Shelton hosted the 24th annual Shelton Ethics Symposium: “Doing the Right Thing in a Changing World” on Friday, Jan. 23, welcoming juniors and seniors to Shelton’s Moody Fine Arts Center for a day of thoughtful conversation, real-world perspectives and ethical reflection.
This year’s symposium explored how ethics shapes decision-making across business, health care and the aerospace industry — fields where innovation, safety and accountability continue to challenge what it means to act responsibly and with integrity.
Students heard the Charge for the Day from Maggie Thomas (Shelton Class of 2013), co-founder and creative director of Parachute Studio, a Dallas-based creative studio specializing in branding, creative strategy and web development. Thomas earned her Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Sewanee: The University of the South, where she studied ethics. “We live in a very complex world and every decision we make has complex consequences,” Thomas said. “The time to start building your ethical compass is not someday. It’s right now.”
Keynote speaker Lynn McBee, Dallas’ workforce czar, CEO of the Young Women’s Preparatory Network and a longtime Dallas civic leader focused on workforce development, education and public-private partnerships, challenged students to think of ethics as something built through daily choices, not dramatic moments.
“Ethical practices are not simply about checking a box,” McBee said. “They’re about protecting your credibility. And credibility is what makes long-term success possible.” She explained that many ethical dilemmas do not present themselves as obvious right-or-wrong decisions, but rather as small moments where someone may be tempted to take shortcuts.
McBee encouraged students to focus on consistency and character, emphasizing that trust is earned over time. “Trust isn’t built in big moments, it’s built in ordinary ones,” she said. “When you keep your word and you do what you say you’re going to do, that’s how you earn loyalty, develop your reputation and your character.”
Following the keynote and Charge for the Day, students rotated through three panel discussions, hearing from leaders about how ethics guides decision-making in their industries.
Healthcare Ethics Panel
A discussion focused on integrity, compassion and fairness in patient care and medical innovation.
- Fred Grinnell, Ph.D., Robert McLemore Professor of Medical Science, UT Southwestern Medical Center
- Reenu S. Eapen Rose, MD, board-certified pediatric cardiologist; mother of Shelton senior Evan Rose
- Jennifer Wimberly, MD, MA, chair of the Institutional Ethics Committee and medical director of Clinical Ethics and Resiliency, Parkland Health
Business Ethics Panel
A conversation on how integrity and accountability guide decision-making in business, innovation and community leadership.
- Jorge Baldor, chairman of After8toEducate
- Jennifer Chandler, managing director and president of Bank of America Dallas; head of Philanthropic Solutions; mother of Shelton ninth-grader Harper Chandler
- Madison Carrier Perry (Shelton Class of 2011), financial advisor, Northwestern Mutual
Aerospace Ethics Panel
A panel exploring how integrity, safety and accountability guide decision-making in one of the world’s most complex and high-stakes industries.
- Brittany Dinsmore, associate director and chief flight instructor, Texas Woman's University Doswell School of Aeronautical Sciences
- Ernest Huffman, program manager for congestion management and aviation planning, North Central Texas Council of Governments
- Will Kresl (Shelton Class of 2017), stress engineer, Boeing
After lunch, students delved into ethical dilemmas and participated in group discussions, fostering critical thinking and collaboration. The symposium concluded with a final charge to carry forward the day’s lessons and make integrity a cornerstone of their future.