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

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)

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 

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

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.

The morning plenary features 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.

Afternoon Plenary Session is presented by Dr. Tiziana Dearing, Burt Howell, Joy Moore, and Catherine Wong. 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 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