The annual Diversity and Inclusion Summit is a full-day conference addressing pressing issues related to diversity and inclusion at Boston College and in the higher education field.
Requires BC Email login to access
If you have any questions about registration, please email diversity@bc.edu.
Belonging in Practice: Maintaining Momentum
May 22, 2024, 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Gasson Hall
The 9th Diversity and Inclusion Summit is dedicated to enhancing our understanding of practices that actively contribute to and maintain inclusive excellence. We will reflect on actions that sustain the momentum of belonging through introspection and dialogue to strengthen the framework that helps each community member feel a deep sense of belonging at Boston College.
Keynote Speaker
Howard J. Ross
Howard J. Ross is the 2024 Diversity and Inclusion Summit featured keynote speaker. He is a lifelong social justice advocate and one of the world’s seminal thought leaders in identifying and addressing unconscious bias. Howard has specialized in synthesizing neuro-cognitive and social science research and direct application re: Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, and Accessibility work. His client work has focused on corporate culture change, leadership development, and managing diversity.
Ross has successfully implemented large-scale organizational culture change efforts in the area of managing diversity and cultural integration in academic institutions, professional services corporations, Fortune 500 companies, and retail, health care, media, and governmental institutions in 47 of the United States and over 40 countries worldwide inclusive excellence.
2024 Diversity and Inclusion Summit
SCHEDULE
| 8:30 a.m. | Light Breakfast |
| 9:00 a.m. | Opening, Invocation, Welcome and Introduction of Howard J. Ross Patricia Lowe, Associate Vice President, Office for Institutional Diversity John Butler, S.J., Vice President for University Mission and Ministry William P. Leahy S.J., President David Trainor, Vice President for Human Resources William Murphy, Associate Vice President for Human Resources |
| 9:15 a.m. | Morning Keynote Howard J. Ross, Author of Our Search for Belonging: How Our Need to Connect Is Tearing Us Apart |
| 10:25 a.m. | Break |
| 10:30 a.m. | Morning Keynote/Community of Practice |
| 12:00 p.m. | Lunch Break - Lyons Hall |
| 1:00 p.m. | Educational Concurrent Sessions* Session 1: Tending to Fractures: Actionable Strategies for Trauma-Informed Cultures, presented by Callid Keefe-Perry, Assistant Professor of Contextual Education and Public Theology, School of Theology and Ministry Session 2: Inclusive Design: Making Digital Media Accessible, presented by Jennifer Walker, Associate Director, Instructional Media, Center for Digital Innovation in Learning; Aaron Walters, Senior Instructional Media Producer, Center for Digital Innovation in Learning Session 3: Curating a Sense of Belonging for Messina College Students, presented by Roatha Kong, Director, Office of Student Involvement; Alicia LaPolla, Associate Dean, Messina College; Steven Koo, Senior Associate Director, Office of Undergraduate Admissions Session 4: Restoring Self-Directed Learning: Exploring Relational Approaches to Course Feedback & Grading, presented by Andrés Castro Samayoa, Associate Professor, Educational Leadership & Higher Education, Lynch School of Education and Human Development |
| 2:40 p.m. | Afternoon Panel Moderator: Martin Summers, Professor, History Department Panelists: John Butler, S.J., Vice President for University Mission and Ministry |
| 4:10 p.m. | Reflections and Discussion Facilitated by William Murphy, Associate Vice President for Human Resources |
| 4:25 p.m. | Closing Remarks Patricia Lowe, Associate Vice President, Office for Institutional Diversity |
| 4:30 p.m. | 2024 Diversity and Inclusion Summit Concludes |
*Please be aware that we are not recording any concurrent sessions to encourage transparent and authentic conversations among participants and presenters; depending on participant survey responses, we may offer a repeat session in the fall.
EDUCATIONAL CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Presenter: Callid Keefe-Perry, Assistant Professor of Contextual Education and Public Theology, School of Theology and Ministry
This is an introductory workshop designed to equip educators, administrators, and staff with the knowledge and tools necessary to create a trauma-responsive academic environment. This 90-minute session explores trauma and its pervasive impact on students' learning and sense of belonging. Utilizing a blend of theoretical frameworks, empirical research, and interactive case study, the workshop outlines practical strategies for developing a culture that prioritizes safety, empowerment, and support. Attention is paid to the role that moral injury can play, as well as outright trauma, recognizing that both of these human experiences are present in our community. Participants will engage in reflective exercises, group discussions, culminating with an opportunity to identify possible next steps for themselves and/or their departments, working toward building up responsive, inclusive, and supportive educational spaces.
Presenters: Jennifer Walker, Associate Director, Instructional Media, Center for Digital Innovation in Learning; Aaron Walters, Senior Instructional Media Producer, Center for Digital Innovation in Learning
Education thrives on inclusivity, and multimedia plays a vital role in engaging learners today. But what happens when these resources leave some learners behind? This interactive workshop will examine the fundamentals of multimedia accessibility in education, empowering educators and content creators to design materials that reach every student. Practical techniques for adding closed captions, audio descriptions, alternative text, and other accessibility features will be demonstrated, along with tools and resources for evaluating and testing the accessibility of multimedia resources. Join us in exploring how accessible multimedia content can enhance student engagement, learning outcomes, and educational equity in today's diverse classrooms.
Presenters: Roatha Kong, Director, Office of Student Involvement; Alicia LaPolla, Associate Dean, Messina College; Steven Koo, Senior Associate Director, Office of Undergraduate Admissions
This session will feature the multifaceted and holistic approach of the development of Messina College at Boston College. The three areas of consideration in creating the incoming students’ sense of belonging include the recruitment, selection, and enrollment process, formation of an integrated academic experience, and the priorities for student co-curricular engagement and integration to BC. Presenters will discuss the building of Messina College, the tactics and strategies employed, and how the larger Boston College community can continue to shape its growth and success.
Presenter: Andrés Castro Samayoa, Associate Professor, Educational Leadership & Higher Education, Lynch School of Education and Human Development
In this interactive session, participants will examine opportunities to integrate self-directed and ungraded practices in their teaching. Through a combination of reflective exercises, an instructor's case study, and group breakouts, participants will explore the potential of ungrading as a tool for promoting equity and inclusivity in BC classrooms. Attendees will leave with concrete strategies for implementing alternative assessment methods, cultivating a sense of belonging among diverse learners, and opportunities to continue their development with alternative strategies to grading processes in college classrooms.
Requires BC Email login to access
If you have any questions about registration, please email diversity@bc.edu.
Diversity and Inclusion Summit
Power of Community: Growing Our Capacity for Compassionate Belonging
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Featured Speakers: Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington, President & Founder of the Washington Consulting Group (WCG).
The 2023 Diversity & Inclusion Summit, Power of Community: Growing Our Capacity for Compassionate Belonging, hosted over 240 faculty and staff. The day’s programs gave the attendees the chance to explore opportunities for learning and action to better equip our community with the knowledge and skills for growing our capacity to foster a compassionate environment of belonging.
The distinction between a workplace and a campus community is the presence of welcoming, respectful spaces that foster engaging dialogue about differences and commonalities. A commitment to a continuous journey of learning and action at the individual and organizational level cultivates a culture of inclusion and belonging. How do we continue to grow the necessary knowledge, skills, and tools to advance and sustain inclusive excellence at Boston College?
Download the 2023 Summit Program book to review what made the 8th Summit great!
(please be aware that the resources listed on this page require BC Email login to access)
Morning Concurrent Sessions
Challenging Deficit Thinking to Foster Compassionate Belonging
Presenter: Kim Humphrey, Assistant Director, Equitable Teaching & Learning
Additional Presenters: Stacy Grooters, Executive Director, Center for Teaching Excellence; Jean Otsuki, Associate Director, Center for Teaching & Learning, Boston University
For a number of years, education researchers have investigated the ways deficit thinking undermines (higher) education's efforts to support students from diverse backgrounds. In this interactive session, participants will have a chance to consider how deficit thinking shows up in their own work -- whether that's student-facing or not -- and to learn strategies for disrupting the deficit frameworks we too often rely on. Through individual reflection, and small- and large-group conversation, participants will map their own sphere of influence at Boston College, surface deficit thinking in a particular aspect of their work, brainstorm potential alternatives, and begin drafting an action plan to combat deficit thinking in favor of compassionate belonging and an acute appreciation of their own strengths and the strengths of those around them.
BC Battle Buddies: Creating a Military-Inclusive Environment
Presenter: Mike Lorenz, Assistant Director for Veteran Programs & Services
A term used frequently in the military, a “Battle Buddy” is someone who is there to help their partner both on and off the battlefield. BC Battle Buddies is meant to give participants a baseline understanding of how to engage with the military-connected community, and maximize the capacity of Boston College to cultivate a military-inclusive community. The program covers military culture, examines stereotypes and challenges faced by this community, reviews current data and trends, and finally offers practical steps and actions individuals can take to create a more military-inclusive environment on campus.
Facilitating Effective Racial Dialogues: Attending to Emotions and Promoting Self-Awareness
Presenter: Alex Pieterse, Associate Professor and Director of the Institute for the Study of Race and CultureAdditional Presenter(s): Lawrence Stevenson, Graduate Research Assistant, ISRC
Afternoon Panel Discussion
Watch the Afternoon Panel moderated by William Murphy, with Corey Kelly, Michael C. McCarthy, S.J., and Joy Moore
Afternoon Concurrent Sessions
Advancing Workplace Equity and Belonging through the National Workplace Equity Study
Presenter: Samuel Bradley, Assistant Professor of Macro Practice; Director of the Equity Innovation Lab, School of Social Work
Additional Presenter(s): Debbie Hogan, Assistant Director, School of Social Work Doctoral Program
Over the past few years, organizations and employees alike have turned their attention toward addressing the social inequities in the workplace made starkly visible by the pandemic. While much progress has been made in this space, this increased attention has also led to growing recognition that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs can stall, fail, or even backfire if not implemented thoughtfully. This presentation will focus on the National Workplace Equity Study conducted through the Center for Social Innovation in Boston College’s School of Social Work. Presenters will cover the results of the national study as well as facilitate a demonstration of a short design thinking activity to help participants unlock opportunities for innovating in their context and helping to create a sense of community and belonging for everyone at BC.
Celebrating Our Differences: Using the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) to Create a More Inclusive Campus
Presenter: Adrienne Nussbaum, Associate Dean/Director/Adjunct Faculty, OISS
Additional Presenter(s): Vaughn Thornton, Program & Outreach Specialist, Global Engagement, Ph.D. student in Higher Education
The Intercultural Development Inventory, a tool which assesses how we interact across commonalities and differences, was introduced to BC in early 2016. Since then it has been administered widely to faculty, staff, and students across the university. Even with high aspirations, we have learned that our campus tends to focus more on our commonalities, rather than creating intentional spaces to acknowledge and celebrate our differences. This can lead to a diminished sense of belonging for many community members. This session will introduce participants to the theory and concepts of the IDI and allow them to engage in small group discussions about how to close the gap between our intentions and impact when it comes to intercultural competency.
Building Community through the Schiller Institute
Presenter: Jim West, Assistant Director, Programs, Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society
Additional Presenters: Greg Adelsberger, Director of Finance and Operations; Yi Ming, Institute Professor of Climate Science and Society; Laura Steinberg, Seider Family Executive Director
Through a panel discussion, this session will cover the various programs, courses, and research by the Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society that furthers the Diversity and Inclusion Summit theme of “Power of Community: Growing Our Capacity for Compassionate Belonging.”
Community of Practice Discussion
Watch the Community of Practice Discussion - Afternoon Plenary presented by Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington
Review the posters submitted to the Summit
Diversity and Inclusion Summit: Cultivating a Culture of Inclusion and Belonging
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
In the spirit of St Ignatius, inclusion is measured by the action while belonging is the desired outcome. Boston College’s mission of building inclusive relationships across differences provides formative opportunities to enhance the quality of human interaction.
Cultivating a sense of belonging as a catalyst for change strengthens hope, optimism, and resilience. As worldwide challenges continue to emerge and impact our campus community, it is vital for each of us to experience a sense of belonging within our common home.
The summit programs will equip you with the knowledge and skill sets necessary for cultivating a culture of inclusion and belonging, moving us toward inclusive excellence.
Featured Speakers: Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington, President & Founder of the Washington Consulting Group (WCG). Shawn McShay, Assistant Dean, Graduate Enrollment Management at Boston College Law School.
The 2022 Diversity & Inclusion Summit: Cultivating a Culture of Inclusion and Belonging hosted over 220 faculty and staff, at the first in-person summit since the pandemic. The day’s programs gave attendees the opportunity to become equipped with the knowledge and skill sets necessary for cultivating a culture of inclusion and belonging, moving us toward inclusive excellence.
In the spirit of St Ignatius, inclusion is measured by the action while belonging is the desired outcome. Boston College’s mission of building inclusive relationships across differences provides formative opportunities to enhance the quality of human interaction.
Cultivating a sense of belonging as a catalyst for change strengthens hope, optimism, and resilience. As worldwide challenges continue to emerge and impact our campus community, it is vital for each of us to experience a sense of belonging within our common home.
Download the 2022 Summit Program Book to review what made the 7th Summit great!
(please be aware that the resources listed on this page require BC Email login to access)
Watch the Invocation by Gregory Kalscheur, S.J., Welcome by William P. Leahy, S.J., Opening Remarks by David Trainor and Morning Keynote presented by Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington
Morning Concurrent Sessions
Interrogating Our Positionality & Values Toward Creating a Culture of Inclusion
Presenter: Dr. Treniece Lewis Harris, Program Director, Master’s Program in Mental Health Counseling
In this interactive workshop, participants used reflective practice, divergent thinking and small group discussion to facilitate innovative thinking about intentional inclusion strategies and assessments of relative belonging for our diverse learning community.
Supporting LGBTQ+ Students from an Intersectional Lens
Presenter: Caroline Davis, Director, Student Outreach and Support Services
This interactive presentation provided participants with a foundation to be able to support LGBTQ+ students from an intersectional lens, and a basic explanation of important terminology and overview of the LGBTQ+ student experience.
Addressing Diversity Issues & Challenges in College Athletics
Presenter: Michael Harris, Director, Student-Athlete Academic Services & Athletics Diversity & Inclusion Designee
Additional Presenters: Jade Morris (Senior Associate Director, Student-Athlete Development), Josh Beekman (Director, Football Initiatives), Kenny Francis (Academic Counselor/Tutorial Coordinator)
This session provided an overview of the diversity issues and challenges within college athletics, i.e., racism, gender inequality, and LGBTQ+ issues, and showed how BC Athletics has responded and sought to make meaningful change.
Afternoon Panel moderated by Shawn McShay, with Richard Jackson, Shawna Cooper Whitehead, Burton Howell, and Katherine Gregory
Afternoon Concurrent Sessions
The Use of Restorative Practices to Develop and Grow an Inclusive Community
Presenter: Corey Kelly, Director, Office of Student Conduct
Additional Presenters: Peter Kwiatek, Associate Director of Student Conduct, Kristen O'Driscoll, Associate Director
This session provided participants with introductory knowledge and skills in restorative practices and their ability to facilitate growth, inclusion and harm repair within the BC community.
The Jesuit Catholic Call to Multifaith Belonging
Presenter: Christopher Darcy, Associate Director, Campus Ministry
Additional Presenters: Kelly Hughes, Campus Minister for Retreats; Emily Egan, Campus Minister for Arrupe; and Rev. James M. Hairston, Campus Minister for Multi-Faith Programs
In this session, participants learned about Boston College’s Multi-Faith ministries, the experience of students from various religious traditions, and practical tips to support Multi-Faith inclusion and belonging.
Cultivating a Culture of Inclusion and Innovation through Human-Centered Design Thinking
Presenter: Sunand Bhattacharya, Associate Vice Provost for Design & Innovation Strategies, Vice Provost for Research
Additional Presenters: Maria Isabelle Carnasciali, Professor of Engineering at the University of New Haven
Through this talk and interactive session, participants had the opportunity to listen, reflect, discern and discuss next gen’s mindsets, habits, and outlook in the context of the future of learning using processes of design thinking, innovation and entrepreneurship to impact society at large through a human-centered approach.
Review the posters submitted to the Summit
Diversity and Inclusion Summit: Catalysts for Change
Wednesday, May 26, 2021
Featured Speakers: Vincent Rougeau, Dean, Boston College Law School Inaugural Director of the Boston College Forum on Racial Justice in America.
Mara Hermano, Vice President, Institutional Research and Planning.Watch the Invocation by John Butler, S.J., Welcome by William. Leahy, S.J., Opening Remarks by David Trainor and Morning Keynote presented by Vincent Rougeau
The 2021 Diversity & Inclusion Summit: Catalyst for Change hosted over 340 faculty and staff through a virtual platform. The day’s programs offered increased engagement while supporting personal and organizational actionable strategies for change.
The theme of the 2021 Summit centered on “Catalysts for Change” identifying a catalyst as an agent used to cause or promote a change in the environment in which it is introduced. Diversity, equity, and inclusion change agents move towards intentional and proactive methods to create positive and sustainable change.
Over this past year, the confluence of twin pandemics, COVID-19, and systemic racism, has reminded us of the work that still needs to be done individually and organizationally. As catalysts for change, we are committed to promoting and sustaining an inclusive environment that motivates us to be fully engaged in our community, enabling us to bring our whole selves in contributing to a just and equitable Boston College community.
Download the 2021 Summit Program Book to review what made the 6th Summit great!
(please be aware that all the resources listed on this page require BC Email login to access)
Watch Morning Concurrent sessions
- Music and Social Justice: Protest Music of the Past and Present
- Supporting LGBTQ+ Students from an Intersectional Lens
- The Intersection of Military Culture, Veterans, & Higher Education
Watch Afternoon Panel moderated by Mara Hermano, with Frank Bailey, Ximena Soto, and Rafael Luna
Watch Afternoon Concurrent Sessions
- How to embrace discomfort? Insights from neuroscience to excel in courageous conversations
- Decolonizing Special Education: AAC Considerations for Monolingual and Emergent Bilingual Learners with Multiple Disabilities
- Invisible Like Me: Amplifying the Voices of First-Generation Students at Boston College
Review the posters submitted to the Summit
- Using Implementation Science with a Family Strengthening Intervention to Address Disparities in Access to Mental Health Care in Refugee Communities
- Draft Plan for Recruiting and Supporting a More Diverse Faculty in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma in Underserved Communities
- LSEHD’s First-Year Program, Experience, Reflection, & Action (ERA): Raising Environmental, Racial, and Social Justice Awareness in Predominantly White Higher Education Settings
- COVID-19 Impact on Women in the Workplace
- 2021 Assessment, Survey Results: Ease of Access to Academic Accommodations
- We Are BC Dining: Celebrating Diversity Through Employee Stories
- First Steps towards Change: Listening to Our Staff
- Trauma-Informed Response in College Advising Structure
The Office for Institutional Diversity hosted
Diversity and Inclusion Summit: Towards Inclusive Excellence
on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, virtually via Zoom.
The 2020 Diversity and Inclusion Summit invited faculty and staff to participate in a full day of learning, conversation, growth, and reflection. This year’s Summit featured didactic concurrent morning sessions on diverse topics paired alongside afternoon workshops focused on skill-building to bridge the gap between knowledge and action.
Thank you to all who attended the 2019 Summit. We hope to see you again next year!
The Office for Institutional Diversity hosted
Diversity and Inclusion Summit: Transformational Dialogue
on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at Gasson Hall
The 2019 Diversity and Inclusion Summit invited faculty and staff to participate in bold and inclusive conversations, interactive sessions and shared storytelling that encourage and promote transformative and self-reflective dialogue across differences and commonalities.
Watch the Morning Plenary Session presented by Dr. Zareen Karani Araoz.
This plenary seeks to address the foundational issues of cultural differences and cultural identity and values. How do differences arise? How can we better strive for excellence, in our professional and personal spheres and in our relations as individuals and in groups? The session is interactive, helping participants reflect on their own cultural identity, the values they hold dear, how they express them, and how they understand and deal with values and perspectives that differ from their own.
As we know, there is no one way to create and sustain brave space for dialogue, action, and emerging allyship. This interactive session highlights several different styles and approaches into transformative dialogue, so that the BC community can enhance its capacity for change in the midst of challenge and its resourcefulness in the building of lasting relationships across campus.
Download the 2019 Summit Program to review some of what (and who) contributed to making this year's event great! Also remember to check out our hashtag on social media to see what participants found exciting or moving: #BCDISummit2019
The Office for Institutional Diversity hosted the
Diversity and Inclusion Summit: One Community, Many Perspectives
on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 in Gasson Hall.
Thank you to all who attended the 2018 Summit. We hope to see you again next year!
The 2018 Diversity and Inclusion Summit: One Community, Many Perspectives, guided by Jesuit principles, focused on the multiple ways our community is building capacity to advance and sustain inclusive excellence.
Watch the Keynote Speaker Address.
Review resources from the Keynote Speaker.
Watch the One Community Many Perspectives video.
Download the 2018 Summit Program to review some of what (and who) contributed to making this year's event great! Also remember to check out our hashtag on social media to see what participants found exciting or moving: #BCDISummit2018
The Office for Institutional Diversity hosted the
Diversity and Inclusion Summit: Learn, Reflect, Engage
on May 24, 2017
Thank you to over 210 faculty, staff, and administrators who attended the 2017 Summit and made the event a success. We hope to see you again next year for the third annual Summit! The Diversity and Inclusion Summit: Learn, Reflect, Engage explored promising practices that contribute to Boston College’s commitment to enhancing a diverse, welcoming, and inclusive community that respects all and fosters dialogue within our Catholic and Jesuit tradition.
Download the 2017 Summit Program to review what made the summit great!
The Office for Institutional Diversity hosted the
Diversity and Inclusion Summit: Building and Leveraging Partnerships Across Campus
on June 1, 2016
Thank you to over 170 faculty, staff and administrators who attended and made the event a success! The Summit focused on how Boston College contributes to the social justice mission of the Society of Jesus through our efforts to create a diverse and inclusive community by building and leveraging partnerships across campus. The Summit, open to faculty and staff, included and looked beyond, compliance to provide insight into the programs, initiatives, and relevant research related to diversity and inclusion, in the hopes of creating a continuous learning experience.
Listen to the Keynote speech!
Download the 2016 Summit Program to review what made the 2016 Summit great!