Equity and Inclusion
- Becoming an Antiracist Institution
- Office of Multicultural Affairs
- Student Support TRIO Programs
- Office of Employee Belonging
- University LGBTQ+ Resources
- RESPECT
University Inclusivity Statement
A dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion is at the heart of our mission. As a Catholic and Vincentian university, St. John’s is committed to institutionalizing practices of inclusive excellence to ensure that we welcome and celebrate the intrinsic worth of all members of our community.
We will become an even stronger University as we enhance equity at every level of our institution. As noted in our Vision Statement, our graduates will excel in the competencies and values required for leadership and service in a rapidly evolving world.
Office of Equity and Inclusion
Reporting to the Chief Diversity Officer, the Office of Equity and Inclusion encompasses the Equity and Inclusion Council, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Inclusivity Resource Center, and RESPECT.
The LGBTQ+ Center
Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA)
RESPECT
Disability Services
Announcements and Updates
Over the past two years, St. John’s University has taken several steps to honor our pledge to promote antiracism and ensure that our community is a place of belonging and inclusion where all members feel welcome. As we continue to witness the senseless acts of injustice, racial hostility, and pain across our country, the sense of urgency and need to align all facets of St. John’s with our standing principles are ever the more urgent.
To that end, I am pleased to share that the Board of Trustees voted at its meeting on February 15—in recognition of the newly established Office of Equity and Inclusion—that a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee would be formed as part of its accountability structure. This group will be at the forefront of the Board’s ongoing efforts to promote antiracism and a diverse and inclusive University community.
We all know nothing much happens without leadership—and ensuring diverse, inclusive, and equitable practices is no different. In fact, leaders on these issues need to exemplify what is being asked of others: authenticity, courage, curiosity, humility, introspection, self-awareness, and vulnerability, to name a few characteristics. Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., President, and William J. Janetschek ’84CBA, ’17HON, Board Chair, will visibly support this work and serve as members of the committee.
Chaired by Board member Tarik S. Turner ’98C, the DEI Committee is charged to
- support and monitor the University’s key strategic efforts related to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion goals;
- advise the Board of Trustees about emerging issues and the activities and resources associated with meeting the University’s diversity, equity, and inclusion goals;
- oversee the development and implementation of educational programming related to racism—especially issues of structural or systemic racism in the United States—and its continuing effects within higher education and the University; and
- monitor the demographics and working conditions of employees; the enrollment and educational climate of students; and, at least annually, review reports on the demographics of University students, faculty, administrators, and staff.
The current members of the DEI Committee are
- Stephon Barnes, Chief Operating Officer, CFI Partners, LLC
- Carl A. Beckett ’93SVC, Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Division, US Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Justice
- Robert J. Cruz ’96SVC, Senior Vice President, National Branch Officer, Director of Field Operations, Starr Companies
- Pascal Desroches ’86CBA, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, AT&T, Inc.
- Rose F. DiMartino, Esq. ’81L, Partner (retired), Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
- Barbara Donnellan ’79C, ’81G, Vice Chair, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, St. John’s University, and Chief Executive Officer, Castle Gray Associates LLC
- Very Rev. Stephen M. Grozio, Provincial Vice Chair of the Board, Provincial Superior, Eastern Province of the Congregation of the Mission
- Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M., Ed.D., President, Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities
- William J. Janetschek ’84CBA, ’17HON, Chair, Board of Trustees, St. John’s University, and Retired Partner and Chief Financial Officer, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P.
- Margaret M. Keane ’81C, 87MBA, ’19HON, Elected Vice Chair, Board of Trustees, St. John’s University, and Executive Chair, Board of Directors, Synchrony
- Teresa Mason, Esq. ’79SVC, ’02HON, Chief of Staff (retired), Office of the Bronx District Attorney
- Lewis Rice Jr. ’74SVC, Senior Vice President of Global Security and Trademark Protection, Estée Lauder Companies, Inc.
- Michael Roemer ’84CBA, Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer, Discover Financial Services
- Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., President, St. John’s University
- James J. Shannon ’87CBA, Partner and Chief Executive Officer, Indus Capital Partners, LLC
- Tarik S. Turner ’98C, Chair, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, St. John’s University, and Managing Director, Institutional Equities, AllianceBernstein L.P.
- Catherine M. Verrelli ’00CBA, ’01MBA, Office Managing Partner, Business Tax Services, Ernst & Young, LLP
I look forward to advancing this important work on behalf of the University with the Board.
As many of you know, June is LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, commemorating the first Pride protest which was led outside the Stonewall Inn in New York in 1969.
There are a variety of ways to celebrate Pride this year, with many events resuming in person. For anyone looking to get involved in a meaningful way—from parades to 5ks to social action—the University’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) has compiled a Pride Month 2022 Resource Guide as a helpful starting point.
In addition, a prerecorded webinar is available on the EAP member website, www.myccaonline.com (company code: stjohns). Titled “#PrideIncluded: LGBTQIA+ Inclusivity and Equity,” the session encourages participants to explore their roles in promoting inclusion and acceptance in the community and the workplace.
As we celebrate Pride, we also acknowledge the challenges that the LGBTQIA+ community continues to face today. We encourage the LGBTQIA+ members of our St. John’s community to practice self-care and surround yourselves with people who love you, believe in you, cheer for you, and listen to you. However you choose to honor Pride Month, we hope your celebrations are safe and meaningful.
The Transgender Training Institute conducted an LGBTQ+ climate assessment. Read their final report online as well as the accompanying message from Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P.
In the Fall of 2020, the University announced the launch of formal Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) at St. John’s. ERGs are voluntary, employee-led groups that help to foster an equitable and inclusive workplace, as well as cultivate a greater sense of belonging. ERGs are open to all St. John’s University faculty, administrators, and staff. An ERG may form around a shared identity, a shared interest or concern, or a professional/career affiliation.
Preference in the initial launch will be shown to ERGs that support minoritized social identities in our workplace. An ERG Proposal Form and Getting Started Guide, along with a comprehensive ERG Guidebook and other program resources, are available on St. John’s Connect. To learn more, login to St. John's Connect and click on Campus Resources. From the Resources header, click the "Employee Information" icon and then "Employee ERGs."
Employees who are interested in starting a group are encouraged to review the ERG resources, and then identify two coleaders to complete the required proposal information online. Should you have questions, a Human Resources representative can be reached at [email protected].
New Critical Race & Ethnic Studies Minor
St. John's University Land Acknowledgement
St. John’s University occupies the ancestral lands of the Matinecock, Rockaway, Lenape, and Canarsie Peoples.
We pay respect to their elders past and present.
Please take a moment to consider the many legacies of violence, displacement, migration, and settlement that bring us together here today. Please join us in giving voice to these truths at every opportunity.
From the Blog
Embracing Diversity and Inclusion: St. John’s Commitment
At St. John’s University, our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion isn’t just a philosophical stance—it’s the beating heart of our institution. As a Catholic and Vincentian university, we are deeply rooted in the values of compassion, justice, and solidarity with the marginalized. For over a century and a half, we have upheld these principles, striving to create an environment where every member of our community feels welcomed, respected, and empowered to thrive.
Q&A with Candice D. Roberts, Ph.D.
Meet Candice D. Roberts, Ph.D., pronouns: they/them; Director, The LGBTQ+ Center; Associate Professor, Division of Mass Communication.
News at St. John's
LGBTQ+ Center Welcomes University Community as it Opens Door to New Home
The St. John’s University community joined together recently to celebrate the opening of St. John’s LGBTQ+ Center inside St. John Hall on the Queens , NY, campus. After a year...
Through Words and Sketches, LGBTQIA+ Artist Details a Life of Struggle for Acceptance
For decades, artist Linda Stein lived in fear of revealing her sexual identity in a society where many considered this truth of her existence to be a mental illness. She...
Pharmacy Professor Receives National Equity Award
For her outstanding work in the arena of reducing racial and ethnic disparities in health care, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Association of Black Health System...