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Tony Boston, vice president & chief diversity officer, sent the following message to the campus today:

To the Dickinson community, 

This year marks a significant milestone in the college’s history: the 10th anniversary of the Esther Popel Shaw Center for Race & Ethnicity.

I’m thrilled to announce some exciting news about the center, and some of the ways we are moving forward on our commitment to being a diverse and inclusive campus. 

Over the past decade, the center has operated out of an office in Landis House. Today, I am very pleased to announce that President Jones has approved our request to expand the Popel Shaw Center into its own home on West Louther Street. This will be more than just a building. It will be a true multicultural center for Dickinson. 

This new space will provide a venue for visiting scholars, workshops and small group discussions, social gatherings and classes.  Yvette Davis will continue to provide leadership for the center and its expanded scope.  

The power of donors 

Also, thanks to a $1 million gift from generous donors who want to remain anonymous, we will greatly enhance our Academic & Co-Curricular Excellence (A.C.E.) Peer Mentor Program, which serves underrepresented students on campus.  

This gift will enable us to expand our mentorship program to significantly more students while adding cultural events and experiential learning opportunities. This will greatly enhance our ability to provide individualized support and foster a sense of community for underrepresented students at Dickinson. 

Other efforts

Earlier this month, I shared information about two new funding sources aimed at advancing equity, inclusion, belonging and access at ºìÐÓÖ±²¥app.

Faculty may apply for an Inclusive Pedagogy Grant, which is designed to encourage conversations, planning and implementation in areas they deem important for enhancing equity in their classrooms or departments. Applications are due April 26.

Staff may apply for IDEAL Grants for innovative efforts to strengthen the sense of community, belonging and inclusion on campus. Applications are due May 1.

We are also in the process of forming faculty and staff affinity groups.

I extend a heartfelt “thank you” to the generous donors, who are helping us realize our vision, and to President Jones for his support of these initiatives. These developments represent significant progress toward achieving our diversity, equity and inclusivity goals.  

Building a more inclusive campus is the responsibility of our entire community. Together, through our shared commitment, we will continue to create a more welcoming and inclusive Dickinson. Let’s continue to move forward together.  

Sincerely,

Tony Boston

Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer

Published April 19, 2024