Dr. Maria Dixon Hall

Dr. Maria A. Dixon Hall is the Chief Cultural Intelligence Officer and Senior Advisor to the President at Southern Methodist University, a role she has held since August 2020. In this capacity, she leads the strategic direction of campus-wide cultural intelligence initiatives, working closely with the President and Senior Administration. Dr. Dixon Hall holds a BS in Marketing from the University of Alabama, a Master of Divinity and a Master of Theology from Emory University, and a PhD in Organizational Communication and Religion from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Her research specializes in organizational communication in religious organizations and explores the intersection of identity, power, and organizational culture.

Her dedication to teaching and research has earned her numerous accolades at SMU, including the Willis M. Tate Award, Golden Mustang Award, Rotunda Award, "M" Award, Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Fellowship, and the Thomas W. Tunks Distinguished University Citizen Award. In 2023, she received the Congressional Foundation's Education Champion Award.

In 2016, she developed SMU's Cultural Intelligence Initiative, providing practical tools to navigate complex cultural contexts. Her work has been featured in prominent publications and she has consulted for organizations like Southwest Airlines and the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Notably, she has been recognized as one of Dallas' Top 500 Business Leaders for four consecutive years.

Dr. Dixon Hall is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., an ordained clergy member and conference leader in the Horizon Conference of the United Methodist Church. She is married to Rev. Dr. Jeff Hall and together they have three children.

Event: My Black Country - April 2, 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM