{"id":966990,"date":"2022-12-09T11:20:19","date_gmt":"2022-12-09T16:20:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.williston.com\/?page_id=966990"},"modified":"2025-08-11T11:34:53","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T15:34:53","slug":"diversity","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.williston.com\/campus-info\/about-us\/diversity\/","title":{"rendered":"Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Diversity, Equity,
\nInclusion, and Belonging<\/h1>\n <\/div><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]
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A Message from the Dean of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging<\/h2>\n
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One thing that drew me to Williston Northampton\u2014after\u202fa decade of working\u202fto advance equity and access in secondary and higher education\u2014was the chance to create real change in the lives of young people. A boarding school environment offers a unique opportunity to be deeply involved in the daily lives of teens and to foster trust, learning, connections, and community. I have been honored to take on the role of Williston\u2019s inaugural Dean of DEIB<\/a>\u2014and hand in hand with the entire community\u2014to help steward the goals laid out in the five-year\u202fStrategic Plan for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging<\/em><\/a>. The number one priority for my office is to create a community in which every student feels a genuine sense of belonging, a joyful community in which every student feels they can be accepted, celebrated, and respected as his, her, or their authentic self in all areas of campus life. I invite you to read more about this work below, and to be in touch with the office of DEIB<\/a> if you have questions or want to help advance this important work at Williston.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Nikki Chambers<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]

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Meet the Team<\/h2>\n
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\n \"\"\n <\/a>\n Jayson Leigh<\/a>

Assistant Director of Admission & Assistant Dean of DEIB<\/p>\n <\/div>\n [\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″]\n

\n \"\"\n <\/a>\n Ken Choo<\/a>

Science Teacher and Asian Student Alliance Advisor<\/p>\n <\/div>\n [\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″]\n

\n \"\"\n <\/a>\n Nat Simpson<\/a>

Spanish Teacher and International Student Coordinator<\/p>\n <\/div>\n [\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner]

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What are diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging?<\/h2>\n
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Diversity\u202f<\/strong>involves differences between social\u202fidentity groups based on markers such as\u202fability, race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic\u202fstatus, sexual orientation, gender identity,\u202fgender expression, religion,\u202fand so much more\u202f(Adams, et.al., 2013).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/4″]\n

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Equity<\/strong>\u202fmeans every member of the Williston\u202fcommunity receives what he, she, or they need\u202fto thrive\u202facademically and socio-emotionally\u202f(Aguilar, 2020).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/4″]\n

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Inclusion<\/strong>\u202fis the\u202fdeliberate act\u202fof bringing people\u202finto the Williston community, the community\u202fnorms, and into the opportunities that will allow for\u202fmeaningful\u202fpursuit of happiness\u202f(Winkle-Wagner &\u202fLocks, 2014).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/4″]\n

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Belonging<\/strong>\u202frefers to a human need to feel\u202fsecure, supported, and accepted in the\u202fWilliston community\u202fas his, her, or their\u202fauthentic self (Baldoni, 2017).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner]

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DEIB Strategic Plan<\/h2>\n
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\n Read the full plan<\/a><\/div>\n <\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″]
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Beginning in summer 2020, Williston Northampton School\u2019s 12-member Anti-Racism Committee\u2014made up of alumni, trustees, faculty, and members of the Heads Visiting Council\u2014met frequently to compile the school\u2019s five-year Strategic Plan for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The six-point plan focuses on revamping administrative infrastructure, increasing faculty and student diversity, enhancing the student experience, augmenting employee training, seeking community involvement, and raising funds to support these efforts. In the drop-down menus below, you can find the status of our progress to date against these goals, which we will be updating throughout the year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>

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DEIB Strategic Plan Progress<\/h2>\n