Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Celebrate diversity. Cultivate inclusion. Promote equity. Prepare to change the world.

Student Groups & Programs

Land Acknowledgement

Let us acknowledge, with humility, that the land upon which St. Mary's Academy is located is the native home to the First Nations who make their homes along the Columbia and Willamette Rivers. Let us be aware that we occupy their homeland, that their presence is imbued in this land and their legacy is all around us. We offer respectful recognition of the Indigenous communities in our country today and to those who have stewarded this land throughout the generations.

DEI Statement

Celebrate diversity. Cultivate inclusion. Promote equity. Prepare to change the world.

St. Mary’s Academy, guided by the charism of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM) and Catholic values, is committed to being a diverse community in which all members are safe, respected, valued, and they feel that they belong. Excellence must include promoting a diverse learning environment that affirms diversity, equity and inclusion, and fosters intellectual, social and emotional growth for all.

We believe a diverse, inclusive, and equitable school community is critical for preparing students to participate in a complex, pluralistic, and interconnected society. We challenge ourselves to regularly evaluate and refine curricula, policies, and practices, and to commit the appropriate resources to ensure we embody these beliefs every day:

We believe in leading
We believe in changing the world
We believe in pushing the boundaries
We believe in global citizenship and stewardship
We believe in social justice

We have an ongoing commitment to equity and inclusion. We also acknowledge our need to continue our learning, to strengthen this commitment and our practices, every day. Further, guided by both our mission and values, we are called to speak out against racism, bigotry and misogyny of any kind and in all forms and in all situations. We reject hate in all its many forms, and we denounce prejudice, discrimination and injustice. We seek to engage all community members around our multiple identities: among them race, age, ethnicity, family composition, ability/disability, learning styles, religion, sexuality, and socio-economic status. By engaging in this exploration of identity, culture, and systems that advantage some and disadvantage others, St. Mary’s Academy aspires for all members of our community – students, parents, caregivers, faculty, staff, alumni/ae, and Board members – to develop a sense of belonging for our graduates to bring about positive change in the world.

In support of diversity, inclusion and equity at St. Mary’s Academy, all members of our community commit to:

Respect all
Trust each other to engage in important and courageous conversations
Share our unique stories and listen to others’
Learn from different perspectives and experiences
Examine our biases and endeavor to overcome them
Foster belonging, connectedness and safety
Invest in the personal growth of students and adults alike

SMA DEI Task Force

Background

In 2020 the SMA Board of Directors created a Task Force for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. This committee is chaired by SMA alumna and board member Karis Stoudamire-Phillips, ‘94.

Objectives

The Task Force will complete a comprehensive assessment and will provide structure to and prioritize the DEI and anti-racism work at St. Mary’s. Additional goals of the Task Force include examining current recruitment and retention of students of color; creating opportunities for Board, faculty, and staff trainings; providing tools and resources for evaluating SMA curriculum; and evaluating communications and marketing strategies through an equity lens. St. Mary’s Academy will continue to acknowledge the grief in our communities, work to end institutional racism, and focus on the importance of our shared humanity.

Members

Chair

Karis Stoudamire-Phillips, ’94, St. Mary's Academy Board Member, Vice President, DEI and Community Relations, Moda Health

Additional Members

Melissa Strain Angeli, ’86, St. Mary's Academy Board Member, Principal, Jacquarden Consulting
Deanna Hotchkiss Agostinelli, ’83, St. Mary's Academy Board Chair, Retired, Director & Engineering Manager, Intel, Past Parent
Emily Becker, '86, St. Mary's Academy President
Sr. Mollie Reavis, SNJM, St. Mary's Academy Board Member
Rick Haselton, Retired, Chief Judge, Oregon State Court of Appeals, Past Parent
Maria Fleming, ’83, St. Mary’s Academy, Faculty, Theology
Karlen Suga, St. Mary’s Academy Director of College Counseling

SNJM Statement on Racism

Sisters of the Holy Name of Jesus and Mary (SNJM) Statement on Racism

We, the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, an international congregation, stand in solidarity with the U.S. National Black Sisters’ Conference, condemning systemic racism. The violent and unjust death of George Floyd and many African Americans that is heralding a movement around the world to end racism, inequity and exclusion calls us to recommit ourselves to systemic change.

We recognize that the social, political, economic and environmental problems of our century are global in nature and are integrally intertwined. We therefore pledge ourselves to seek to participate in collaborative structures, relationships and actions that will liberate life where it is threatened. (SNJM Acts of the General Chapter)

We acknowledge our own complicity in institutional racism. We pledge to examine racism in ourselves and confront racism that privileges some and diminishes others. We raise our voice and join in efforts to end racism.

As a community of women religious, we commit ourselves to justice for communities of color, in the United States and globally.

Additional Statements

Stop Human Trafficking

Universal Access to Water

Migrants and Refugees

Diversity at St. Mary's

Ellie Glusman

DEI Program Specialist

Michael Navarro

Student Success Specialist