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Welcome to VOICES, a quarterly newsletter from the Office of Diversity & Inclusion. Our office works closely with academic and administrative departments to further our efforts to create an affirming and respectful climate for all members of our community. We are a stronger community when we can actively listen and learn from those around us who may have different religious and political views, cultural perspectives, or philosophical thoughts. You are invited to view our website at http://www.wm.edu/diversity for additional information on the programs and services offered by the office. We look forward to working together to advance a culture of inclusive excellence at William & Mary. If you have upcoming programs or events you would like to share, please send it to wmdiversity@wm.edu to be published quarterly.
- Chon Glover
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Office of Diversity & Inclusion | |
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Spring Lunch & Learn Series
We are excited to invite our community to attend the Office of Diversity & Inclusion's final Lunch & Learn of the semester on Tuesday, April 16th, 2024 from 12:30-1:30 PM. The workshop's topic will be Water Pollution and its Impacts on Minority Communities, please register here.
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Welcome to the
William & Mary Community!
Joselia Souza, Inaugural Director for the Office of First-Generation Student Engagement in the Division of Student Affairs
We warmly welcome Joselia to William & Mary in her new role as Inaugural Director for the Office of First-Generation Student Engagement in Student Affairs. With five years of experience with first-gen students, she brings expertise and dedication to her role. Born in Brazil and raised in Boston, MA, Joselia is a testament to resilience as an immigrant and the first in her family to pursue higher education.
Prior to her current role, she founded the First Generation Initiative at Southern Methodist University and oversaw similar programs at the University of Miami and Florida International University supervising first-gen students, creating engagement opportunities, and serving as a Residential Experience Coordinator. Her appointment at William & Mary represents a significant milestone in her career, underscoring her efforts to support underrepresented student populations. Driven by a vision to expand the office, meet student needs, and promote inclusive excellence, Joselia aims to foster an environment where all first-generation students thrive academically and personally.
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Save The Date!
Juneteenth Campus Celebration
Tuesday, June 18 at 10:00 am
Sadler Center
More information can be found here
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Gender & Single Occupancy Restrooms
As part of the university's efforts to provide an inclusive and respectful campus environment that is responsive to the needs of our community, at least one restroom in 90% of administration and academic buildings has been identified as All Gender.
A complete list can be found here.
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2024 Black Student-Athlete Summit
Tribe Athletics is happy to announce four student-athletes have been selected to attend the 2024 Black Student-Athlete Summit in Los Angeles, CA, hosted on the campus of USC in May 2024.
Trenton Peazant (Men's Gymnastics), Hollis Mathis (Football), Yaelle Vaissaud (Women's Tennis) & Talia Anderson (Track & Field) were carefully selected by Senior Administrators based on each student-athletes' written application & in-person interviews.
Our four Tribe representatives should expect to:
- Connect with hundreds of professionals in the world of college sports who can help them with career opportunities.
- Meet like-minded black student-athletes from across the country doing dynamic work on their respective campuses.
- Learn how to leverage their athletic ability for long-term success in the world of business industry, or social impact.
- Participate in dynamic career preparation opportunities such as the career combine, Pro Day and their Corporate Recruiting fair.
- Leave the Summit with proven ways to create social impact on W&M's campus.
Hollis, Trenton, Talia & Yaelle are eager to attend the Summit and bring back a wealth of knowledge to Tribe Athletics!
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Excel Student-Athlete Etiquette Dinner
On Wednesday, April 10th, student-athletes had the opportunity to engage in an etiquette dinner with cross-campus partners & members from the Society of 1918.
Under the direction of Kathleen Powell, Chief Career Officer and Associate Vice President for Advancement, student-athletes learned the subtleties of business meal etiquette and networking. Student-athletes received a 5-course meal along with entertaining and instructional programming. They used this opportunity to make meaningful connections that will enhance their career exploration.
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Spring Scholarly Perspectives Series | |
Faculty Leadership Resource Series
Inspired by roles within the Association for Theater in Higher Education, Professor Omiyemi Green has developed Transitions in Leadership, a leadership resource for faculty in the form of oral testimonies within the arts on theories and pathways to leadership. Registration is required, and more information can be found here; All sessions are recorded and archived, in the event viewers are interested in a previous session.
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Harmful Language & Content Statement Launch
The William & Mary Libraries have recently launched a comprehensive statement regarding harmful language and content to promote inclusivity and uphold community standards. W&M Libraries state that this initiative acknowledges the need for transparency in making collections with harmful language or difficult subject matter available for teaching and research while underscoring that as an institution we do not endorse the attitudes, prejudices, or behaviors found within them.
This perspective on harmful content and language aligns with the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Digital Public Library of America (DPLA), and university libraries around the world, and thus, W&M Libraries have adopted these organizations’ definitions and explanations. Learn more about the statement on the William & Mary Libraries website.
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Military Child Awareness Event
The SOE Institute for the Study of Education, Democracy, and Justice, in partnership with the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC), will be hosting an awareness event honoring the Month of the Military Child. The event will take place April 17th in the School of Education from 3:30-5:30pm. The event will provide training and awareness of the experiences of military-connected students as well as strategies for families, communities, and schools. Registration can be found here.
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GSWS Working with your LGBTQ+ Students Panel Discussion
The School of Education is hosting a panel discussion led by student members of the Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies group on April 18th from 3:30-5:00pm. Additional information is forthcoming, so keep an eye out!
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Celebrating International Women's Day! | |
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The School of Education hosted the 2024 Women’s Event, which was co-sponsored by Inner Peace Coalition, Inc. and Sentara. The event hosted local women who serve in a variety of leadership roles, including the keynote panel on breaking glass ceilings featuring Dr. Amber Price (President of Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center), Dr. Towuanna Portor Brannon (President of Virginia Peninsula Community College) and Terry Banez (President, CEO of Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce).
A series of breakout sessions included wellness checks from nurses at Sentara, painting and mental health breaks, panels on gender and sexual identity, religion and spirituality, race and ethnicity, the need for action-oriented allyship, unique abilities, and multilingualism. Speakers included W&M SOE faculty as well as local leaders such as Connie Harshaw, Johnette Weaver, Laura Hill, Deborah Fabian, Kimberley Hundley, Dr. Kate Slevin, Tearanie Parker, Guisela Torres, and Dr. Dionne Gibbs. Additional topics included a leadership focus across education, business, finance, and social change. There were over 100 attendees to this empowering hybrid event, which concluded with a networking reception and affirmation activities.
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Disability Justice with Dr. Devadrita Talapatra
The Training and Technical Assistance Center (T/TAC) and the Department of School Psychology and Counselor Education hosted Dr. Devadrita Talapatra, a national expert on Disability Justice and Disability Studies in Education. Over a series of workshops held January 25th and 26th, Dr. Talapatra provided training on Disability Justice for over 200 teachers, special educators, school-based mental health professionals, and administrators.
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Blackness in Higher Education: A Talk with Dr. Wilson Okello
The School of Education’s Black History Month featured Dr. Wilson Okello, an expert in critical approaches in higher education. Dr. Okello’s talk, Blackness as a Conceptual Frame for Critical Leadership, provided necessary reflection on the time and space in which higher education exists. For access to the recording, please contact Dr. Leandra Parris at lparris@wm.edu.
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Center for Student Diversity | |
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Cultural & Identity-Based Graduate Recognition
Khatalampay: Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern Ceremony and Reception
Sadler Center, Chesapeake Rooms
Thursday, May 16
6:30-8:30 pm
Lavender Graduation Ceremony
Sunken Garden Tent
Friday, May 17
9:00-10:30 am
Ceremonia Raíces: LatinX Graduation Ceremony
Sadler Center, Commonwealth Auditorium
Friday, May 17
1:00 pm-2:30 pm
Hulon Willis Alumni Association & Lemon Project Donning of the Kente Ceremony
Sunken Garden Tent
Friday, May 17
1:00-3:30 pm
Spiritual Celebration for the Graduates
Sadler Center, Commonwealth Auditorium
Friday, May 17
3:00-4:00 pm
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Mental Health Mondays Spring Calendar | |
Upcoming Brown Table Talk! | Brown Table Talk, an initiative for Women of Color on campus to speak their truth and share their experiences. BTT will be in session on Thursday, April 18th, 6:00-7:30 pm in the Center for Student Diversity Conference Room. Dinner will be served, registration not required. | |
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Spring 2024 Lemon Project Genealogical
Research Roundtable
April 18 & May 16, 2024
6:00 - 7:00 pm
The Lemon Project Genealogical Research Roundtable is an extension of the Genealogy Show & Tell sessions started as part of LP's first Sankofa Summer Workshop Series. The roundtable is a collaboration of genealogists and family historians at all levels of expertise. The session will focus on slavery and post-emancipation eras. Of course, genealogical research leads us down many paths and places, but ties to Virginia are the focus of this group.
The Lemon Project Genealogy Initiative focuses on finding descendants of people enslaved by William & Mary. During these sessions, we hope to connect with people who have ties to W&M pre- and post-Emancipation.
The meetings will be informal, and everyone will be able to contribute. The meetings will be held virtually via Zoom, with potential in-person research sessions in the future. Register here to participate.
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Donning of the Kente 2024
The Lemon Project has opened registration for the Donning of the Kente 2024. In 2012, William & Mary added a new tradition, Donning of the Kente, to commencement weekend. By instituting this rite of passage ceremony, W&M joined the ranks of other universities across the country in celebrating excellence, both personal and academic, for students of color. We want our graduates to know that their relationship with the university does not end at graduation. A new chapter begins when you become an alumnus. We want to continue to share in your development and growth as an active and engaged alumnus. All graduates (undergraduates, graduate, and professional) are welcome to participate in the ceremony and receive a free Kente stole. The ceremony will take place on May 17, 2024, 1:00-3:30 PM in the designated Sunken Gardens Tent (Bee McLeod Recreation Center, rain location). Please register at the link below.
Donning of the Kente 2024
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April 2024
Religious and Cultural Events Calendar
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Arab American Heritage Month (U.S.) - Celebrates the heritage, culture and pays tribute to the contributions of Arab Americans in the United States. April 1-30
Scottish-American Heritage Month (U.S.) - Celebrates the heritage, culture and pays tribute to the contributions of Scottish-Americans in the United States. April 1-30
National Deaf History Month (U.S.) - A month of awareness dedicated to honoring key events in deaf history and celebrating contributions by the deaf community. April 1-30
World Autism Awareness Day - An internationally recognized day that encourages countries to raise awareness about people with Autism Spectrum Disorder throughout the world. April 2
Eid al-Fitr - A religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan. April 9-10
Festival of Ridvan - An annual 12-day festival celebrated by Bahá'ís in honor of the prophet-founder of the Bahá'í faith. The first (April 21), ninth (April 29), and 12th (May 2) days are Bahá'í Holy Days when work is suspended.
April 21 – May 3
Passover - This commemorates Jewish liberation by God from slavery in ancient Egypt and their freedom under the leadership of Moses. April 22-30
Source: UCLA EDI Calendar
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May 2024
Religious and Cultural Events Calendar
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National Military Appreciation Month (U.S.) - The month of May includes Military Spouse Appreciation Day (May 8), Armed Forces Day (May 16), and Memorial Day (May 25). This month exists to pay special tribute to the United States Armed Forces and all who serve or have died in the line of service. May 1-31
Mental Health Awareness Month (U.S.) - A month to raise awareness about mental health and break the stigma surrounding the topic in your workplace. May 1-31
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (U.S.) - Celebrates the heritage, culture and pays tribute to the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. May 1-31
Haitian Heritage Month (U.S.) - Celebrates the heritage, culture and pays tribute to the contributions of Haitians in the United States. May 1-31
Indian Heritage Month (U.S.) - Celebrates the heritage, culture and pays tribute to the contributions of Indians in the United States. May 1-31
Jewish-American Heritage Month (U.S.) - Celebrates the heritage, culture and pays tribute to the contributions of Jewish Americans in the United States. May 1-31
International Workers Day - Commemorates past labor struggles and celebrates laborers, working classes and good working conditions. May 1
Cinco de Mayo (U.S.) - Celebrated in the United States as a day of commemorating Mexican culture and heritage. May 5
Yom Hashoah - Holocaust Remembrance Day. May 5-6
Vesak - This day celebrates the birth, spiritual awakening and death of Buddha and is observed by Buddhists worldwide. May 6
Mother’s Day (U.S.) - A celebration honoring motherhood and the influence of mothers in society. May 14
World Day for Cultural Diversity - Celebrates the richness of the world’s diversity and highlights the need for intercultural dialogue. May 21
Memorial Day (U.S.) - A day to remember those who have died in military service to the nation. May 29
Source: UCLA EDI Calendar
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June 2024
Religious and Cultural Events Calendar
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LGBTQ+ Pride Month (U.S.) - Commemorates the Stonewall riots that occurred in New York City in June of 1969. As a result, many pride events are held during this month to recognize the impact LGBTQ+ people have in the world. June 1-30
Caribbean-American Heritage Month (U.S.) - Celebrates the heritage, culture and pays tribute to the contributions of Caribbean-Americans in the United States. June 1-30
National Cancer Survivors Day (U.S.) - A day to celebrate those who have survived cancer, inspire those recently diagnosed and provide support and outreach to the community. June 2
Race Unity Day - This day aims to promote racial harmony and understanding. Although it is a Bahá’í-sponsored day, it is a universal holiday that can be celebrated by anyone. June 9
Father’s Day (U.S.) - Celebrates the contribution that fathers and father figures make for their children's lives. June 16
Juneteenth (U.S.) - In commemoration of the abolition of slavery in Texas in 1865, this day honors African-American freedom and achievement. June 19
World Refugee Day - This day is dedicated to raising awareness of the situation of refugees throughout the world. June 20
Source: UCLA EDI Calendar
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Do you have news or an event that you would like us to share?
Send your information to the Office of Diversity & Inclusion (wmdiversity@wm.edu)
by the 15th of the end of each quarter.
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