Students Get a Taste of Airline Culture

As part of Delta Air Lines’ work to reimagine its recruiting strategy and better reflect diversity, the airline selected 55 students from 13 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to attend Delta’s global headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, from 18-19 October.  The “From the Yard to Delta Boulevard” experience immersed students in the Delta culture through their participation in HBCU alumni panels, leadership fire side chats, networking meals, a tailgate experience, and guided tours of the Technical Operations facility and the Delta Flight Museum.

Students also had the opportunity to interview for summer 2024 jobs in a variety of business units including sales, IT, flight operations and more.

The students represented Alabama State University, Clark Atlanta University, Delaware State University, Florida A&M University, Hampton University, Howard University, Jackson State University, Morehouse College, Morris Brown College, North Carolina A&T, Spelman College, Texas Southern University and Tuskegee University.

Throughout the event, students had the opportunity to conduct a Q&A session with current Delta interns and co-ops, hear from active members of BOLD (Delta’s Black Business Resource Group), and engage with a host of leaders via panel discussions and fireside chats, including:

“The Delta Difference" panel discussion with Amelia Deluca, V.P. and Chief Sustainability Officer; Quinnie Jenkins, Director of Community Engagement; and Krista Hicks, Manager of Total Rewards (Clark Atlanta alumna).

“Reach as we Climb: Black Leaders of Delta Air Lines” panel discussion with Charisse Evans, V.P. of Airport Operations Field Support; Shawn Cole, V.P. of Global Sales (North Carolina A&T alumnus); Nicole Jones, Managing Director of Global Sales (Spelman alumna); and Maya Dukes, Managing Director of Window Seat.

Fireside Chat with Dwight James, S.V.P. of Loyalty and CEO Delta Vacations (Morehouse alumnus) – moderated by Keyra Lynn Johnson, V.P. and Chief DEI Officer.