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Alumni Profiles
David Ruiz becomes the Academy’s first Director of the Albert Lepage Center for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
“ “ This is about the intersectionality of cultures — making sure everyone has a seat at the table, a place to share their stories and a place to have them heard. If we can start having these conversations, then we stand a chance of making it happen.
“ “ How we live in the world may not always be an easy conversation. But hard conversations are necessary for evaluating our past and determining how we move forward together. Jarrett Brown, Advisory Council Member
“It takes a lot of courage to embrace differences and to begin dispelling myths,” said David Ruiz in a recent interview. Hired in July 2020 as Hebron’s Dean of Student Life, he was soon asked to chair the faculty task force for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as well.
“I leaped at the opportunity to contribute,” Ruiz said.
Soon afterwards, Ruiz was invited to join the Advisory Council for the Albert Lepage Center for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The Advisory Council drafted a charter for the center, created a mission statement, and started building a plan for rolling out the initiative.
As he was working on the job description for the Director position, Ruiz thought, ’Hey, this sounds like me.’ Fortunately, others on the committee and in administration were coming to the same realization and he was offered the position.
“I’ve always thought of this kind of work — issues around opportunity, equity and social justice — as my calling. They’ve always been things that have spoken to me,” said Ruiz. “Having come from humble circumstances and having been able to attend an independent high school followed by an Ivy League college, I understand that nothing should stand in the way of someone’s opportunity to thrive, particularly being denied simply because of who you are.”
The Albert Lepage Center for
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at
Hebron Academy was established to develop the values of global cultural awareness among trustees, faculty, staff, students, and parents, enabling all associated with Hebron Academy to become leaders for equity and social justice. Funded by a $5 million gift from Albert Lepage ’65, through his foundation Albert Lepage
Foundation, Inc., the Center endows a Director for the Center for
Diversity to coordinate and implement how Hebron values and commits to diversity of thought, people, and ideas; design a In his nearly three decades of being an curriculum that provides students educator, issues around equity, social justice, a global perspective and a lens and opportunity have always been priorities through which to embrace social for Ruiz, whose parents came to the United justice; provide support for States from Puerto Rico in 1948 with nothing recruiting, hiring, and mentoring of but the clothes on their back. Because he was minority faculty and administrators; able to have opportunities they never had, and provide financial aid to make he is keen to foster an environment where a Hebron education affordable everyone deserves a chance to thrive and to a broad range of families, with where students feel that their voices are the goal of sustaining a racially, being heard and listened to. socio-economically, and culturally diverse student “This work is a way of dispelling myths and population at Hebron. stereotypes and helping people understand That all individuals are entitled to be treated with dignity and integrity and afforded opportunities. It’s part of our social contract. If you’ve followed the law, if you’ve been earnest and hardworking, then you’re entitled to the privileges and rights that the country affords you. And when a person is denied those advantages and rights as a result of their race, their religion, their gender identity, a physical or mental disability, or their socio-economic status, then something is wrong with the system,” says Ruiz.
Advisory board member Jarrett Brown, Assistant Professor at Howard University, is excited about what the Albert Lepage Center for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiative holds in store for the community and the world at large.
“How we live in the world may not always be an easy conversation,” Brown says. “But hard conversations are necessary for evaluating our past and determining how we move forward together. Empathy, awareness, and interactions are what will allow us to build a larger context for learning and making our world a better place for ourselves and everyone who follows.”
Brown also points out Hebron’s reputation for creating tomorrow’s leaders will only grow because the most effective leaders are inclusive leaders. They engage people and inspire curiosity, imagination, and creativity because they welcome a range of perspectives and ideas and create cultures where respect and responsibility are valued. Sam Stafford ’68 agrees.
CREATION OF A FACULTY AWARD FOR CLASSROOM CURRICULUM INNOVATION
Starting in the 2021-2022 academic year, faculty will have the opportunity to be considered for the Albert Lepage ’65 Faculty Award for Curriculum Excellence in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. This $10,000 cash award will be distributed annually to the faculty member who transforms a classroom curriculum to reflect diversity, equity and inclusion. Through Albert Lepage’s vision and service as a benefactor, generations of Hebron students and alumni will benefit from these inclusive and creative curricular innovations. “This whole initiative could not have come at a better time,” Stafford says. The world is getting smaller due largely to technological advances. I realized a long time ago that we are one — we are more alike than we are different. I realized that when I was at Hebron, which was one of the best life lessons I ever could have received. Different viewpoints — the appreciation for the humanness of each of us — no matter what gender, religion, socio-economic status, age, etc. — all of that is important for modern society and for Hebron to turn out leaders who recognize and appreciate social justice and equity. There is value and truth in all voices.”
Albert Lepage is particularly pleased that the initiative has been entirely homegrown.
“It’s very exciting that we did this all ourselves,” he says. “We didn’t hire any consultants. We simply rolled up our sleeves and got it done. We established metrics for success and we are moving forward. The goal is that when every student leaves Hebron, they will have a broader, more global social perspective that will benefit them, their community and, ultimately, the world.”
z Sam Stafford ’68
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Albert R. Lepage ’65, former trustee Florida
Jarrett Brown, Ph.D., former faculty member English Department, Ransom Everglades School Florida
Felica Coney, trustee Vice President, Americas at Google Georgia
Samuel P. Stafford, II ’68, former Trustee, Judicial Hearing Officer/GM 8th Judicial Circuit Court Florida
Mary Warner, Acting Head of School Hebron Academy
David Ruiz, Director of Albert Lepage Center for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
“ “ This moment is significant. We’ve had several in our history. In the past there were times when felt that things were left behind. But this is different. We have a chance — every one of us — to become contributing citizens. — Jarrett Brown, English Department, Ransom Everglades School it
