Diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental components of the King’s College mission. Our Catholic and Holy Cross tradition calls us to treat each person as made in the image and likeness of God.
In September 2021, Rev. Thomas Looney, C.S.C., Ph.D., formed the President's DEI Committee, which brings together students, faculty, and staff to help raise awareness of the growing diversity on campus, identify obstacles to inclusion, and ensure that King’s College continues to be a welcoming environment for all.
Diversity
Diversity refers to the facets of human identity such as race, ethnicity, nationality, culture, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical and intellectual capacities, religious/philosophical beliefs, military status, and generational status.
Our mission values diversity by seeking to welcome to all people and to "champion the inherent dignity of every person.
We are committed to:
Caring for the whole person, including the spiritual, physical, mental, and moral well-being of each member of the community
Fostering a community of people with multifaceted understandings of themselves and the world around them
Equity
Equity promotes justice and fairness in accessing opportunities for education, employment, and contracts.
Our mission values equity by:
Seeking to mobilize the talents and professional skills of our students and employees "to serve the common good" of our own community and the world.
Striving to live justly and educate widely as a means to peace.
We are committed to:
Providing underrepresented populations with access to educational experiences, resources, and communities.
Ensuring that our learning and working environment is free from harassment, discrimination, and bullying and that no member of our community is discriminated against in any capacity.
Inclusion
Inclusion refers to efforts to create an environment of respect, engagement, and belonging for members of and visitors to our campus in their diverse identities, needs, talents, and gifts.
Our mission values inclusion by:
Seeking to bring together people of diverse backgrounds into a transformative community that respects, celebrates, and engages with each other.
Educating in a way that blends academic excellence with "creative pedagogy, engaged mentorship, co-curricular participation, and a collaborative spirit."
We are committed to:
Changing programs, policies, and processes of the college to become a more caring and inclusive community.
Carrying on and developing the creative educational vision of Blessed Basil Moreau, founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, by cultivating an inclusive pedagogy in all our learning environments.
Committee Chair
Ayesha Ray, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science
Ex Officio
Jasmine Giddings, Director of Multicultural and International Student Programs
Martin Lacayo, Director of Hispanic Outreach and Student Services
Staff Representatives
William Bolan, Ph.D., Director of the Shoval Center for Community Engagement
Kelly Lettieri, Associate Vice President for Academic Success
Faculty Representatives
Billie Burry, Ph.D., MSN-Ed, RN., Associate Dean for Nursing
Anne Massey, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Spanish
Student Representatives
Kristen Ortiz, Class of 2025
Rayan Taylor, Class of 2028
Faculty Appointees
Rev. Daniel Issing, C.S.C., Associate Professor of Theology
Jahmeel Powers, Theatre Faculty Member
Robin Field, Ph.D., Professor of English
Jennifer Dessoye, O.T.D., M.S., O.T.R./L., Director of Occupational Therapy
Isaac Von Rue, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chemistry
Andrew Wojcik, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Education
Staff Appointees
Regina Corchado, Director of Human Resources
Stephen Kopenis, Director of Security Investigations
The Academic Skills Center provides tutoring and learning strategy instruction to all students, including those with academic and personal disabilities.
Office of KC Pathways offers several coordinated services under one roof:
Achievement Plus helps academically and financially disadvantaged students overcome the academic, social, emotional, and economic barriers that impede their ability to complete their degree.
First Generation Monarchs helps students become the first in their family to earn a four-year degree through mentoring, soft-skill development, honors membership, networking, leadership growth, and more.
International Student Services provide international students with academic advisement, immigration support, advocacy, outreach, and engagement while promoting intercultural understanding across campus.
Campus Ministry offers trained professionals to assist any student, staff, or faculty member regardless of religious affiliation or spiritual background.
The Counseling Center supports overall emotional and mental health in a welcoming environment, including individual counseling, group therapy, psychoeducational workshops, and outreach. All counselors are committed to practicing with inclusivity, cultural competence, and cultural humility.
The Hispanic and Latino Excellence Center sponsored by the McGowan Fund offers valuable educational services to King’s students as well as youths and families throughout the surrounding area.
Multicultural and International Student Programs (MISP) is a community for learning and championing the inherent dignity of every person. The office offers fun and educational diversity events, cultural trips, and opportunities to grow for all students.
Study abroad opportunities are available to students of all majors and years of study. Students can choose from a variety of programs based on interests, time commitment, and cost, all while practicing intercultural skills, making new friends, and building a resume.
Monarchs for Diversity
Monarchs for Diversity is a campus organization that fosters a welcoming and inclusive environment where each member of King's College has a sense of belonging. We are a community of people with multifaceted understandings of ourselves and the world around us. We engage in civil discourse where we listen to understand and learn from one another. In order to foster a positive environment, we will not tolerate harassment, discrimination, or bullying in any capacity. We seek to be a transformative community that respects, celebrates, and engages with one another. Our mission is to champion the inherent dignity of every person.
The Inclusive Excellence and Diversity Student Group Award recipient is La Raza Association led by Carlos Contreras for their great programing and continued efforts to educate the King’s College community on the various Hispanic / Latino Cultures.
The Student for Diversity Award recipient is Bukun Modebe for being a dedicated advocate for diversity and inclusion, serving as the president of the Black Student Union while actively promoting cultural education and inclusivity on campus. Her exceptional leadership, academic excellence, and unwavering commitment to social justice make her a truly deserving recipient of the Student for Diversity Award.
The Faculty Diversity Advocate Award recipient is Dave Reynolds for being a dedicated educator and leader who creates a safe and inclusive environment in his classroom and the theater, ensuring that everyone feels seen and heard. Through his deliberate choice of diverse stories, he encourages empathy and understanding by presenting the world from various perspectives.
2023 Awards
The Inclusive Excellence and Diversity Student Group Award was awarded to The King's Players, Advised by Jahmeel.
Committed to including all student in the arts, run by a minority student
Storytelling minorities tales as it's core. Committed to hearing different voices. Miss You Like Hell was a beautiful show about immigrant struggles.
King's Players is a student organization dedicated to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in their creative and artistic endeavors.
Led by a bi-racial president this year, there has been a willingness to create a safe and inclusive space for any/all students of all backgrounds. In fact, many of the prominent roles in the productions are often filled with non-theatre students who have a range of performance experiences: from seasoned singers/dancers and actors in the community to those who are looking to try performing for the first time.
This academic year in particular has seen an increase in opportunities to promote and perform in more culturally and societally diverse plays and musicals such as Miss You Like Hell, which told a beautiful and heartbreaking story of a young Mexican American woman and her battle against strict immigration policies to save her undocumented mother (played by a first-time actress).
The King's players and its affiliate theatre department continue to promote a space where non-typical voices can be heard and expressed and strive to provide the most accurate and respectful representation of those voices onstage by any means necessary.
There is such an inclusive/ sense of belonging atmosphere that is felt the minute you work within this department
The Student for Diversity Award was awarded to Alvin Abraham.
Alvin works with DEI and Multicultural Club. He is president of SASA and has hosted events such as Diwali and Holi. He is involved in BSU and a member of the Volleyball Team. He is a very kind person and makes everyone feel welcomed and comfortable and encourages them to be involved as well. I believe he is the best candidate because of how involved he is in all of the diversity events on campus.
Alvin is always willing to help another person.
Alvin is not afraid to speak up even when others don't. Alvin showed me in a situation that he will be a voice even when others are not around. He will speak up about things that are unjust, even if everyone else is staying silent.
He goes above and beyond to give of his time and encourages others to get involved.
Society is on the cusp of great change and it will be people like Alvin leading that change....The future will be in good hands with people like Alvin Abraham.
The Multifarious Faculty Award was awarded to Dr. Jennifer McClinton-Temple.
Jennifer McClinton Temple has done a really nice job in supporting our LGBTQIA+ students on campus, by advising GSA, and by becoming certified as a Safe Zone trainer, so she can continue to educate our campus community. She's a consistent voice for equity and equality on campus and supports students across the board.
Jennifer has been working with NetVue Grant where it is looking at who are the sons of coal miners today.
Jennifer is a face that students trust to speak to about problems outside of the classroom.
She uses her voice to help those who may seem like they may not have one and I appreciate all the work she does behind the scenes that may go unnoticed.
The Leading Leo Staff Award was awarded to Kelly Lettieri.
Kelly makes sure students are recognized, valued and celebrated.
She has initiatives for 1st Gen Students, collaborates with many different offices and is overseeing international students and the KC Pathways Programs
In her hands... things GET DONE. I want to continue to encourage her as she encourages others!
Kelly Lettieri has worked hard in many roles in order to promote DEI initiatives at King's.
She is concerned with supporting students at all levels, and she works hard to make resources available.
She has been part of the DEI committee and attends all of the events.
She is an excellent mentor and resource for our students.
She has continually provided a welcoming environment for all students on campus, doing whatever she could to make their transition to King's friendly and hospitable.
KC Pathways includes students from various backgrounds, including financial need, college readiness, and ethnicity.
Kelly helped with the organization of the First Gen Celebration activities and encouraged students to embrace being a first-generation student
2022 Awards
The Multifarious Faculty Award: Jennifer Darrell
This award recognizes a faculty member who encourages the King's Community to learn about issues of oppression of marginalized members of society and engages the community to create a more just world. This can be done directly in the classroom, working with clubs and student organizations, and/or through mentorship of students.
Dr. Darrell uses her language courses to educate students on many different aspects of Spanish-speaking cultures.
She creates a new awareness of the struggles that minority groups in developing countries face.
She helps her classes conduct projects that help those that are oppressed and less fortunate in other areas of the world.
The Leading Leo Staff Award: Jasmine Giddings
This award recognizes the leadership and efforts of a staff member in advancing and advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion. This can be done by taking the lead in creating awareness events to create a welcoming environment for all, initiating an action plan to remove barriers that go against the DEI mission statement, or demonstrating a great interest in the mission by collaborating with dedicating their efforts towards working with the DEI Committee and its various subgroups.
Jasmine has been acting as the voice for so many different students of color. From encouraging us to speak up about various issues of oppression to being a listening ear, Jasmine has been there since day one.
Jasmine is THE driving force for bringing so many of our students and employees together to celebrate our diverse community. She's been a driving force for a long time, and her passion shines through in her work. She's tireless, and her dedication to our campus community is evident.
Jasmine has been a champion of DEI since her first day at King's. Through her programming, advocacy, and relationship building she has created a space for students to be less alone and more empowered at King's.
Jasmine works collaboratively across many offices and student groups and has had an outsized impact on our community's commitment to DEI.
I have stood by her side as she walks into HCE classrooms and helps students get involved in diversity talks.
I think her leadership and enthusiasm to help this campus outshines everything else that she does because when I see her, I see a better, more diverse, future for King's College.
The Inclusive Excellence and Diversity Student Group Award: Diversity and Inclusion Student Committee (Student Government)
This award recognizes a student club or organization that strives to impact the King's College community through emphasizing, prioritizing, and expanding inclusivity, equity, and diversity. This can be done by collaborating with the DEI committee and its various subgroups.
Having a student-led group that just formed this year, and within a few months were able to organize a great Diversity and Inclusion Fashion Show!
Many of them being seniors still found time to have meetings and commit to something that is not an easy to do.
The individual groups: South Asian Student Association, Black Student Union, Multicultural and International Club, Gay Straight Alliance, and La Raza Association came together and showed inclusivity by working together to show what collaboration and diversity can do!
The Student for Diversity Award: Paige Gould
This award recognizes a student for their achievement in raising awareness about diversity on campus. This student demonstrates their contribution through involvement in diversity programs and events on campus. The student has also collaborated with the Office of MISP and other diverse student organizations on campus to create inclusive events and programs regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Paige Gould has been an integral part of the GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) here at King's. She has gone out of her way to connect with incoming first-year students to let them know they are welcome at King's College.
Paige continually puts herself out there to stand for others, make them feel wanted here at King's, and is always respectful and well-spoken.
She has coordinated events with Campus Ministry, such as vigils for LBGTQ+ students who have lost their lives to suicide.
Paige should be recognized for her continued efforts to stand up for a marginalized community.
Paige is one of the most incredible people I have ever met. She helps students find a place to be their authentic selves.
She has done so much to ensure the safety of LGBTQ+ students on campus and takes every step she can to make both club members on non-members feel heard and seen on campus.
I only hope I can follow her example and help at least one student feel loved, accepted, and safe on campus and help provide a safe space to be their true selves too.
She is open-minded, tries to hear all sides of an argument, and is extremely professional and caring.
She has gone out of her way so many times to accommodate everyone's schedule even though she is extremely busy as a fourth-year Physician Assistant major.
