Research center

Center for Multicultural Management and Ethics

Research, teaching, and student engagement at the intersection of culture and business ethics.

About Competition Guidelines Results Resources Director

About CMME

Ethics shaped by place, culture, and evidence

Located in the El Paso–Juárez region, the center draws on a binational setting to advance work in multicultural management, business ethics, and sustainability.

CMME connects faculty research with undergraduate learning and community engagement. Its work develops students’ ethical thinking, creates opportunities for collaborative research, and shares practical knowledge that can strengthen organizations and communities.

Mission

The Center for Multicultural Management and Ethics fosters a culture of ethics in the El Paso region by engaging students in economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

Engage students

Develop ethical reasoning through the annual Skov Essay Competition on Business Ethics and related learning activities.

Conduct research

Build undergraduate research skills through collaborative projects, conference presentations, and publication.

Share knowledge

Support business ethics courses and disseminate research and practices that contribute to stronger societies.

2026 competition closed. The submission deadline was March 22, 2026.

Skov Essay Competition on Business Ethics

Ethical thinking, made visible

Launched in 2013, the annual competition challenges students to analyze a timely issue in business ethics. The current competition is open to UTEP undergraduate students and is supported primarily by Robert E. and Jacqueline Skov.

2026 topic

Explain how self-efficacy—the confidence people have in their abilities—shapes motivation to learn financial literacy and make sound financial decisions.

Future competition details will be posted when available. Questions may be sent to ethicsessay@utep.edu.

Eligibility UTEP undergraduate students

Essay length 500 words or fewer

First prize $200

Honorable mentions $25 each

Submission Blackboard

Competition details

Rules and submission guidelines

The following requirements applied to the 2026 competition. Updated requirements will accompany the next competition announcement.

Submit one original essay of 500 words or fewer that addresses the competition topic.
Identify and cite all non-original material, including quotations and copyrighted work, using APA style.
Participants must be enrolled as UTEP undergraduate students.
Only one entry per person is accepted.
Entries that do not follow the competition rules and guidelines may be disqualified.
CMME may modify the prize structure or withhold prizes when entries do not meet the rules or expected quality standards.
Award disbursement requires complete participant information submitted by the stated deadlines and attendance at the award ceremony.

Essay format

Written in English
APA style
Title and reference pages
No abstract required
Times New Roman, 12 point
Double-spaced
1-inch margins
500 words or fewer

What counts toward the 500-word limit?

The limit applies to the essay itself. The title, reference page, headers, and footnotes are not included.

What writing style is expected?

Essays should offer thoughtful analysis, use specific examples, limit informal phrasing, and be carefully proofread.

May AI tools be used?

AI tools may assist with revision, but the essay must remain the student’s original work and voice. Entries may be reviewed for AI-generated content.

How are participants notified?

Because of the volume of entries, only participants selected for an award are contacted individually.

Where should additional questions be sent?

Email ethicsessay@utep.edu or call (915) 747-7748.

Competition archive

Past recipients

Published results from the Skov Essay Competition on Business Ethics, 2020–25.

2025 recipients

First prizeMariana Alvillar

Second prizeMina Tavakoli-Nejad

Third prizeJewel Ocampo

Honorable mention

Michael Hernandez
Victor Juarez
Isaiah O’Dell

2024 recipients

First prizeRebecca Cruz

Second prizeEmma Casillas

Third prizeAndrea Loya

Honorable mention

Caleb Ledesma
Isabel Reyes
Karle Michelle Cordoba

2023 recipients

First prizeBianca Quintos

Second prizeDiana A. Lara Gomez

Third prizeDulce Alejandra Garcia Valles

Honorable mention

Juan Antonio Palacios-Quiroz
Jeonghyun Yoo
Daira Yannel Gallegos

2022 recipients

First prizeDennis Sipe

Second prizeNubia Galván

Third prizeAbraham Guevara

Honorable mention

Ashira Nixon
Brandon Cox
Abraham García

2021 recipients

First prize Sophia Nava Transmountain Early College High School

Second prize Alycia Nixon Transmountain Early College High School

Third prize Alexandra Moncada Loretto Academy

Honorable mention

Valeria Portillo — Loretto Academy
Catherine Torres — Loretto Academy
Brooklyn Hudgings — Del Valle High School

2020 recipients

First prize Sierra Richards Transmountain Early College High School

Second prize Jennifer Westrick Transmountain Early College High School

Third prize Dana Murillo Del Valle High School

Honorable mention

Alyssa Lujan — Transmountain Early College High School
Arielle Moreno — Transmountain Early College High School
Christopher Bonds — Transmountain Early College High School
Sasha Robles — Del Valle High School

Support

Partners behind the competition

CMME recognizes the donors, financial institutions, and grant partners that have supported the Skov Essay Competition and related initiatives.

Explore the field

Business ethics resources

Selected starting points for students, instructors, and researchers.

Ethics Unwrapped Videos, cases, and teaching materials from The University of Texas at Austin.
Markkula Center for Applied Ethics Articles, frameworks, and cases focused on ethical decision-making in business.
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy A scholarly overview of central questions and debates in business ethics.
Ethics and Compliance Initiative Research and practical guidance on organizational ethics and compliance.
International Business Ethics Institute International resources addressing ethical business practices across cultures.

Center director

Maria F. Garcia

Professor of Management and Robert E. and Jacqueline Skov Endowed Chair in Business Ethics

Garcia’s research examines diversity in the workplace, business ethics, and international human resource management. She directs the Center for Multicultural Management and Ethics and leads its work connecting research, teaching, and student engagement.

Faculty profile fwagstaff@utep.edu (915) 747-5378

Contact CMME

Questions about the center or competition?

Skov Essay Competition on Business Ethics
Woody L. Hunt College of Business
(915) 747-7748

Email CMME