CHAMPIONING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Phil Gillespie and Dr. Daniel Randall P’22,’25 establish the first endowed fund for DEI.

Gillespie stressed the significance of advancing the Academy’s commitment to this work: “The school has a great and storied history, but it has largely been one of privilege; we can do more and be better,” he said. Gillespie and Randall stress the urgent need to sponsor more events and speakers to further educate our community.

Trustee Phil Gillespie and Dr. Daniel Randall P’22,’25 have made an extraordinary contribution to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at Governor’s by establishing the first endowed fund in support of DEI work at Govs. With a vision encompassing the entire Govs family, Gillespie and Randall aim to involve teachers, staff, students, and parents. “Together, we can think creatively and share a community growth mindset on how to move us all forward to create a robustly diverse and inclusive community,” said Gillespie.

Gillespie and Randall’s generous support is largely inspired by their personal experiences as parents in a diverse family and their unwavering belief in the importance of equity and inclusion. While serving on the Governor’s Board of Trustees DEI Committee,

Gillespie and Randall have a legacy of supporting all areas of school life, contributing generously to initiatives such as the renovation of the Peter Marshall French Student Center and The Governor’s Fund. They credit the warm and familial atmosphere at Govs and the crucial role teachers played in their daughter’s growth: “Our eldest daughter is a different kid after Govs. Her worldview is broader, and she’s a stronger person,” said Gillespie. He added, “If I’d been able to go to a school like Govs, it would have been a game changer for me. The faculty at Govs truly love the kids, and it shows.”