The first Lavender Graduation ceremony was held at the University of Michigan in 1995. Dr. Ronni Sanlo began the tradition after being denied the opportunity to attend her children’s graduations because of her sexual orientation. Today, hundreds of colleges and universities offer Lavender Graduation ceremonies for their students. EMU held its first Lavender Graduation in 2022.

Since its inaugural ceremony, EMU’s Lavender Graduation has honored 76 graduates and alumni over the past five years, according to Jonathan Swartz, dean of students.

“This time tonight is a declaration that your identities deserve to be celebrated,” he told graduates on Friday, “not just tolerated, not just accepted, but uplifted with pride, love, and joy.”

Jamila Gaskins MA ’26 (conflict transformation), a speaker at Friday’s Lavender Graduation ceremony, receives a rainbow stole from Dr. Kathy Evans, professor of teacher education and director of the undergraduate teacher education program.

Erin Batten ’26 (left) served as emcee for the ceremony, while Sarah Peak ’26 (right) delivered the undergraduate keynote address.

Erin Batten ’26, a liberal arts graduate from Bridgewater, Virginia, performed music and served as emcee for the ceremony. Sarah Peak ’26 and Jamila Gaskins MA ’26 (conflict transformation) delivered the keynote addresses.

Peak, a psychology and peacebuilding graduate from Sanford, North Carolina, recalled her first day at EMU. During move-in, a protester stood across from the residence halls holding a sign condemning people in the LGBTQ+ community.

“At that moment, all my fears came true,” she said. “But within minutes, students and faculty assembled with flags and signs supporting the queer community on campus, and Tyler Goss pulled out the queerest playlist possible, which I’m partially convinced he curated specifically for moments like that one.”

Students passed out bottles of water, she said, not only to one another but also to the protester. “It was then that I realized I was in the right place, that I was joining a community that truly cared for everyone, and that I would be cared for, even when others did not agree with that notion.”

Gaskins, a Center for Justice and Peacebuilding alumna from Los Angeles, encouraged graduates to question society’s binary expectations and challenge existing systems.

“You are graduating into a world that will hand you a blueprint about who you should be, what success looks like, what fights are worth having, what compromises are necessary, and which possibilities are realistic,” she said.

The world needs people who can imagine what does not yet exist, she said. “It needs people who can say, ‘I know this isn’t how it’s done, but here’s how it could be done,’ and who can hold the image of a more just world clearly enough to take the next step toward it.”

A dance party was held in the Old Common Grounds space following the Lavender Graduation ceremony, continuing the celebration.

Dr. Kathy Evans (left) provides the grounding moment at the start of the ceremony. She presents a stole to a graduate (right).

Lavender Graduation also included a moment of solidarity, silence, and visibility for those who are not out nor will ever be out. Dr. Kathy Evans, professor of teacher education and director of the undergraduate teacher education program, and Dawn Neil, coordinator for the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, presented the stoles to the graduates.

Organized by the Student Government Association, College Conservatives, and Young Democrats, the series was funded by an Inclusive Excellence Grant from EMU’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, as well as a Pluralism Project Grant. About 50 students attended each session, held at the University Commons Student Union on the evenings of March 12, March 19, and March 26.

Senior biology major Maria Longenecker, who helped organize the series as SGA co-president, said she hopes it can serve as an example for others to follow. At a time of heightened political division, she said, it’s more important than ever to bring people together.

“EMU encourages us to work toward peace and justice and resolve conflict, and this feels so woven into our values,” she said. “I think we created something we saw was missing, and we see that missing in the world more broadly. It’s so tempting to disengage, but I hope this can serve as an example for how to lean in and continue to care for one another.”

‘The elephant on campus’

“Disagree Together” formed in response to tensions that student leaders felt on campus last fall. After a campus vigil for Charlie Kirk sparked arguments in the Royal Radar group chat, Longenecker said it became clear that students needed a space to discuss political issues.

“That demonstrated to us how much energy and conflict is under the surface here at EMU that we often don’t address,” she said. “It feels like the elephant on campus.”

SGA leaders heard from students across the political spectrum who said they felt ostracized and misunderstood because of their beliefs, with no clear place for them on campus. Longenecker and fellow co-president Leah Frankenfield believed it was important to pull in many perspectives to dream up a way forward. They met with the College Conservatives and Young Democrats to develop a space where students of all political persuasions could feel comfortable.

Dibora Mekonnen, co-president of Young Democrats, said the series created a meaningful space for students to engage in difficult and sometimes uncomfortable conversations in a respectful way. “I believe it has positively affected students by helping them become more open-minded and more willing to engage with perspectives different from their own,” she said. “In shaping the campus, the series has contributed to a culture of dialogue, understanding, and community-building by showing that disagreement does not have to lead to division, but can instead become an opportunity for learning and growth.”

Jacob Dwyer, president of College Conservatives, said he also felt the event was a success and was encouraged by the turnout. “I think it’s important that we engaged in meaningful dialogue,” he said. “Going into it, I knew we might not agree on everything, but because we were able to have open conversations, we gained a better understanding of why we each think about certain issues the way we do.”

Longenecker said she was surprised by how willing people were to be honest with one another. “I thought it would be harder to get people to have conversations about the things they disagreed on,” she said. “But once people got in a room, sat down, and started asking questions, it was beautiful to see that engagement happen.”

The Why and the How

The series unfolded over three sessions, each focusing on a different aspect of disagreement.

The first session centered on the question, “Why do we disagree?” Students mapped their identities to better understand how their experiences shape their beliefs and examined how those views are formed. Kory Schaeffer, director of programs for the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, facilitated the discussion and offered guidance on creating a respectful environment for disagreement.

The second session was titled “How do we disagree?” and featured a panel discussion on politics and Christianity. “We thought that was important to discuss because EMU is an Anabaptist institution, and it’s such a central part of our values,” Longenecker said.

The third session, “Practice disagreeing,” invited students to sit in small groups and ask one another questions about political topics or anything else they were curious to explore. “It was beautiful to look around and see people, who I’ve never seen talk to each other before, sit down and have these deep conversations about their beliefs,” Longenecker said.

She said she believes new relationships have formed as a result of the “Disagree Together” series, especially during the third session. “I hope people walked away feeling like someone new sees them as a person first and is also interested in hearing their beliefs,” she said. “I hope it’s started conversations that will continue.”

As members of the SGA executive board prepare to hand off leadership to their successors, she said they’ve developed a plan outlining how future boards can respond and create similar spaces for students to engage in difficult conversations if another contentious event arises on campus. “I see this as a beginning, not the end,” she said.

“These people are my friends and they’re my colleagues and they’re my inspiration,” Flowe told a roomful of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and Harrisonburg residents during a dedication ceremony of the mural on March 27. “I may not know them on a personal level, but every time I see them on the wall of this building, I know that people recognize the work they’ve done.”

That feeling extends beyond just the students at EMU. Dr. Tara Kishbaugh, dean of faculty and student success, said that seeing the mural fills her with joy. “Every time I see it, it makes me happy,” she told the crowd gathered for the ceremony at Suter Science Center 106.

The Inclusivity in Science Mural, completed in summer 2022, celebrates the scholarship and contributions of seven scientists whose identities as women, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color), and/or queer individuals have historically been underrepresented in scientific spaces. The mural’s stylized portraits depict chemist Asima Chatterjee, mathematician Gladys West, mathematician Katherine Johnson, arachnologist Lauren Esposito, astrophysicist Nergis Mavalvala, eco-philosopher Pınar Ateş Sinopoulos-Lloyd, and ADM (ret.) Rachel Levine.

“[The mural] names the contributions that have too often gone unrecognized,” said Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus in her remarks at the dedication ceremony. “And perhaps most importantly, it offers reflection and invitation to those who walk these halls every day, especially to students who may be asking quietly or aloud, ‘Is there a place for me in this field?’” 

“Together, these figures and all of those represented remind us that excellence in science has never been limited to a single identity, even if recognition has been,” Dycus added. “And we’re affirming something today about EMU itself: that we are a place that’s willing to name gaps and then do the work to address them, and that we believe representation is not symbolic alone—it is formative.”

Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus presents her remarks at a dedication ceremony for the Inclusivity in Science Mural.

Dr. Rachel Levine (left) and Pınar Ateş Sinopoulos-Lloyd (right) pose next to their portraits on the mural.

Work on the mural began in spring 2022 and was funded by an Inclusive Excellence Grant made possible by the generous support of Jose Koshy ’76 and Jean Koshy-Hertzler ’79. Learn more about the process behind the project in our article from last month. Veronica Horst ’23, Asha Landes Beck ’22, Grace Harder ’23, Molly Piwonka ’23, Afton Rhodes-Lehman ’24, and Jake Myers ’22 are listed as co-leaders for various stages of the project

A dedication ceremony on March 27 honored the scientists represented on the mural, the artists who brought it to life, and “every person in the arts and sciences who has had to push a little harder against systems that were not built with them in mind,” said event organizer Dawn Neil, coordinator for the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.  

“This mural is both a celebration and a call to continue the work of building a truly inclusive community,” she said. “When more people belong in science, science belongs to all of us.”

The ceremony included appearances by two special guests whose portraits are on the mural. Sinopoulos-Lloyd, who participated earlier that day in the second annual Mornings with the Mayor Convocation, gave a talk and contributed to a panel conversation. Levine, the former U.S. assistant secretary for health, chatted with EMU News and also attended the event. Both Sinopoulos-Lloyd and Levine signed their names on their portraits as part of the dedication.

Pınar Ateş Sinopoulos-Lloyd gives a talk during the mural dedication ceremony at the Suter Science Center on March 27.

Dr. Rachel Levine (left) and Pınar Ateş Sinopoulos-Lloyd (right) sign their portraits on the mural.

Sinopoulos-Lloyd is an Indigiqueer wildlife tracker, writer, and guide whose work bridges Indigenous ecological knowledge, field-based science, multispecies studies, and poetic inquiry. 

In their talk, they recited poetry, shared photos of wildlife tracks—including a rattlesnake, puma, and toad—recounted their experiences following an elk herd, and discussed how their work connects science, art, and sustainability. They also spoke about the importance of representation. 

“This mural we’re honoring today is not just artwork,” Sinopoulos-Lloyd said. “It’s also a constellation. It represents scientists whose work has expanded what is possible, not only through curiosity, but through devotion, imagination, and care.”

Third-year biochemistry major Dante Flowe shares their connection to the mural during the dedication ceremony at Suter Science Center 106 on March 27.

Afton Rhodes-Lehman ’24, who helped design and paint the mural, speaks during a panel conversation (left). Veronica Horst ’23 reflects on the mural (right) while Pınar Ateş Sinopoulos-Lloyd looks on.

A panel conversation following the talk included several alumni who helped bring the mural from concept to creation. Landes Beck, Horst, Piwonka, and Rhodes-Lehman spoke about their roles in the project, the intertwined relationship of art and science, the importance of representation, and their reflections on what the mural means to them. Kishbaugh and Sinopoulos-Lloyd also joined the panel, along with Flowe, who served as a voice for current students. Senior Madelynn Hamm moderated the discussion.

Horst said they hope the mural continues to honor those who haven’t been recognized for their contributions. “One of the names on the mural that people are probably most familiar with is Katherine Johnson’s, because of her story being told through the book and film Hidden Figures,” Horst said. “I think that made us realize how much we don’t know about how women of color and people from minority identities were involved in a lot of influential work. We don’t get to hear about it because it was overshadowed.”

The program included a message from Jenny Burden, executive director of the Arts Council of the Valley, on the role that public art plays in shaping a healthy, thriving, and inclusive community. It also included remarks from Mavalvala, who is depicted on the mural but was unable to attend the ceremony. 

“I am honored to be included with so many wonderful luminaries,” Neil said, reading a statement from the astrophysicist. “Inclusivity in the sciences is critical, and I’m proud that EMU continues to strive toward this goal. Ensuring that people feel a sense of belonging strengthens our educational communities and strengthens science itself.”

Watch a video recording of the ceremony below!

ADM (ret.) Rachel Levine, a pediatrician who served as the U.S. assistant secretary for health from 2021-25, visited campus for a dedication ceremony of the Inclusivity in Science Mural at EMU’s Suter Science Center on Friday, March 27.

The mural, completed in summer 2022, features seven professionals in STEM-related fields whose identities as women, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ individuals have historically been underrepresented in the sciences. 

Dr. Levine, whose career as a pediatrician spans more than 40 years and whose portrait graces the mural, became the first openly transgender federal official confirmed by the U.S. Senate in March 2021. As part of her position, she served as a four-star admiral leading the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. She was the first openly transgender four-star officer and the first woman to serve as a four-star admiral in the Commissioned Corps. She was named one of USA Today’s Women of the Year in 2022.

“The job was as interesting, challenging, busy, and rewarding as you might expect,” Dr. Levine said in a conversation before the dedication ceremony. “It was an amazing experience, very difficult and challenging, but worth it.”

The public health expert sat down with EMU News to talk about the mural, DEI, and the importance of vaccines.

It’s an honor to have you here with us. How did you hear about this event?

[Adrian Shanker, former deputy assistant secretary for health policy and now a consultant] came across the news story about Pınar Ateş Sinopoulos-Lloyd coming here, which mentioned that the mural featured my portrait. I thought that was great and asked Adrian to reach out, and then I was invited to today’s event to meet everyone, meet the artists, meet Pınar, and say hello. I live near Hershey, Pennsylvania, so it’s not that far, and I thought I’d just jump in the car and come.

Have you had a chance to look at the mural?

I just saw it. It’s remarkable. The artists did an absolutely fantastic job.

How do you feel about the mission of the mural?

The terms diversity, equity, and inclusion aren’t accepted terms now. They’re even somewhat radioactive. But I still believe in that mission. I’ve had many experiences in hospitals, government, and other organizations, and I believe that diversity improves any organization, whether it’s a school, the government, a hospital or medical center, or a business. I truly believe in diversity, equity, and inclusion. We can call them by different names, but I think they’re critically important. I thought it was wonderful that they were able to emphasize that here at the science center and in STEM fields from various perspectives. Being included in that was a real honor.

Anything else you would like to share?

As a pediatrician, I know from more than 40 years of clinical experience that vaccinations are one of the great victories of public health in the 20th and 21st centuries. I can’t tell you how many children and teenagers, who are now adults, have had their lives saved and prevented from illnesses because of immunizations that I administered or ordered. The questioning about the effectiveness and safety of vaccines is harming our nation and our children. We are now seeing vaccine-preventable illnesses, such as measles and others, that could have been prevented. In 2000, there were no cases of measles in the United States. Now look at what we’re seeing, because of the misinformation and overt disinformation about vaccines.

Dr. Rachel Levine introduces herself at Friday’s mural dedication ceremony in Suter Science Center 106. Seated to her right are EMU Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus and artist and scientist Pınar Ateş Sinopoulos-Lloyd.

Dr. Rachel Levine signs her portrait (left) on the Inclusivity in Science Mural. The pediatrician and public health expert talks with EMU News (right) before the ceremony.

Nearly four years after its final brushstroke was applied, the Inclusivity in Science Mural inside the Suter Science Center will get its long-awaited dedication ceremony on Friday, March 27.

The ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. in SSC 106 with a 30-minute talk led by Pinar Ateş Sinopoulos-Lloyd, one of the seven people featured on the mural. Sinopoulos-Lloyd (they/them) is an Indigenous eco-philosopher, artist, and wildlife tracker, and will speak about the way their work connects science and art with sustainability.

Following the talk, Nicole Litwiller ’19, MACT ’20 will host a panel conversation with Sinopoulos-Lloyd, mural artist and alumna Veronica Horst ’23, a current EMU science student, and Tara Kishbaugh, dean of faculty and student success. The program will also include reflections from Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus and Jenny Burden, executive director of the Arts Council of the Valley.

A formal dedication of the mural will proceed shortly after 5 p.m., with Sinopoulos-Lloyd signing their portrait. The event is open to the public and will include light refreshments.

About the mural

During the spring of 2022, students involved in EMU’s Art Club and the Earthkeepers group wanted to make the Suter Science Center more welcoming and reflective of who contributes to the sciences, said Dawn Neil, coordinator for the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

“They noticed two things: the space felt visually sterile, and the sciences have historically centered white male voices while overlooking women, scientists of color, and queer scientists,” she said. “They wanted to highlight those hidden figures.”

Work on the mural, funded by an Inclusive Excellence Grant made possible by the generous support of Jose Koshy ’76 and Jean Koshy-Hertzler ’79, began that semester. EMU students Veronica Horst ’23, Asha Beck ’22, Grace Harder ’23, Molly Piwonka ’23, Afton Rhodes-Lehman ’24, and Jake Myers ’22 served as co-leaders at various stages of the project.

“STEM is a field in which, historically, gaining recognition and representation has been challenging for non-white, non-male, and non-heteronormative cisgender individuals,” reads an artist statement for the project. “This mural is intended to be a joyful statement of representation, emphasizing that we have, are, and will continue to make a significant impact on the world.”

“We want to recognize and celebrate these individuals and their contributions to the academic world,” the statement continues. “Our hope is that women, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color), and LGBTQIA+ individuals at EMU will experience a positive impact through increased awareness of successful individuals like themselves in STEM.”

The project leaders distributed a campus-wide survey to students, faculty, and staff asking whom they would like to see depicted on the mural and then took a vote to determine who those seven figures would be.

The mural features seven professionals who have made and/or are making an impact in STEM-related fields and are queer and/or BIPOC women. In addition to Sinopoulos-Lloyd, the portraits depict chemist Asima Chatterjee, mathematician Gladys West, mathematician Katherine Johnson, arachnologist Lauren Esposito, astrophysicist Nergis Mavalvala, and admiral Rachel Levine.

For bios of each of these professionals, scroll to the bottom of this article.

Students from the Visual and Communication Arts (VACA) department designed and painted the mural. Although the project was completed during the summer of 2022, this is the first time it’s officially been dedicated, said Neil.

With sustainability serving as the university theme for the 2025-26 academic year, it seemed like the perfect time and Sinopoulos-Lloyd the ideal guest to help make it happen.

“Their work challenges the idea of what science is,” said Neil. “They’re exploring how the environment connects with things visually, artistically, and also scientifically. It’s a different side of science, one rooted in global and community contexts rather than a strictly data-driven one.”

“They would fit in perfectly as a student here,” she added. “What’s exciting is that their values really align with ours.”

About the speaker

Sinopoulos-Lloyd is an artist and scientist known for their powerful work at the intersection of sustainability, science, and art. They are the co-founder of Queer Nature, an interdisciplinary project focused on ecology, identity, and decolonization. Their work has been featured in The Guardian and The New York Times and archived by the Library of Congress. They lecture nationally at institutions including Stanford University, Colorado College, and the Guggenheim Museum.

In 2020, they were honored with the Audubon National Society’s National Environmental Champion award, as well as the R.I.S.E. Indigenous 2020 Art & Poetry Fellowship.

For more information, visit their website at . 

Sinopoulos-Lloyd will participate in several events throughout the day on Friday, March 27. In addition to the mural dedication, they will serve as a panelist at the second annual Mornings with the Mayor, a special edition of Convocation hosted by Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed, director of alumni engagement and community connections, at 10:15 a.m. in the University Commons Student Union. 

They will also meet with students, faculty, and staff for a lunchtime discussion in the West Dining Room of Northlawn Dining Hall at noon.

Sinopoulos-Lloyd is one of seven people featured on the Inclusivity in Science Mural, located on the second floor of the Suter Science Center south of SSC 106 (Swartzendruber Hall). Biographies of each of the people featured on the mural are included below.

After a full day of classes at EMU, Kevin Garcia clocks in at 5 p.m. for his eight-hour shift at George’s Inc., a poultry plant in Harrisonburg. By the time he gets home, it’s 1:30 a.m. and he’s eager to get some much-needed sleep. In less than seven hours, he’ll be back on campus bright and early for his 8 a.m. class.

The hardworking, indefatigable first-year student emigrated from Cuba three years ago to join his family in Harrisonburg. He graduated from EMU’s renowned Intensive English Program (IEP) this spring. When he learned he could transfer 15 credits from his IEP classes to his college degree and that he would receive the EMU Promise Grant, which fully covers the tuition costs for eligible students, he knew his future belonged at EMU.

The biology and Spanish double major, whose full-time job helps support his family with their expenses, said his parents both graduated from college in Cuba. “They had an expectation that I needed to go to college, as well,” said Garcia, who is interested in the emerging and rapidly expanding field of epigenetics. “Without the Promise Grant, that wouldn’t be possible.”

Garcia is one of 76 first- and second-year students at EMU who have access to an exceptional, tuition-free college education thanks to the EMU Promise Grant. The initiative is open to Virginia residents whose adjusted gross family incomes are below $75,000. It is for first-time, full-time undergraduate students. See checklist below for more eligibility criteria.��

The EMU Promise Grant covers 100 percent of all remaining tuition costs after state, federal, and institutional grants or scholarships have been awarded. It does not cover any fees or living expenses.

Now in its second year, the tuition-free initiative continues to tackle systemic barriers by offering more financial aid, in alignment with EMU’s 2023-28 strategic plan, Pathways of Promise: Preparing Tomorrow’s Unifying Leaders.

Troy Martin, director of financial aid for EMU, said that raising the income threshold for Promise Grant eligibility (it was previously set at $65,000) ensures that a college education at EMU is accessible to more students in Virginia than ever before. “We don’t want money to stand in the way of a student choosing to attend EMU,” he said. 

“We have lots of prospective students who show promise, and our promise is to help them fulfill their promise,” Martin added. “We offer a transformative education for these students and allow them to achieve their educational goals and dreams in a setting that will support them every step of the way.”

While there is no deadline to apply for the EMU Promise Grant, the deadline for submitting a VTAG application is Sept. 15, 2026.

For more information about the EMU Promise Grant, visit .

Let Braydon Hoover, vice president of enrollment & marketing, walk you through the EMU Promise Grant in the video below.

Bailey Anne Vincent, a professional dancer with atypical cystic fibrosis, will present a choreographed dance performance during a convocation on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 10:15 a.m. in the MainStage Theater. The performance will be followed by a Q&A session.

This marks EMU’s first keynote event for Disability Awareness Month, which is observed throughout the month of October.

An online bio describes Vincent below:
Bailey is a scar positive, signing, Deaf storyteller and professional dancer, who believes etiquette, work ethic and role modeling matter as much to a role as just inhabiting a part. As a disabled choreographer, director, music supervisor, and actor, she has spent the last 8 years running a company called Company Dance Theatre on the east coast: the first body neutral, large scale company in the US. But she’s also been a journalist, columnist and novelist for almost three decades, in addition to the trials and tribulations of motherhood. As a formally misdiagnosed mutant, she hopes to raise awareness of atypical Cystic Fibrosis and help anyone who isn’t genetically in the black or white feel less alone.��

For more on her activism or art, visit .

This convocation is sponsored by EMU’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

The program offers faculty, staff, and students the opportunity to develop ideas that advance opportunities to grow, learn, and belong together. “Inclusive excellence” is a research-based approach that encourages proactive, collaborative steps towards creating a community in which all belong. These grants are possible thanks to the generosity of Jose Koshy ‘76�����Ի���Jean Koshy-Hertzler ‘79.

Fall 2024

Lunar New Year APISA Trip

A trip to Washington, D.C., to celebrate the Lunar New Year and promote cultural appreciation and exposure for all students, featuring visits to Chinatown and the National Museum of Asian Art. Project co-leaders:��Leah Frankenfield, student; Arushi Sachan, former admissions counselor; Asian and Pacific Islander Student Alliance, club.

Infusing Inclusion II DC

A mural project led by the Washington Community Scholars’ Center (WCSC) at EMU’s Nelson Good House, designed to visually express inclusivity and solidarity within a diverse student and neighborhood setting. Project co-leaders: Ann Butwell, WCSC – associate director of student life and program administration; Ryan Good, associate professor of urban studies, program director – WCSC.

ADA Compliance Improvement and Panel

Campus improvements to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), along with a panel discussion to raise awareness of accessibility and disability-related issues. Project co-leaders: Brandon Ewing, student; Mike Stellwag, Aramark maintenance supervisor; Disability Student Alliance, club.

BIPOC Student Support

A support group for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) students offering dialogue, workshops, mentorship, and resources to address systemic inequities. Project co-leaders: Tamika Jackson, assistant professor of counseling; Yenifer Dottin-Carter, student.

Spring 2025

Let’s Talk About Mental Health

Panel and discussion circles addressing mental health issues affecting diverse student populations, including LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC students. Project co-leaders: Deanna Durham, associate professor of social work & sociology, program director – social work; Bria Wright, student.

Black Voices Matter: A Student Listening Summit

An off-campus retreat for Black students to discuss barriers, foster belonging, and offer recommendations to improve racial equity at EMU. Project co-leaders: Venissa White, director of Safer Together – sexual violence prevention & response coordinator for Student Life; Celeste
Thomas, director of Multicultural Student Services.

LGBTQIA+ Support Training

Training for faculty and counselors on supporting LGBTQIA+ students, especially transgender students, led by a certified EMU alum. Project co-leaders: Nikki Dovel, LPC, lead counselor for EMU Counseling
Services; Kathy Evans, professor of teacher education, program director – education.

Stories of Belonging: A Visual and Narrative Exhibit

A rotating exhibit at EMU Lancaster featuring stories and visuals from students, faculty, and staff about belonging and identity. Project co-leaders: Rebekah Christens, adjunct faculty at EMU Lancaster; Wendy Kellogg, recruitment & enrollment specialist – Lancaster, Pa.

Tasting Mennonite Culture: Y1 and Y4 in Conversation

First-year and fourth-year students read the same book and discuss it over dinner at a local Old Order community home. Project co-leaders: Marti Eads, professor of English; Mary Ann Zehr, assistant professor of rhetoric & composition, program director – writing & communication.

Conversations About Trauma Awareness and Resilience

Workshops led by EMU’s Intensive English Program (IEP) on trauma awareness and resilience to foster inclusion and support for international and first-generation college students. Project co-leaders: Melissa May, lecturer; Wima Ranasinghe, IEP tutor.

Click to support the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Fund at EMU.

This year, the ceremony recognized 17 graduates. Dr. Kathy Evans, professor of teacher education, and Dr. Heike Peckruhn, associate professor of religious studies, bestowed the graduates with rainbow stoles to wear at Commencement. Cassidy Williams ’25 and Dr. Stephanie D. Powell, assistant professor of Hebrew bible, provided keynote addresses.

The first Lavender Graduation ceremony was celebrated at the University of Michigan in 1995. Dr. Ronni Sanlo began the tradition after being denied to her own children’s graduations because of her sexual identity. Today, more than 200 colleges and universities offer Lavender Graduation ceremonies for their students. The first of these at EMU was held in 2022. 

Incoming EMU interim president Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus, vice president for student affairs, equity, and belonging, delivered the welcome and EMU greeting at the ceremony. She shared the history of safe spaces for LGBTQ+ students at EMU, beginning with the off-campus Open Door support group in the mid-’90s and continuing through the creation of Safe Space—a student group pivotal in advocating for EMU’s 2015 hiring policy change that allowed the employment of openly queer faculty and staff. Since its inaugural ceremony in 2022, EMU’s Lavender Graduation has honored 65 graduates and alumni over the past four years.

“To our graduates today, you’ve done something extraordinary,” Dycus said. “You’ve navigated a world that has not always made space for you. You’ve pursued knowledge in classrooms that didn’t always reflect your identity, claiming the right for your visibility, and still you rose. You showed up, you spoke up, and you pushed forward.”

Williams, who graduated with degrees in music and education licensure (PreK-12), likened life’s journey to a road with bends and guardrails, lots of potholes, and that “one stretch of construction the county swears will be finished by summer.” She advised graduates to lean into uncertainty and embrace change with open arms, even when it might be stressful or terrifying. 

“Learn to live with your mistakes and the embarrassing moments that keep you up at night,” Williams said. “Learn to live with the people who love you and learn to live civilly with the people who don’t. Learn what helps you and learn what harms you. Learn your strengths and your weaknesses. Learn to recognize your strengths and to not back away or undermine your worth.”

Powell, who joined the EMU faculty at the start of the 2024-25 academic year, shared her journey in finding a welcoming community where she felt belonging. She had come out as a lesbian before applying to graduate school and knew she wanted to attend a seminary where she could be her authentic self and be accepted by her teachers and peers. She found that community at Chicago Theological Seminary, where she earned her master of divinity.

“Each of you is about to embark on new adventures with many new choices in front of you,” she said. “That may be continuing your education or beginning a new job, it might be choosing a new place to live, starting a family, traveling, starting a business. You have a right to choose the people, the places, and experiences that will allow you to be who you are. You have the right to live in a community where you find the freedom to live to your full self.”

The ceremony also featured a moment of solidarity, silence, and visibility for those who are not out, nor will ever be out.

Dr. Kathy Evans delivered opening remarks. Indigo Gott ’24 served as emcee. Riley Quezada ’24, Cassidy Williams ’25, Emma Nord ’25, and Canyon Penner ’25 performed music.

Annabeth Roeschley, executive director of the for LGBTQ Interests, will serve as keynote speaker for the third annual Queer History Month address. The free event will be held at Common Grounds in EMU’s University Commons at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15.

Roeschley, who uses they/she pronouns, is a longtime activist and adviser for queer intersectional justice within and beyond Mennonite Church USA. They embody this role as a queer abolitionist theologian, spiritual care curator, and politicized chaplain who dwells at the intersections of individual and collective healing. 

Roeschley graduated from Bluffton University and holds a Master of Divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary with a concentration in LGBTQ+ Religious Studies. 

EMU alumnus Christian Parks ’16 will facilitate a conversation with Roeschley during the event.

Last year, Tori Cooper, a Black transgender woman who serves as director of community engagement for the Human Rights Campaign’s Transgender Justice Initiative, spoke at the annual keynote address.

An evening of powerful poetry performed by jessica Care moore and Brad Walrond will kick off EMU’s Writers Read Author series this month.

Verses & Vibes, an event featuring the pair of poets, authors and recording artists, will begin at 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 23, at the Common Grounds space in EMU’s University Commons. The event is free to attend and open to the public.

Following their poetry performances, moore and Walrond will lead a Q&A session and participate in a book signing (copies of their books will be available to purchase).

(who stylizes her first and last names in lowercase) is an internationally renowned poet, playwright, performance artist and producer. She is the founder of book publishing company , founder and producer of , and founder of The Moore Art House, a nonprofit dedicated to improving literacy in Detroit.

In April she was the poet laureate of Detroit. She is the third poet laureate to serve the city since 1981.

moore has performed on stages all over the world, including the Apollo Theater, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the London Institute for Contemporary Arts. She, along with Walrond, will perform at the Furious Flower Poetry Center at James Madison University this month.

She is the author of The Words Don’t Fit in My Mouth, The Alphabet Verses the Ghetto, and Sunlight Through Bullet Holes. The poems in her latest collection, We Want Our Bodies Back, speak to “Black women’s creative and intellectual power, and express the pain, sadness, and anger of those who suffer constant scrutiny because of their gender and race” (, 2020).

moore is a two-time Knight Arts recipient, 2018 Joyce Award winner, 2016 Kresge Artist Fellow, 2013 Alain Locke Award recipient, and the 2015 NAACP Great Expectations Award recipient.

is a poet, author, conceptual/performance artist, and one of the foremost writers and performers of the 1990s Black Arts Movement centered in New York City. His poems have been published in The Atlantic, African Voices Magazine, Moko Magazine, ArtsEverywhere, Eleven Eleven, and Wordpeace. His latest collection of poems, Every Where Alien, “traces blackness, queerness, and desire through the legacy of 1990s and early 2000s New York City underground art movements, illuminating how their roots and undertold histories inspire today’s culture” (, 2024).

Copies of moore’s and Walrond’s are available to check out at EMU’s Sadie Hartzler Library.

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion partnered with Writers Read, the Office of Student Life, and the Center for Interfaith Engagement to bring this event to life. 

Dawn Neil, coordinator for the Office of DEI, said she had seen moore perform her poetry at the White Privilege Conference in Tulsa this past April.

“Listening to her, the raw power and emotion in her voice gave me chills,” Neil said. “Bringing her here feels essential. Her message needs to be heard, and I believe it’s one that our students will deeply connect with.”

Dr. David Evans
Seminary Associate Professor of History and Intercultural Studies, and Director of Intercultural Studies

Evans received the grant to prepare and teach a pilot section of the new CORE 300 “Power, Systems, and Justice” course. This class focuses on race, gender, economic inequality, class, and other dimensions of identity and difference. Students will describe and analyze the ways structural inequality shapes their lives and those around them, and develop skills to work toward equity in their own professional and personal lives. Students will have the opportunity to develop creative and ethical ways of strategically disrupting and transforming unjust systems.

Dr. Kate Clark
Associate Professor of Nursing and Program Director of Public Health

Clark was granted funding for three initiatives. First, she will conduct a review of the current undergraduate nursing curriculum related to nursing care and special considerations for marginalized patient populations. Second, she will gather recommendations from students on content regarding these issues as well as engaging teaching strategies. Finally, she will collaborate with nursing colleagues to develop intentional, scaffolded “threads” through the curriculum focused on racial disparities in health and the care of LGBTQ+ patient populations, and suggest the addition of associated program outcome measures.

Health disparities associated with race and sexual orientation persist throughout health care. Due to these disparities’ implicit and pervasive nature, nurses and other health care workers must understand their existence, explore their reasons, and discuss strategies for nurses to address disparities. EMU’s nursing program aims to provide targeted content on the care of marginalized patient populations.

The Hertzler-Koshy Faculty Fellowship Program, honoring John Asa and Rebecca Hertzler, supports full-time faculty members who encourage student collaborations and advance projects that integrate and infuse diversity into the curriculum with a specific focus on race, ethnicity, disability, and gender content in the curricula (undergraduate, graduate, intercultural programs, training).��

EMU hosted its third annual Lavender Graduation on Saturday, May 4, 2024, in the Old Common Grounds space (University Commons 177). 

The event honors LGBTQ+ graduates and alumni of all races and ethnicities, and celebrates their unique experiences, achievements and contributions to the university.

This year, the ceremony recognized 17 graduates from the LGBTQ+ community. Kathy Evans, professor of teacher education, and Heike Peckruhn, associate professor of religious studies, bestowed the graduates with rainbow stoles to wear at Commencement. Class of 2024 graduates Riley Quezada and Kory Schaeffer provided keynote addresses, sharing their own stories about being part of the LGBTQ+ community.

The first Lavender Graduation ceremony was celebrated at the University of Michigan in 1995. Ronni Sanlo began the tradition after being denied to her own children’s graduations because of her sexual identity. Today, more than 200 colleges and universities offer Lavender Graduation ceremonies for their students. The first of these at EMU was held in 2022.

Jackie Font-Guzmán, vice president of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, reflected on the recent progress made at EMU while acknowledging some of the work left to be done. She cited the LGBTQ+ History Month keynote delivered by transgender woman and health and equity advocate Tori Cooper in October, the renaming of Safe Space to Queer Student Alliance and the community’s participation in the filming of Viewpoint with Dennis Quaid as a few of the accomplishments of the graduating class.

“You have transformed our campus, and I have no doubt that you will all transform the world,” Font-Guzmán told the graduates on Saturday. 

‘Leaps and bounds of progress’

Quezada, a music education major from Mount Jackson, Virginia, and Cords of Distinction recipient, spoke about how their experience at EMU helped them feel comfortable in embracing their true identity.

“We all remember our first year here in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Quezada said. “That was a crazy year, but it was also the year I decided to let myself be fully and authentically me.”

When Quezada applied to EMU, all their paperwork was under their “dead name,” and they were planning to keep it that way. But, after interacting with “the amazing professors here” and getting to know their many accepting friends, Quezada said “I knew it was safe to change my name and my pronouns to my preferred ones.”

“From there, I found my voice, and I knew that I had to be a voice for those who felt just like me, those who were scared of coming into their own skin and becoming themselves,” they said. “Being active in advocacy and making sure that everyone’s voice is heard was something I didn’t know that I could do, but I am grateful to have been that person for people on campus.”

“There is so much visibility on campus, and EMU has made leaps and bounds of progress. But there’s still work to be done, and I’m excited to see what else this campus does,” they added.

Schaeffer, a Harrisonburg, Virginia, native who graduated from the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding with a master’s degree in conflict transformation, spoke about his days in middle school and the bullying he endured.��

“I felt like I was walking the halls with a target on my back,” he said, “because something was different inside me and everyone around me could tell.”

And so, for the first 20 years of his life, he said, he hid his sexuality because “I understood my survival depended on it.”

But, at EMU, he’s found a space of belonging where he feels accepted and recognized.

“For the past two years, I have walked the grounds of ��ݮ���� as an open, proud, vulnerable, and authentic person, not hiding the bits of me that so many of us have had to keep secret on this campus for so long,” Schaeffer said. “And this is remarkable.”

The event also featured a moment of solidarity, silence and visibility for those who are not out nor will ever be out.

Heike Peckruhn delivered opening remarks. Erin Bruemmer ’24 served as emcee. Riley Quezada, Tyler Williams and Emma Nord performed music.

The program offers faculty, staff, and students the opportunity to develop ideas that advance opportunities to grow, learn, and belong together. “Inclusive excellence” is a research-based approach that encourages proactive, collaborative steps towards creating a community in which all belong.

These grants are possible thanks to the generosity of Jose Koshy ‘76 and Jean Koshy-Hertzler ‘79. Jose Koshy will deliver the keynote address during EMU’s Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 5, 2024.

Fall 2023

BIPOC-focused Mental Health Three-day Residency with Vincent Jones

This program aims to increase awareness and provide resources for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People Of Color) male athletes, BIPOC students, particularly social work majors, and the wider university community. The program prioritizes creating a safe space for BIPOC students to discuss mental health challenges and learn from an experienced practitioner who understands their cultural context. Additionally, it aims to educate social work students on culturally competent practice and provide insights into professional practice, including working in public schools and graduate school tips.

Award: $1200

Project co-leaders: Carrie Bert, director of athletics; Mikaela Brooks, head women’s lacrosse coach; Deanna Durham, associate professor of social work & sociology, program director – social work; Deanna Reed, regional advancement director; Shannon Dycus, VP of student affairs and dean of students; Rubi Long, student; Kylik Bradshaw, student; Brii Redfearn, student.

The Intersectionality of Sexual Violence and Diversity

Sexual violence disproportionately affects individuals aged 18-34, with women experiencing these crimes most frequently, while men are also affected. Transgender, genderqueer, and nonconforming college students face the highest risk. Women of color are particularly vulnerable, with a significant proportion experiencing sexual violence. We aim to host events that combine education, entertainment, and diverse perspectives to foster respectful and honest conversations. By providing a platform for engaging discussions, we seek to raise awareness, reduce sexual violence on campus, and facilitate healthy exchanges of ideas among participants.

Award: $1200

Project co-leaders: Venissa White, �䲹�ٳ������Ա����龱�ٳٱ�Գ�dzܲ���; project director; Rehana Franklin, student; Tibby Miller, student; Ashley Mellinger, student; Sarah Moore, student; Jordyn Thompson, student.

Infusing Inclusion through Visual Representation at the EMU House in DC

The Washington Community Scholars’ Center (WCSC) is initiating a project with students to make their living quarters more welcoming by featuring artwork from local artists of underrepresented groups. This effort aims to create an inclusive environment and combat racism, homophobia, and other forms of oppression through visual representations of diversity and solidarity. The artwork is chosen to make all visitors, especially students and their families, feel included and to challenge traditional, dominant symbols. The project is designed to impact inclusivity and acceptance within the community beyond just the current semester.

Award: $1200

Project co-leaders: Ann Butwell, WCSC – associate director of student life and program administration; Ryan Good, associate professor of urban studies, program director – WCSC.

Queer Together Mural

The initiative entails the creation of a mural symbolizing queer inclusion at EMU, serving as a visual testament to the university’s commitment to embracing diversity and cultivating an inclusive culture. Community engagement will be integral to the project, allowing individuals to actively participate and contribute their perspectives. Close collaboration with administrators will ensure the selection of a prominent campus location, effectively highlighting EMU’s dedication to fostering belonging and inclusivity for all members of the community.

Award: $1200

Project co-leaders: August France, student; Will Blosser, student.

Multilingual Affiliate of The Weather Vane: Global Voices

The Weather Vane, EMU’s longstanding campus newspaper, has consistently focused on reflecting the student body’s voices, opinions, and concerns. However, it has historically overlooked the representation of non-English languages within the campus. The newspaper aims to publish a special edition featuring the diverse languages spoken by students, especially those in the Intensive English Program. By highlighting the experiences of these students, who navigate daily life in a language that is not their first, The Weather Vane seeks to enhance understanding of multilingualism and address the complexities of linguistic diversity within the campus community.

Award: $1200

Project co-leaders: Hannah Landis, student; Zack Furr, student.

Extended Family

EMU is collaborating with MFA student Iover Ikeseh to create a mural titled Extended Family on campus. This project explores identity, diversity, and inclusion themes, using the metaphor of family — an institution embodying a broad spectrum of characteristics like gender, race, and beliefs. Although families often struggle with inclusivity, this initiative seeks to counteract that by involving BSA students, Art Club members, and other interested students in the painting process. The resulting mural will use imagery, colors, and designs to represent the diverse identities within the EMU community.

Award: $1200

Project co-leaders: Cyndi Gusler, professor of art; Anna Westfall, associate professor of art.

Celebrating the Harlem Renaissance

The Harlem Renaissance, a cultural, social, and artistic movement that flourished in Harlem, New York, during the 1920s and 1930s, brought together a vibrant community of black writers, artists, musicians, photographers, poets, and scholars. Of Ebony Embers is a chamber music theater production that delves into the lives of African-American artists who played pivotal roles in shaping the Harlem Renaissance. The musical repertoire of Of Ebony Embers features compositions by jazz legends such as Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton, Billy Strayhorn, Thelonius Monk, and Charles Mingus, alongside concert music by composers Jeffrey Mumford and George Walker.

Award: $1200

Project co-leaders: David Berry, associate professor of music; Celeste Thomas, director of multicultural student services.

Increasing Accessibility of Menstrual Hygiene Products on EMU Campus

Students Irais Barrera Pinzon and Isaac North-Sandel are spearheading an initiative at EMU to provide students with free menstrual hygiene products (tampons and pads). They plan to install five dispensers across campus bathrooms, ensuring they are regularly stocked. They are collaborating with local entities, including Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed, to secure support from businesses like CVS and Target and Royal Women for EMU, a group dedicated to women’s issues. Initial funding from the Inclusive Excellence grant will be used to purchase the products and dispensers, aiming to sustain the project beyond their graduation.

Award: $1200

Project co-leaders: Irais Barrera Pinzon, student; Isaac North-Sandel, student.

Spring 2024

Girls & Women in Sports Clinic @ EMU

Over the past one to two years, the EMU Athletic Department has organized a girls and women in sports clinic to empower young females in our community. This event serves as an opportunity to bring together athletics faculty/staff, current students, and young girls from the community. The objective is to impart sports skills to these girls while highlighting how sports can empower females. Recognizing the underrepresentation of women in sports, EMU Athletics is committed to creating spaces where female athletes can excel and inspire the next generation. The aim is to foster mentorship and leadership among females in sports by connecting younger community members with student-athlete role models.

Award: $1070

Project co-leaders: Jenny Posey, head women’s basketball coach; Mikayla Via, student; Mya Hamlet, student.

Cultural Oasis: Creating a Haven for Belonging and Inclusion

Research on cultural centers in higher education has primarily targeted students of color but is increasingly including LGBTQ students. These centers serve as safe spaces at predominantly white institutions where marginalized students often encounter challenges regarding their presence and abilities. The project plans to convert a room in the counseling department into a multipurpose space for marginalized students, featuring study areas, meditation spaces, resource centers, and venues for cultural events and dialogue. This personalized space will cater to the needs of various affinity groups, enhancing inclusivity and fostering a sense of ownership.

Award: $1950

Project co-leaders: Jennifer Cline, assistant professor of counseling; Yenifer Dottin-Carter, student; Fengyi Huang, student; Stormi Nuckoles, student; Nick LaGrua, student.

The EMU Gospel Choir

The recently-reactivated EMU Gospel Choir is seeking financial support to cover expenses for musicians, copyright music, musical equipment, and IT services for performances. Gospel music, deeply rooted in African and African American cultures, provides a safe and culturally resonant space for African American students and allies to engage spiritually. The choir, which does not require auditions, aims to promote inclusivity and diversify EMU’s musical offerings by challenging traditional, predominantly white musical structures. This initiative supports EMU’s strategic priorities of fostering belonging, creating inclusive experiences, and challenging institutional norms.

Award: $1200

Project co-leaders: Mikayla Pettus, student; Celeste Thomas, director of multicultural student services; David Berry, associate professor of music, program director – music.

MLK Jr. Play 

Multicultural Student Services, Black Student Alliance, and EMU Theatre are teaming up to produce a play for the MLK events in January 2025, aiming to engage EMU, the community, and the region. This collaborative effort will involve a guest director, preferably an EMU alum, and a diverse cast and crew comprising students, community members, and alums. Several plays are under consideration, including The Meeting by Jeff Stetson, Pass Over by Antoinette Nwandu, and Widows and Warriors by Donna Coles, among others. The final selection will prioritize accessibility, potential community impact, and feasibility within limited budget and time constraints.

Award: $1200

Project co-leaders: Celeste Thomas, director of multicultural student services; Justin Poole, associate professor of theatre, program director – theatre.

The Green Bandana Project 

The Green Bandana Project, originating in 2014, began as a response to suicide loss and has since evolved into a dynamic initiative. Student athlete leaders across a conference expressed a desire to bring this project to each campus, recognizing the importance of mental health support. Their vision includes training individuals in Mental Health First Aid on campus and collaborating with key campus stakeholders to impact mental health positively.

Award: $1200

Project co-leaders: Stephanie Roby, athletic trainer; Mike Ramer, residence director; Amber Bonds, student; Kaley Frazier, student.

WCSC Inclusion Training

The WCSC program comprises students from diverse backgrounds, spanning cultural, racial, gender, class, and political spectrums. The grant will fund training sessions on nonviolent communication and conflict resolution for fall 2024 and spring 2025. Led by outside experts Kirstin and Merwyn De Mello, these sessions aim to enhance students’ capacity to navigate conflicts constructively, fostering a safer and more inclusive environment for all residents.

Award: $1200

Project co-leaders: Ann Butwell, WCSC – associate director of student life and program administration; Ryan Good, associate professor of urban studies, program director – WCSC; Dima Kassem, associate director of communications & recruitment – WCSC.

Diversifying EMU Ed. Dept. Bookshelves

EMU recognizes the importance of representation in fostering an inclusive education, so plans to provide around 80 diverse children’s and Young Adult literature for use in course curricula, benefiting students from various backgrounds and majors, including future educators. This initiative aims to combat isolation and ensure that all students can see themselves reflected in their required reading materials. 

Award: $1200

Project co-leaders: Trina Trotter Nussbaum, associate director – CIE; Dr. Barbara Wheatley, assistant professor of education; Erika Lopez, student.

The celebration was held at Brix & Columns Vineyards in McGaheysville, Virginia. Eighteen guests from EMU, including students, administrators, faculty and staff, attended to show their support for Font-Guzmán.

The Diversity Business Leadership Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated exceptional personal and professional leadership within the business or nonprofit community, according to the nomination form. 

“This person must have a track record of giving back to their community through the creation of economic opportunities, advocating for minorities and those in the protected classes in the workplace and/or in business, or creating an environment for residents to become self-sufficient or successful,” it reads.

Font-Guzmán, who was hired to lead the Office of DEI in 2021, has made great strides in increasing the sense of belonging for all students at EMU. This progress is highlighted in a short-form documentary featuring actor Dennis Quaid and airing in millions of homes.

“Jackie has accelerated EMU’s DEI journey,” EMU President Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman said. “She has equipped us in word and deed for how we can expand our horizons and belong together as a community of learners.”

Font-Guzmán said she was deeply grateful for the support and the opportunity to continue contributing to the community’s journey toward inclusivity and belonging. 

“This award is a testament to the extraordinary community at EMU,” she said. “My efforts are built upon the foundational work of countless individuals who have advocated for and advanced DEI over many years.”