, mentor, passionate advocate of diversity — these accolades are just a few used to describe the life and work of Cornell A. Bell, who served as director of Purdue’s Krannert School of Management Business Opportunity Program for 36 years.

An Indiana native, Bell earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry and master’s degree in education from Indiana University, then entered the private sector. He worked as a chemist, taught high school science classes, and served as a guidance counselor, assistant principal and principal in Gary, Indiana. His commitment to students and their success carried over into what would become his life’s work at Purdue.

The Business Opportunity Program started in 1968 to address a lack of diversity on campus and provide underrepresented minority students the chance to study in a highly regarded business management program. It was the first diversity program at Purdue. Bell was hired to direct BOP in its second year, and he retired from that position in 2006.

He received his doctoral degree in educational administration from Purdue in 1972 and spent the next three decades recruiting hundreds of minority graduate and undergraduate students to the program. BOP enrolled 11 students its first year and as of 2018, the program has graduated more than 1,400 students who are working around the world.

Bell was recognized for his commitment to student access and success. He served on the national Graduate Management Admission Council, which is dedicated to increasing diversity in business schools across the country.

He received the Special Boilermaker Award, the M. Beverley Stone Non-Academic Counseling Award, the Indiana Bell Award, the Harold T. Amrine Visionary Award and was named Sagamore of the Wabash by Indiana Governor Evan Bayh.

The program to which he gave so much was renamed the Cornell A. Bell Business Opportunity Program in 1996. He passed away in March 2009.