From: Office of Equity & Inclusion
Date: February 5
Subject: The IDEA Newsletter!


THE IDEA newsletter FEBRUARY 2025, ISSUE NO.18
Office of Equity and Inclusion IDEA Newsletter Jan 2023 Issue 3

The IDEA Newsletter!

The IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) Newsletter is a monthly newsletter that is designed to curate the diversity, equity, and inclusion educational opportunities and initiatives that help to improve campus climate at Loyola.

To read past issues of the IDEA Newsletter, please visit:
https://www.loyola.edu/department/equity-inclusion/about/idea-newsletter

Updates from the
Office of Equity and Inclusion

The Martin Luther King Jr., Convocation featuring
Nikole Hannah-Jones

The Office of Equity and Inclusion would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended the 32nd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation featuring Nikole Hannah-Jones, and co-moderated by Dr. Kaye Wise-Whitehead and Dr. David Carey.

With over 1,100 in-person attendees and more than 600 virtual viewers, this event was a powerful testament to Dr. King's enduring call for equity and justice.

This gathering would not have been possible without the support of our incredible cosponsors: the Office of the President, the Office of Peace and Justice, the Karson Institute for Race, Peace, and Social Justice, Messina, and the African and African American Studies Program.

A special thank you as well to Loyola’s MarComm, Event Services, and Parkhurst Dining teams for their dedication and hard work in bringing this event to life.

We appreciate your participation and look forward to continuing these important conversations together!


Photo Credit: Emma Sabino, '25

The Thriving Spaces: Environment for Learning, Living & Working Survey!


Loyola University Maryland has launched the Thriving Spaces: Environment for Learning, Living, and Working Survey, a campus-wide survey designed to assess the experiences, attitudes, and perspectives of all members of our community.

The survey will remain open from Tuesday, February 4 – Friday, March 7, 2025.

The findings from this survey will integrate with past assessments to create a comprehensive understanding of our campus climate. These insights will directly inform action plans and strategic initiatives aimed at fostering a more inclusive, supportive, and thriving environment for all. 

Join Us for the Launch Day Café! 

To encourage participation and engagement, the Climate Survey Working Group (CSWG) is hosting a Launch Day Café on Thursday, February 6th in the 4th Floor Programming Room. This is an opportunity to: 
  • Learn more about the Thriving Spaces survey 
  • Ask questions and share your thoughts 
  • Complete the survey on-site 
  • Connect with colleagues and students 
  • Win additional prizes and giveaways 
  •  Enjoy FREE food and drinks!  
Launch Day Café Schedule:
  • Lunch: Noon – 2 p.m. 
  • Employee-only Café: 5 – 7 p.m. 
Please note: Due to predicted inclement weather, the breakfast cafe originally scheduled for 8:00-9:45 am has been canceled. 

Additional Pop-Up Cafés 
If you’re unable to attend the launch event, we invite you to stop by one of the pop-up cafés at the following locations: 
  • Friday, February 7 | 9:30 a.m. – Noon | Boulder Atrium
  • Friday, February 14 | 9 a.m. – Noon | Hug Lounge  
  • Tuesday, February 18 | 9 a.m. – Noon | Green & Grey Café 
  • Wednesday, February 19 | 9 a.m. – Noon | Cohn Hall 
  • Monday, February 24 | 9 a.m. – Noon | Hug Lounge & Café 
We encourage you to participate, spread the word among your colleagues and students, and complete the survey to help shape a stronger, more connected Loyola community. 

For more details, please visit the Thriving Spaces Survey webpage for more information. 

Cura Conversations Are Back!

The Office of Equity and Inclusion, The Counseling Center, Campus Ministry, ALANA Services, LGBTQ+ Student Services, and The Office of Human Resources are excited to announce our Spring 2025 Cura Conversations sessions.

This lunchtime dialogue series addresses critical topics through the lens of compassion, curiosity, and care. Open to all members of the Loyola Community!.

EVENT

Breaking Barriers: Navigating the Bias and Title IX Compliance Process

Friday, February 28
12:00pm - 1:30pm
Private Location (sign in to display)
Link
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Join us for an informative session on Loyola University Maryland’s Bias Reporting Process, designed to help students and employees recognize, report, and respond to incidents of bias in our community.

Facilitated by David Tiscione and Nikia Woodard, this session will provide an overview of the reporting system, explain how reports are reviewed and addressed, and outline available support resources. It will also provide an opportunity to address concerns and barriers in the reporting process to help eliminate them.

Open to students, faculty, and staff interested in learning more about the bias reporting process and their role in promoting equity and inclusion at Loyola. Lunch will be provided!

Lunch will be provided!
RSVP

Follow us on Instagram: @LoyolaEquityInclusion 

Exciting News! 🎉 The Office of Equity and Inclusion is now on Instagram! Follow us at @LoyolaEquityInclusion for updates, events, and insights on fostering an inclusive campus community. Join the conversation and be part of our journey towards equity and inclusion! 🌟

IDEA Spotlights

In each newsletter, the Office of Equity and Inclusion highlights individuals within Loyola who are working to make our campus an inclusive and welcoming place for all people.

In this edition, we are spotlighting Rita Buettner, Director of University Communications; Alyssa Williams, President of the Black Student Association; and Dr. Miya Carey-Agyemang, Assistant Professor in History.

Rita Buettner (she/her)

Director of University Communications

As director of university communications, Rita Buettner partners with colleagues across the University to provide clear and consistent messaging, strengthen Loyola’s brand, and tell stories that help everyone feel proud to be part of this community.

Rita is a member of MarComm, and works with an extremely talented university communications team that is responsible for the University’s social media, media relations, emergency communications, public relations, marketing copy, the creation of Loyola magazine, and more. Rita also serves as a member of the President’s Council on Equity and Inclusion.

Rita was honored to receive the AMDG Community Award in 2021 and to be inducted into Alpha Sigma Nu as an honorary member in 2024.

During 16 years at Loyola, Rita has had the opportunity to get to know many members of the community—and has formed beautiful friendships and partnerships with many colleagues, students, and alumni. Many of the people encountered here inspire Rita and make her want to do her part to ensure that Loyola is even more welcoming and inclusive.

As a member of a Catholic, Jesuit university community, Rita feels called to do her part to lean into the work done around diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. But Rita’s greatest motivation probably comes from being a mother of two teenagers. Rita feels driven to do what can be done to make this world a more just and peaceful one for them and for all. There is so much work to do, and Rita is grateful to be part of a University community that is committed to that work—and that embraces the Jesuit value of the constant challenge to improve.

Alyssa Williams (she/her)

President of the Black Student Association

Alyssa Williams is a Senior Biology and Spanish interdisciplinary major from South Florida. Along with being a full-time student at Loyola, Alyssa also maintains many roles on campus. Currently, Alyssa serves as the president of the Black Student Association, a Mentor for the ALANA Mentorship Program, a member of the Pre-Dental Society, an Athletic Communications Assistant, and a scene leader for the BSA Fashion Show.

As president of the BSA, she is responsible for helping to foster an environment for Black Students on campus to safely find a community where they are culturally appreciated. This includes curating events dedicated to celebrating all aspects of black culture and advocating for Equity and Inclusion for Black Students in partnership with the administration.

Alyssa has been blessed with the opportunity to be a student speaker at numerous panels dedicated to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Loyola. Within all of Alyssa’s years at Loyola, she has also been lucky enough to receive recognition for achievements in leadership. Last year, Alyssa was named the ALANA student leader of the year during the first term as BSA President in the 2023-2024 school year. In addition, the Black Student Association was named the Club of the Year for the 2023-2024 school year.

Alyssa has always had a passion for DEIJ work because she experienced what it was like to be in an environment where DEIJ work was not a priority and instead an afterthought. After experiencing the sentiment that DEIJ was an afterthought at a previous institution, she decided never to let anyone feel like that on Loyola’s campus. So, Alyssa purposefully sought out opportunities to create an environment where students of all backgrounds felt they were equally important. Positive feedback from students and staff on Alyssa’s efforts have continued to keep her passionate about DEIJ work for the future.

Dr. Miya Carey-Agyemang (she/her)

Assistant Professor in the Department of History

Dr. Miya Carey-Agyemang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of History. Her area of research and teaching broadly focuses on 20th century African American history, but she specifically is interested in the ways that race, gender, and age have intersected to shape Black female adolescence and African American youth culture.


Dr. Carey-Agyemang explores these intersections in her current project, which examines how girls’ organizations in early to mid-twentieth century Washington, D.C. functioned as protective spaces for Black teenage girls to thrive and navigate the ups and downs of adolescence in a racist and sexist world. This research directly connects to her commitment to DEIJ work. Creating inclusive spaces where students, faculty, and staff feel seen and heard, such as the Sister-to-Sister affinity group here at Loyola, are necessary for students, faculty, and staff to truly flourish.

Before coming to Loyola, Dr. Carey-Agyemang was involved in the Rutgers Scarlet and Black Project, a public history initiative that explores Rutgers University’s connections to slavery and its ongoing legacies from the colonial period through the present. During her time with Scarlet and Black, Dr. Carey-Agyemang contributed to essays in Scarlet and Black Volumes 1 and 2, and co-edited Scarlet and Black Volume III: Making Black Lives Matter at Rutgers, 1945-2020. She also developed exhibits for the Scarlet and Black Digital Archive.

Dr. Carey-Agyemang has continued this work here at Loyola, where teaches an HS 100 course centered on the theme of Slavery, Race, and the American University. In this class, students grapple with understanding Loyola’s connections to slavery and the long history of American universities’ role in upholding racial hierarchies. The course also includes a unit on the student movement of the 1960s, which Dr. Carey-Agyemang hopes empowers her students to fight for a more equitable university.

IDEA Resources

Below are links to initiatives, support networks, and campus updates, that help to foster inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility across Loyola.

EVENT

Jummah (Friday) Prayers for Muslim Community

Fridays
12:00pm - 2:00pm

We invite Loyola’s Muslim community to join us from 12-2 pm each Friday to join in Jummah (Friday Prayers).
 
Loyola University Maryland Bridge and crosswalk

Campus Highlights and Events

Loyola is host to a variety of trainings, activities, and events throughout the year, many of which foster engagement and open dialogue surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion. Below are upcoming events taking place across campus.

Events

Monday, February 3
5:00pm 6:30pm CCSJ Kick Off Session Private Location (sign in to display)
6:00pm 8:30pm O Rio Negro São As Pessoas - Film Screening and Discussion Loyola Notre Dame Library Auditorium
7:00pm 9:00pm Fierce Films: Hidden Figures Private Location (sign in to display)
Tuesday, February 4
6:00pm 7:00pm Sellinger Scholars & Active Minds Student Wellness Panel Private Location (sign in to display)
Wednesday, February 5
9:30am 11:00am Cohn Hall Café - starting at 9:30am! Private Location (sign in to display)
11:00am 1:00pm National African American History Month Celebration Private Location (sign in to display)
11:30am 1:30pm Healthy Hounds Day Private Location (sign in to display)
1:30pm 3:00pm Campus Safety Social Private Location (sign in to display)
Thursday, February 6
4:30pm 6:00pm MEET THE EXPERTS: Communication and Media Advisory Board Private Location (sign in to display)
5:00pm 6:30pm CCSJ Kick Off Session Private Location (sign in to display)
Friday, February 7
5:15am 9:00pm Washington, DC Day Trip 2025- Sponsored by Loyola University Maryland and the Sellinger School of Business Washington, DC
12:00pm 1:30pm National Hijab Day: Experience the Hijab Private Location (sign in to display)
Saturday, February 8
10:00am 4:00pm National Gallery of Art Museum Trip: "Modern Art from Haiti: Spirit & Strength" National Gallery of Art
12:00pm 4:00pm Day Trip to Banneker-Douglass Museum Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum
Monday, February 10
6:00pm 7:00pm Legislative Advocacy Day Information Sessions with EAC Private Location (sign in to display)
Tuesday, February 11
11:00am 12:00pm Anxiety Toolbox Session A Private Location (sign in to display)
7:00pm 9:00pm Fierce Films: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Private Location (sign in to display)
Wednesday, February 12
9:30am 11:00am Cohn Hall Café - starting at 9:30am! Private Location (sign in to display)
11:30am 1:30pm Majors, Minors and Advising Fair McGuire Hall
Friday, February 14
11:30am 1:30pm Dunkin' Cruiser at the Women's Center Private Location (sign in to display)
3:00pm 4:00pm Live the Fourth Retreat - Register by February 4th! Private Location (sign in to display)
Wednesday, February 19
11:00am 12:00pm ACE Workshop X The Study: How to College 101 (Academics) Private Location (sign in to display)
7:00pm 9:00pm Fierce Films: The Hate U Give Private Location (sign in to display)
8:00pm 9:00pm Housing Selection Information Session Private Location (sign in to display)
Thursday, February 20
10:00am 4:00pm "We're All Stories", a post-sabbatical exhibition by Professor Mary Beth Akre Julio Fine Arts Gallery, DeChiaro College Center W131
6:00pm 7:00pm Housing Selection Information Session Private Location (sign in to display)
Friday, February 21
8:30am 3:30pm Curtis Bay Toxic Tour Private Location (sign in to display)
Saturday, February 22
9:00am 5:00pm Greyhound Pitch Competition Private Location (sign in to display)
Monday, February 24
8:00pm 9:00pm Housing Selection Information Session Private Location (sign in to display)
Friday, February 28
12:00pm 1:30pm Breaking Barriers: Navigating the Bias and Title IX Compliance Process Private Location (sign in to display)


If you would like to contribute relevant news items, events, professional development opportunities, or community updates and accomplishments, please send them to rlittle1@loyola.edu


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