Diversity

DIVERSITY: A CORE BELIEF is that a diverse and inclusive educational atmosphere helps students grow in positive ways and prepares them for college and life.

Suffield is very proud of our close-knit, diverse school community. The school’s mission suffield centers around promoting a warm campus climate based on mutual respect, generosity, kindness, and genuine concern for others. A core belief is that a diverse and inclusive educational atmosphere helps students grow in positive ways and prepares them for college and life. Over the past two years Suffield has sought additional ways to ensure that topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion are core parts of the educational program. This has led to some curriculum review, new course offerings, and continued professional development opportunities related to race and equity. Liz Warren, Suffield’s Cultural Diversity Director, said, “Diversity and social justice relations are not new; they’ve existed for thousands of years. However, recent cultural issues in America have further heightened the need for continued education around these topics.” Suffield has focused even more closely on how to best oppose systemic racism and create ongoing systems for recognizing and exploring DEI topics on campus. A DEI Faculty & Staff Council acts as a liaison between school leaders and a DEI Advisory Group. The council includes faculty members Ann Selvitelli, Gis-Xi Nahmens, Jazzy Mercure, Kareem Nulan, Kate Bashaw, Molly Vianney, Paul Caginalp, and Phil Hodosy. The advisory group consists of Liz Warren, trustees Fred Powers and Valisha Graves, Head of School Charlie Cahn, and Dean of Academics & Faculty Sara Yeager.

“Diversity is not merely skin deep, but rather a larger umbrella to include both our internal and external diversity. I look to embrace the differences that make each person stand out in a crowd and foster awareness around it.”

DEI initiatives can be found in all aspects of Suffield Academy, from student programming to faculty professional development programs to various parts of the academic curriculum. The 2020-2021 community text assigned to all students and faculty was Ta-Nehesi Coates’ Between the World and Me, used in conjunction with the year-long school theme of empathy. As a member of the academic committee— consisting of academic department chairs and other faculty leaders—Liz Warren has met with academic departments to discuss topics of ensuring safe, inclusive classroom experiences for all students. She commented that, “Diversity is not merely skin deep, but rather a larger umbrella to include both our internal and external diversity. I look to embrace the differences that make each person stand out in a crowd and foster awareness around it.” An African History track is now offered in the junior year area studies history program [along with European History, East Asian History, and Latin American History]. New elective courses in the English and history departments include Black Lives Matter and Current Black Voices.

The performing arts department also showcased their support for these initiatives, performing Clybourne Park as their fall 2020 stage production. In 2015, the senior class read the play as part of their required summer reading, and Tom Dugan, Chair of the Performing Arts Department, had been wanting to do this play with Suffield students for some time. “It turns out that now could not be a more relevant and resonant moment for this play. Intersectionality. Race. Class. Gender. Gentrification. Privilege. The struggle for racial, social, economic, and housing justice. Clybourne Park is designed to start conversations,” said Tom. The play centers around a struggle between neighbors over territory and legacy that forces observers to consider how—and if—our views on race have evolved. Tom said, “I believe we still have much to learn. This show was a steppingstone as we continue the conversations about equity.”

Beyond the academic program Suffield is always focused on helping support each student in the community. A student of color mentorship program connects young alumni with current students. Campus affinity groups include Students of Color, AAPI, the Latin American group, the Multicultural Association, Sister Sister, and Young Brown Men. There are also two adult affinity groups: the Faculty of Color group and AWARE [Alliance of White Anti-Racist Educators].

Liz Warren also helps lead a wonderful series for Suffield faculty entitled Courageous Conversations, which helps sustain continuous DEI discussions about topics including race and inclusive classrooms. The DEI Faculty & Staff Council created a helpful guide for colleagues stemming from the series, advising them on how to have difficult, important conversations with students. d

lunar new year

This year’s Lunar New Year celebrations at Suffield included creating tiger origami and sharing a dinner celebration on the fourth floor of Memorial Hall. As food is a very important part of this holiday, celebrants enjoyed some of the best Chinese and Korean food from the area.