Courageous Conversation, Meaningful Action

FOLLOWING THE EVENTS OF THE SUMMER OF 2020 that made more people across the country cognizant of social injustice and racism issues, many Mount St. Mary’s students returned to campus ready to work toward equity and inclusion and engage in sometimes uncomfortable dialogue. Throughout this year, students of all races and ethnic backgrounds have come together for prayer vigils, discussions, lectures and other events as we seek a better Mount.

Students gather at a campus vigil

Over the last decade the Mount has welcomed an increasing number of Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) students, with the percentage growing from 17% to 43%. While these shifting demographics have brought diverse culture and ideas, the change has not been without challenges the university continues to work to eliminate.

Principles of Catholic social teaching are at the core of the 213-year-old Mount St. Mary’s, especially in the university community’s commitment to improve and sustain a culture of dignity and respect for everyone. “All of us are called to live out the Mount value of inclusion: the Mount must harness the energy created by diversity of thought and engendered by a richly diverse staff, faculty and student body to ensure that all feel welcome and included,” states the university’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) webpage. “A diverse, equitable and inclusive Mount culture benefits our students…not only during their time here, but also after they leave the Mount as they will be prepared for success in an increasingly multicultural world. Diversity, equity and inclusion is about who we are and what we do.”

Vice President for Equity and Success Paula Whetsel- Ribeau, Ph.D., came to the Mount nine years ago to lead the university’s DEI efforts and can point to many successful initiatives that have improved the college experience for BIPOC students.

Photo captured before the pandemic

“This difficult but rewarding work to which we are fully committed is a marathon rather than a sprint,” she explained. “A lot of our efforts center on stereotypes, unconscious bias and microaggressions. For example, when Caucasian community members emotionally hurt BIPOC students, it causes even more pain to respond that their intent or behavior was well meaning. Regardless of intent, the impact is what matters.”

Whetsel-Ribeau leads the Mount Inclusive Excellence Committee, which draws members from across the university. The committee developed a five-year DEI plan and implemented initiatives, including a periodic social justice teach-in, student support groups for men and women of color, assessment of DEI content in the curriculum, integrated learning and living communities, a campus climate survey and professional development for faculty, staff and administrators.

President Timothy E. Trainor, Ph.D., in the fall of 2020 marshalled more than 100 faculty, students, administrators and staff to serve on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force’s 10 working groups in order to address racism on campus and in the surrounding communities. The resulting 59 actions will be implemented over the next year, with some well underway. The initiatives, outlined in the Courageous Dialogue, Meaningful Action Operations Plan, include piloting of a mandatory DEI training course, continuing progress in hiring faculty members who reflect the demographics of the Mount's student body and reconciling that enslaved people were gifted to the university in the pre-Civil War era. The initiatives help raise awareness of the student complaint process, bring speakers to campus and make enhancements of DEI in the curriculum by initially focusing on summer orientation and the first-year symposium course.

“We will continue our activities and conversations to move together toward effective changes both here and in our wider community,” Whetsel-Ribeau said. “When university demographics at all levels reflect the society in which we live, students graduate with role models, mentors and first-hand experiences that prepare them for successful futures.”

More information

Learn more about the Mount's DEI initiatives at msmary.edu/dei.

Advice from Lecturers

Tamika Tremaglio, C'92

Greater Washington Managing Principal at Deloitte

“The best lessons you’ll learn come from failure. Those rough spots are what make us more complete and allow us to grow.”

TAMIKA TREMAGLIO, C’92, Center for Campus Diversity Speaker Series

Gracelyn McDermott, C'93

Vice President for Sales, Marketing and Business Development at Kaiser Permanente

"Every opportunity you see where you can show up as a leader, that you can be an influencer for good, do it. Don’t wait to be asked. Don’t wait for that special moment or that invitation, just practice it. Show up all the time."

GRACELYN MCDERMOTT, C’93, Center for Campus Diversity Speaker Series

Gary Steel

First African American football player at West Point

“You already know the right thing to do. You just need to be ramrod straight and mentally clear and do it.”

GARY STEELE, Inaugural St. Peter Claver Lecture