May 8, 2020

 

Dear Alumni and Friends,

I am excited to share with you my first official greeting as associate vice president for inclusive excellence and chief diversity officer at Regis College. I can’t express enough how thrilled I am to be a part of the Regis community.

One of the reasons that I was attracted to this position at Regis is the commitment to inclusive excellence from top leadership. The Unity Committee, which started in 2016, eventually becoming the President’s Inclusive Excellence Council, is truly indicative of this commitment. The Inclusive Excellence Council has made strides in many areas and I hope to make available its work to you on a regular basis.

Since beginning my tenure on March 23rd, I have spent a great deal of time meeting with students, faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, and community members in order to get a sense of what makes Regis truly unique. It has been a busy first month, and I have greatly enjoyed listening to and learning from others. These conversations will continue to inform our work moving forward and I anticipate many great things to come.

I am aware that many of you attended Regis at a time when there was no committee, office, or person charged with advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. For some of you, Regis was a place where you could not only get a quality education, but also find a community where you could be yourself, where you belonged. For others, your experience may have been different. While you were able to get a great education, you did not feel as though Regis was a place where you felt as though you belonged or where you felt as though you could thrive.

We are very much aware that injustices continue to take place around the world, throughout our nation and right here in our communities. These are difficult times for everyone, especially our students. However, while change takes time, our efforts to create a more just and equitable campus environment for everyone continue to be a priority, especially in light of this crisis. We need gracious hospitality, love and service of the Dear Neighbor without distinction, peaceful resolution of conflict, and care for all God’s creation more than ever.

My goal, my vision of inclusive excellence, is to do my best to ensure that all who come to Regis feel that sense of belonging and connection, as the Sisters of St. Joseph intended. But to do so I need to hear from you. I need to hear about your vision for inclusive excellence. What made you feel as though you belonged when you were at Regis? What makes you feel as though you belong now? How would you define inclusive excellence? What can we do better to build a more inclusive community at Regis? I need your voice in all that I do and I ask that you connect with me, meet with me, and talk to me. I want to get to know you and know Regis from your eyes.

The Center for Inclusive Excellence is hosting a virtual open house this month as part of the various reunion inspired events and you are welcome to join me and the center staff during that time. But you should also email me at audrey.grace@regiscollege.edu and connect with me one-on-one. In the meantime, you can also follow the Center for Inclusive Excellence on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook (@RegisInclusion) to find out what is happening more broadly. As the work unfolds, I will share these updates as well.

I thank you all for your engagement and support. I really look forward to getting to know you and the entire Regis community. Until then, stay safe and healthy and I’ll see you on campus soon.

Sincerely,

Audrey M. Grace
Associate Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer