Q&A On Misson-Driven Hiring For Equity, Diversity, and Cultural Competence
About the Presenters
Terri Jackson
Terri Jackson is a progressive educator and school leader with a deep commitment to helping students discover and develop their strengths and passions. She has held several leadership positions in the last fifteen years that she’s worked in independent schools which include diversity practitioner, middle school director and assistant head of school.
Jackson earned her B.A. from Dillard University in New Orleans where she double majored in English and public relations with a minor in Spanish. While at Dillard, she became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and remains an active and proud member of the service organization today. After undergrad, she went on to receive an M.A. in American Literature from the University of Vermont.
Today, Jackson lives in the North Center neighborhood of Chicago with her husband, Marcus, two daughters, Bailey and Maddie, and dog, Nico.
Christina Vela
Christina Vela director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Spanish Teacher at Regis Jesuit High School.
Terri Jackson, assistant principal for student success at Loyola Academy, and Christina Vela, director of equity and inclusion at Regis Jesuit High School, answer questions related to their presentation on Mission-Driven Hiring for Equity, Diversity, and Cultural Competence. Jackson and Vela both ground their responses in the context of working in Jesuit and other Catholic schools. The conversation was moderated by Jamal Adams, director of equity and inclusion at Loyola High School of Los Angeles.
Click to read the full list of questions and topics discussed in this Q&A.
Coming soon
IFTJ 2020: Mission-driving Hiring for Equity, Diversity, and Cultural Competence
About the Presenters
Terri Jackson
Terri Jackson is a progressive educator and school leader with a deep commitment to helping students discover and develop their strengths and passions. She has held several leadership positions in the last fifteen years that she’s worked in independent schools which include diversity practitioner, middle school director and assistant head of school.
Jackson earned her B.A. from Dillard University in New Orleans where she double majored in English and public relations with a minor in Spanish. While at Dillard, she became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and remains an active and proud member of the service organization today. After undergrad, she went on to receive an M.A. in American Literature from the University of Vermont.
Today, Jackson lives in the North Center neighborhood of Chicago with her husband, Marcus, two daughters, Bailey and Maddie, and dog, Nico.
Christina Vela
Christina Vela director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Spanish Teacher at Regis Jesuit High School.
During this session we will take a look at the current demographic make up of the Jesuit Schools Network to inform and guide our presentation that will focus on the need to attract/hire/retain diverse faculty and staff candidates, to include equitable hiring practices, and to hire for skills in cultural competence. All that we discuss, address, and propose will be grounded in fulfilling our Catholic, Jesuit missions and core values.
This video took place at the 2020 Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice. Learn more about the largest annual Catholic social justice conference in the U.S. and how you can join us in-person or virtually this fall at ignatiansolidarity.net/iftj
Click to read the full list of questions and topics discussed in this presentation.
Coming soon
Q&A Session: Strategic Planning for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
About the Presenters
Deborale Richardson-Phillips, Ph.D.
Dr. Richardson-Phillips has 20 years of diversity, equity, and inclusion experience in higher education and corporate America. She currently serves as the vice president of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Saint Ignatius High School (Cleveland) where she is responsible for DEI strategic planning and cultural competence.
Carlos Jiménez
Carlos Jiménez is the Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Bellarmine College Prep in San José. A graduate from Santa Clara University, where he obtained a B.S. in political science and a single subject teaching credential in social studies, Carlos has more than 13 years of experience providing support and advocacy for first-generation, low-income students and their families.
Dr. Deborale Richardson-Phillips and Carlos Jiménez answer questions related to their presentations on strategic planning for diversity, equity, and inclusion. The conversation was moderated by Jamal Adams, director of equity and inclusion at Loyola High School of Los Angeles.
Click to read the full list of questions and topics discussed in this Q&A.
Coming soon
IFTJ 2020: Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Planning: Moving from Compliance to Consciousness
About the Presenters
Deborale Richardson-Phillips, Ph.D.
Dr. Richardson-Phillips has 20 years of diversity, equity, and inclusion experience in higher education and corporate America. She currently serves as the vice president of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Saint Ignatius High School (Cleveland) where she is responsible for DEI strategic planning and cultural competence.
Click to read the full list of questions and topics discussed in this presentation.
Coming soon
IFTJ 2020: Breaking With Tradition: The Process of Building Culturally Relevant Catholic Schools
About the Presenters
Carlos Jiménez
Carlos Jiménez is the Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Bellarmine College Prep in San José. A graduate from Santa Clara University, where he obtained a B.S. in political science and a single subject teaching credential in social studies, Carlos has more than 13 years of experience providing support and advocacy for first-generation, low-income students and their families.
During this session, Bellarmine College Prep’s ongoing efforts to create a culturally relevant, equitable and anti-racist institution will be highlighted. First, I will present a brief institutional analysis to illustrate how the equity and inclusion problems were identified. This will be followed by presenting the roadmap developed by a group of community members to respond to such issues at Bellarmine.
This video took place at the 2020 Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice. Learn more about the largest annual Catholic social justice conference in the U.S. and how you can join us in-person or virtually this fall at ignatiansolidarity.net/iftj
Click to read the full list of questions and topics discussed in this presentation.
Coming soon
Becoming Anti-Racist During a Racial Reckoning Q&A with Nate Sessoms, Ph.D.
About the Presenters
Nathan Sessoms, Ph.D.
Dr. Nathan J. Sessoms is the Principal & CEO of Success Beyond Measure, Incorporated, a Diversity & Educational Equity consulting firm that provides support to community-based and non-profit organizations, for-profit entities, and academic institutions interested in combatting systemic racism and creating equitable outcomes for all.
A native of Cleveland, Ohio, he has conducted research on race relations at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, contributed to several National Science Foundation-funded reports, and published in several peer-reviewed journals, including Urban Geography, The Professional Geographer, and Kalfou.
Dr. Sessoms is the former director of the Office of Black Student Services at Loyola Marymount University, where he also worked closely with the University’s Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, Jewish, Muslim, and LGBTQIA Communities, while assisting the campus community in navigating the realities of race and racism. He continues to serve as an adjunct professor in LMU’s Department of Sociology.
Nate Sessoms, Ph.D., Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Antiracism expert, offers a Q&A on his presentation, “Becoming Anti-Racist During a Racial Reckoning.”
Click to read the full list of questions and topics discussed in this Q&A.
Coming soon
IFTJ 2020 – Nathan Sessoms, Ph.D. – Becoming Anti-Racist During a Racial Reckoning
About the Presenters
Nathan Sessoms, Ph.D.
Dr. Nathan J. Sessoms is the Principal & CEO of Success Beyond Measure, Incorporated, a Diversity & Educational Equity consulting firm that provides support to community-based and non-profit organizations, for-profit entities, and academic institutions interested in combatting systemic racism and creating equitable outcomes for all.
A native of Cleveland, Ohio, he has conducted research on race relations at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, contributed to several National Science Foundation-funded reports, and published in several peer-reviewed journals, including Urban Geography, The Professional Geographer, and Kalfou.
Dr. Sessoms is the former director of the Office of Black Student Services at Loyola Marymount University, where he also worked closely with the University’s Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, Jewish, Muslim, and LGBTQIA Communities, while assisting the campus community in navigating the realities of race and racism. He continues to serve as an adjunct professor in LMU’s Department of Sociology.
This session details the history of anti-racism, presents and reviews shared language, and proposes specific steps to engage participants and guide them in the process of incorporating anti-racist principles and actions into their personal lives.
This video took place at the 2020 Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice. Learn more about the largest annual Catholic social justice conference in the U.S. and how you can join us in-person or virtually this fall at ignatiansolidarity.net/iftj
Click to read the full list of questions and topics discussed in this presentation.
Coming soon
Discerning Diversity
About the Presenters
Mary Wardell-Ghirarduzzi, Ph.D.
Mary J. Wardell-Ghirarduzzi, Ph.D. is the vice provost & chief diversity officer at the University of San Francisco (USF). Wardell-Ghirarduzzi is a seasoned executive leader and best-selling author serving the California higher education community for more than 25 years. Leading as the inaugural vice provost & chief diversity officer at USF, she is an expert in building strategic and lasting organizational capacity for diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is the president of the San Francisco Public Library Commission and in 2018, she helped the organization win the coveted National Public Library of the Year award.
Known for her servant leadership, she won the most influential woman award by the San Francisco Business Times in 2017 and won the Hero Award by the San Francisco Human Rights Commission and the Changemaker award by the African American Historical Society of San Francisco.
Currently, Wardell-Ghirarduzzi teaches race, diversity, and leadership to graduate students in the USF Schools of Management and Education. To prepare today’s corporate and non-profit leaders for the difficult yet necessary racial equity and social justice work ahead, she founded The DEI Leadership Group, LLC, a crisis management, diversity solutions, and leadership development practice based in San Francisco. In 2020, she released her first book, Twice as Good: Leadership and Power for Women of Color. Wardell-Ghirarduzzi’s article – A redemptive call to the altar: Anti-black racism in Jesuit higher education – was published in the Spring 2020 issue of Conversations on Jesuit Higher Education.
Wardell-Ghirarduzzi received a doctorate from Pepperdine’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology; a master’s degree in cross cultural counseling and social justice education from San Diego State University, and a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of the Pacific
Discerning Diversity is a virtual ISN gathering with Dr. Mary Wardell- Ghirarduzzi, Vice Provost & Chief Diversity Officer at the University of San Francisco for Ignatian educators to reflect and discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Ignatian tradition, and to share resources of support to create a culture of care during these challenging times.
During this unique time of isolation related to COVID-19, we focus our attention toward communities disproportionately impacted by racial injustice. As the impact of COVID-19 increases globally, so too have incidents of racism targeting Asian-identified people impacted by a wave of xenophobia and bigotry.
Click to read the full list of questions and topics discussed in this presentation.
Coming soon
Q&A: How Do We Talk About This? Norms Setting for Challenging Conversations
About the Presenters
Amanda Montez
Amanda Montez is Spanish teacher and Parent Engagement Coordinator at Sacred Heart Nativity Schools in San Jose, CA. The model of education works with and supports students and families for twelve years hoping to eradicate poverty through education. Montez also working on their Masters of Education in International and Multicultural Education at University of San Francisco. They are intrigued in the intersectionality of non-traditional classrooms, identity- particularly race, community, and collaboration.
Jamal Adams
Jamal Adams currently serves as the Director of Faculty at Loyola High School of Los Angeles, in addition to serving as the school’s Director of Equity and Inclusion. As Director of Faculty, he is responsible for overseeing Loyola’s faculty, helping each teacher reach their professional goals in alignment with visionary pedagogy. He also has worked to ensure the continuous improvement and innovation of Loyola’s curriculum and best practices. As the Director of Equity and Inclusion, Mr. Adams worked to cultivate an institutional culture of awareness and understanding, through the lens of inclusion, equity, and belonging, ensuring that all members of the school’s community were welcomed and embraced. In addition to those duties, he is also a teacher in the Social Studies department teaching Economics and African American Studies. He also serves as the Head Coach of Loyola’s Boys Varsity Basketball Team.
After graduating from Loyola High School, he enrolled at Columbia University, where he was a member of the Men’s Basketball team and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics. He later earned his Master of Arts in Secondary Education from Loyola Marymount University, graduating with Honors. Mr. Adams’ professional career began in the finance industry at Merrill Lynch, where he served as a vice president in both New York and Los Angeles. Upon returning to Loyola as an educator, he served in various teaching and coaching roles over the past 15 years. Adams will soon serve as the next principal of La Salle College Preparatory.
Amanda Montez and Jamal Adams share tools for creating discussion spaces that are culturally relevant, that help balance power and hold participants accountable to their words. Through norm setting, participants are able to speak to lived reality and listen more deeply to gain better understanding.
A conversation for educators.
Click to read the full list of questions and topics discussed in this Q&A.
Coming soon
IFTJ 2020: Norm Setting for Culturally Relevant Conversation
About the Presenters
Amanda Montez
Amanda Montez is Spanish teacher and Parent Engagement Coordinator at Sacred Heart Nativity Schools in San Jose, CA. The model of education works with and supports students and families for twelve years hoping to eradicate poverty through education. Montez also working on their Masters of Education in International and Multicultural Education at University of San Francisco. They are intrigued in the intersectionality of non-traditional classrooms, identity- particularly race, community, and collaboration.
Jamal Adams
Jamal Adams currently serves as the Director of Faculty at Loyola High School of Los Angeles, in addition to serving as the school’s Director of Equity and Inclusion. As Director of Faculty, he is responsible for overseeing Loyola’s faculty, helping each teacher reach their professional goals in alignment with visionary pedagogy. He also has worked to ensure the continuous improvement and innovation of Loyola’s curriculum and best practices. As the Director of Equity and Inclusion, Mr. Adams worked to cultivate an institutional culture of awareness and understanding, through the lens of inclusion, equity, and belonging, ensuring that all members of the school’s community were welcomed and embraced. In addition to those duties, he is also a teacher in the Social Studies department teaching Economics and African American Studies. He also serves as the Head Coach of Loyola’s Boys Varsity Basketball Team.
After graduating from Loyola High School, he enrolled at Columbia University, where he was a member of the Men’s Basketball team and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics. He later earned his Master of Arts in Secondary Education from Loyola Marymount University, graduating with Honors. Mr. Adams’ professional career began in the finance industry at Merrill Lynch, where he served as a vice president in both New York and Los Angeles. Upon returning to Loyola as an educator, he served in various teaching and coaching roles over the past 15 years. Adams will soon serve as the next principal of La Salle College Preparatory.
Whenever we are talking about race and racism, it is essential to set norms, rules of thumb that will help balance power in space. In challenging conversations, we must be willing to hold people accountable to their words to take our level of understanding of racial justice to a deeper level. The goal is not to keep everyone “safe” but to invite bravery, to make space to hear lived realities, and listen empathetically to gain a better understanding of our current context.
This video took place at the 2020 Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice. Learn more about the largest annual Catholic social justice conference in the U.S. and how you can join us in-person or virtually this fall at ignatiansolidarity.net/iftj
Click to read the full list of questions and topics discussed in this presentation.
Coming soon
IFTJ 2020: Implicit Bias and Intercultural Competency
About the Presenters
Deborale Richardson-Phillips, Ph.D.
Dr. Richardson-Phillips has 20 years of diversity, equity, and inclusion experience in higher education and corporate America. She currently serves as the vice president of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Saint Ignatius High School (Cleveland) where she is responsible for DEI strategic planning and cultural competence.
Benjamin Krauss, Ph.D.
Benjamin Krauss, Ph.D. has been working at Gonzaga Prep since August 28, 2017. Before that, he was an Adjunct Professor at Gonzaga University and Criminal Intelligence Analyst with the Spokane Police Dept.
With a philosophy that is focused on Gonzaga Prep’s Mission, participative, intellectually sound, and fun; Ben is inspired by the high number of multi-generational Gonzaga Prep families, alumni, and staff.
He enjoys working with a great community of staff, students, parents, grandparents, alumni and is looking forward to spending summers off work with his family.
Implicit Bias and Intercultural Competency: Why This Is Important and How Individuals and Organizations can Improve Young citizens and students have always been an important voice in positive change. Catholics have a particular call to this activism. During this session we will:
• Continue to prepare for conversations with our students regarding equity and race
• Recognize our Implicit Bias
• Help our students grow as citizens in an equitable world
• Understand the process of achieving Intercultural Competency
This video took place at the 2020 Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice. Learn more about the largest annual Catholic social justice conference in the U.S. and how you can join us in-person or virtually this fall at ignatiansolidarity.net/iftj
Click to read the full list of questions and topics discussed in this presentation.
Coming soon
IFTJ 2020: Understanding Our Past, Transforming Our Future: Slavery, Racism, and Jesuit Education
About the Presenters
Danielle Harrison
Danielle Harrison is the Co-Director of the Slavery, History, Memory and Reconciliation Project. With over 26 years of experience of working in Christian environments, Danielle is a teacher, facilitator, trainer, consultant, spiritual director, campus minister and retreat director. Before accepting the position at SHMR, She was the director of Mission Integration at Visitation Academy. Danielle also taught Theology at a number of Catholic High Schools in the St. Louis area. She is a graduate of Dartmouth College, Saint Louis University Law School, and Aquinas Institute of Theology, where she received her Masters of Theology with a concentration in Biblical Studies. Danielle is a trained facilitator for Dismantling Racism and promoting Cultural Competency, and is frequently sought after to speak to issues of Equity and Inclusion.
Chris Kellerman, S.J.
Deacon Chris Kellerman, S.J., is a member of the Central and Southern Province of the Society of Jesus. He entered the Jesuits in 2011 after completing his B.A. at Texas Tech University and M.A. at the University of Dallas. He taught at Regis Jesuit High School from 2015-2018 where he worked with other faculty and staff to help increase racial diversity and inclusion on campus. He finished his M.Div. at Regis College at the University of Toronto in 2020 and was ordained to the diaconate in May of the same year. His research interests include Catholic Social Teaching, anti-racism and racial justice, and other issues of social justice in the Church and society.
Frank Kovarik
Frank Kovarik is director of equity and inclusion and chair of the English department at St. Louis University High School. He is the author of To God, with Gratitude: 200 Years of SLUH, a book commemorating the school’s 2018 bicentennial. He and his wife Lisa Granich-Kovarik have three daughters.
The Slavery, History, Memory, and Reconciliation (SHMR) Project, a work of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States, seeks to empower faculty and students to understand, and respond to, connections between slavery and systemic racism. Indeed, the history and legacies of Jesuit slaveholding are shared by Jesuit schools and parishes throughout the United States—not only in the buildings that, in some cases, stand as literal reminders of how our past has shaped our present, but also in the privileges inherited by predominantly white institutions as communities of color have faced years of segregation, under-resourcing, and neglect, including within the Catholic Church.
But before bringing this history and its legacies to the classroom, faculty and administrators often face questions like, “what does this have to do with our school?” or “why should we look at our past?” This session will suggest how faculty and administrators can begin to grapple with and answer such questions from an Ignatian perspective. Universal Apostolic Preference #2 calls us not only to “understand in depth the economic, political, and social processes that generate such great injustice,” but also to work toward changing those structures, and to be “companion[s] in a mission of reconciliation and justice.” Through both awareness and action, we can begin to break down that which perpetuates the systemic oppression of communities of color and build up our capacity for healing, justice, and transformative change.
This video took place at the 2020 Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice. Learn more about the largest annual Catholic social justice conference in the U.S. and how you can join us in-person or virtually this fall at ignatiansolidarity.net/iftj.
Click to read the full list of questions and topics discussed in this presentation.
Coming soon