The BYU Marriott School Department of Organizational Leadership and Strategy named Dr. Paul D. McKinnon the 2005 William G. Dyer Distinguished Alumnus. The Dyer award is presented annually to an alumnus who makes a significant contribution in the field of organizational behavior.
McKinnon, senior vice president for human resources at Dell Inc., addressed BYU faculty, students, alumni and guests at the annual Organizational Behavior/Human Resources Recognition Banquet Feb. 25. “I’ve been blessed with an extraordinary number of friends and colleagues — people whose support, concern, and academic and intellectual challenges have sustained me over time,” McKinnon remarked. “This institution has been a huge source of strength and inspiration to me, and I want to thank you for this honor and appreciate the recognition.”
McKinnon received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in organizational development from Brigham Young University. He later earned a doctorate in organizational studies from the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. McKinnon also taught organizational behavior for the Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia.
With more than 12 years of experience in management consulting, some of McKinnon’s roles ranged from the design of executive coaching and education programs to process and strategic development for his clients. While consulting, some of his corporate clients included; The Coca-Cola Company, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, Southwestern Bell and Fidelity Investments.
McKinnon joined Dell Inc. in November 1997. His responsibilities include all of the human resources functions and activities at Dell as well as overseeing the company’s security and global diversity programs. He is also credited as the architect of Dell’s Winning Culture initiative, a program that drives positive change in Dell’s goal to be viewed as a great place to work.
Currently, McKinnon is chairman of the board of directors of the Dell Foundation and also serves on the board of directors of the National Urban League. In 2002, McKinnon was inducted as a Fellow in the National Academy of Human Resources, the highest honor an individual can receive in the human resources field.
Additional awards were presented to OB/HR students and faculty. Matthew Willden from Centerville, Utah, received the Stephen G. and Louise Richards Covey Scholarship. Rachel Geiger from Farmington Hills, Mich., received the Gene W. Dalton Scholarship. Kristin Adair from Plano, Texas, and Jeremy Mordock, from Westminster, Colo., received the Culbert Laney Memorial Scholarship. Amber Hunter, from Genola, Utah, received the Paul H. Thompson Scholarship and Burke Powers, from Orem, Utah, received the J. Bonner Ritchie Scholarship. Josh Dayton from North Canton, Ohio, and Cori Lindstrom, from Elk Ridge, Utah, received the Eli Lilly BYU HR Scholarship. Daniel Mott, from Orem, Utah, received the VitalSmarts Scholarship.
The Outstanding Teaching Award recipients were Professors Warner Woodworth and Hal Gregersen. The Outstanding Mentor Award was presented to Associate Professor Kate Kirkham.
The Marriott School is located at Brigham Young University, the largest privately owned, church-sponsored university in the United States. The school has nationally recognized programs in accounting, business management, public management, information systems, organizational behavior and entrepreneurship. The school’s mission is to prepare men and women of faith, character and professional ability for positions of leadership throughout the world. Approximately 3,000 students are enrolled in the Marriott School’s graduate and undergraduate programs.
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Writer: Chad Little (801) 422-1512
