Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Source: http://www.msdacademy.org/life/diversity-equity-inclusion-and-belonging
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:12
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
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Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
The community of Mount St. Dominic Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell, has built its foundation, and everything that flows from it, on the Four Dominican Pillars of prayer, study, community, and mission.
Out of those core values flows a commitment to seeking the truth in all aspects of life, and a focus on the promotion of peace and justice. To fully and faithfully live those values within a modern-day construct, the Mount is focused on creating and sustaining an environment of belonging – free of racism, bias, and discrimination of any kind.
The process of establishing guiding principles to create an environment of intention that nurtures and ensures diversity, equity and inclusion at the Mount is underway. Our commitment to DEIB will remain an ongoing priority that spans the Mount’s school culture, curriculum and community – past, present and future. It will be through great care and respect, education and understanding, collaboration and transparency that the Mount will embody the positive change we empower our students to make in the world.
Progress Will Fuel Change – Change Will Inform Our Future
DEIB Efforts at the Mount
Spring 2023
Winter 2023
Fall 2022
Winter 2022
Summer 2021
Spring 2021
Winter 2021
Fall 2020
Summer 2020
DEIB Coordinator Rotanna Adefowokan lead us in an equity and inclusion presentation at the February Faculty Meeting, sharing her background and her certification in Rutgers University’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Program. She provided great suggestions for classroom conversations.
The Mount welcomes Dr. Rotanna Adefowokan as our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Coordinator who will collaborate with vested stakeholders to support the Mount's ongoing work.
To broaden understanding of the fundamental ideas of diversity, equity, and inclusion, Ms. Rotanna enrolled in Rutgers University's online DEI Degree Program. Using this educational background, she will work to advance Mount St. Dominic Academy’s DEIB initiatives by helping to create best practices and policies, provide DEIB professional development opportunities, and led the constituent group of faculty, staff, parents, and students to find collaborative ways to move ahead. We look forward to having her at the Mount for this important work.
As she began her work here at MSDA this winter, Dr. Adefowokan coordinated meeting with faculty, staff, admissions, and marketing teams, as well as members of the Students DEI Task Force Group, and set the following goals in place:
Collaborate with the head of school, principal, and the admissions and marketing teams to advance Mount St. Dominic Academy’s DEIB initiatives
Implement the school’s DEI strategic plan in collaboration with members of the DEI Strategic Team
Establish and uphold anti-racist, inclusive policies that support the success and well-being of all community members
Collaborate with the principal, teachers, and club/activity moderators to strategically implement and enforce inclusive practices
Coordinate DEIB-related speakers, field trips, and conferences
Engage families in DEIB work
Develop and implement professional development opportunities for faculty and staff
Participate in community events, on and off-site
DEIB Breakfast Meeting gathered school community members to advance DEIB efforts moving forward. The team includes administrators, teachers, students, parents, and constituents.
DEIB at The Mount:
Moving Forward with Intention
Stepping into 2022 with great optimism and intention, we are eager to share an update on Mount St. Dominic Academy’s continuing journey toward a more diverse, equitable and inclusive environment for all.
Since the summer of 2020, the Mount’s founding commitment to seeking the truth in all aspects of life has been brought into renewed focus. With Caritas and Veritas – compassion and truth – as our guiding principles, we have set out on a path of community-wide self-discovery in order to create and foster an environment free of racism, bias, and discrimination of any kind, where our students feel comfortable being their authentic selves, celebrated and secure with a sense of belonging, with the foundation they need to excel at the Mount and beyond.
Much of the recent progress outlined below has grown out of structures and relationships put in place early on in the Mount’s move toward understanding and integrating
DEIB at MSDA, some of which we’ve previously shared in
The Mount
Magazine and through other channels including:
The creation of the
DEIB Subcommittee of the MSDA Board of Trustees
, led by Ms. Sandy Castor, MSDA Class of 2001 with alumnae, staff and trustees as members
The identification and onboarding of professional
DEIB consultant,
Nika White Consulting
, to expertly and thoughtfully guide the Mount through this process
The formation of the
MSDA DEIB Student Task Force
to promote communication, trust and collaboration among peers, faculty and staff, moderated by faculty member and DEIB Coordinator, Ms. Nicole Perez, MSDA Class of 2010.
The Organizational Assessment
Over the course of the past year, Dr. Nika White, an award-winning management and leadership consultant recognized by
Forbes Magazine
as a Top 10 DEI Trailblazer for her work with more than 100 corporate, educational, government, and non-profit brands, has worked closely with the DEI Subcommittee of the board and members of the administration. A thorough organizational assessment of the Mount was undertaken to gauge the school culture and identify growth opportunities. The process of working with Dr. White included:
A deep dive into school assets like the student and employee handbooks, policies, procedures
A survey of all students and faculty to understand their Mount experiences through a DEI lens
Focus groups with students, parents, faculty, and board members
Mandatory foundational learning training sessions for all staff and faculty
Training for the members of the MSDA DEI Strategic Planning Committee in preparation of their work on crafting and executing the Mount’s long-term and comprehensive, DEI Strategic Plan
Change Taking Place at Mount St. Dominic Academy
Informed by the data from the cultural assessment and training sessions, several positive steps have been made with the support of the aforementioned foundational committees, and a community-wide commitment to the work:
The creation of resource banks for faculty and staff supporting culturally responsive practices and inclusive and equitable pedagogy
Ongoing professional development with the most recent workshops taking place in fall 2021 entitled: Unpacking the Cultural Assessment, led by Ms. Perez and MSDA Principal Laura Hollenbaugh; and Unconscious Bias Training, facilitated by Kirsten S. Branigan and Carole Nowicki of
KSBranigan Law P.C.
Participation in the New Jersey Catholic School Diversity Conference in October 2021 by MSDA students, current parents, staff, faculty and alumnae
Revisions to the Student Handbook, informed by the DEIB Student Task Force - to clarify articulated expectations regarding respectful behavior amongst community members; confirm systems of accountability; ensure equitable and inclusive dress code and discipline policies
Ongoing curriculum audits and revisions to design curriculum through a DEIB lens; increasing diversity and perspectives within texts and lessons
Next Steps: Enrolling The Mount Community
Like one of the four Dominican pillars, study, this foundational work is an ongoing endeavor that has no end or finite conclusion. As we progress on this journey, we look forward to expanding the network of stakeholders engaged in our DEIB efforts to include our parent community. Our current students and families, along with our staff and faculty, drive our culture; by incorporating the life experiences and perspectives of our parent community we hope to expand our learning and awareness while creating an atmosphere of belonging for all.
We look forward to updating our community on a regular basis, but also hope this becomes an ongoing dialogue throughout our community. Please reach out to us at
DEI@MSDAcademy.org
with comments, questions or for information about committee involvement. We thank everyone who has partnered with us, helped us lean-in to learning, and offered grace during the process
.
DEI Alumnae Committee re-positioned as part of the MSDA Alumnae Council to ensure sustainability and enhance representation across alumnae endeavors
Student DEI Task Force presents to and meets with each class year; provides perspectives and suggestions for adjustments to MSDA Student Handbook / Code of Conduct
MSDA staff, faculty and committee of key stakeholders participates in DEI focus groups with Dr. Nika White to help educate, inform and drive change
MSDA undertakes a DEI survey of the current community – students, families, faculty and staff
Fall 2020
MSDA Student DEI Task Force formed - see
magazine article
Nika White Consulting
engaged as agency of record to provide MSDA staff, faculty, administration and board of trustees with strategic counsel targeted at improving diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the MDSA community
MSDA Alumnae Sandy Castor ’01 and Ghilianie Soto ’08 named to the MSDA Board of Trustees (link to PDF of magazine article)
MSDA DEI Alumnae Committee formed
MSDA Board of Trustees Creates DEI Committee
Plan in Action
Reyna Gowie '23 and Morgan Brown '23 meet with Social Studies Teacher Ms. Nicole Perez '10 and DEIB Coordinator Rotanna Adefkowan
Celebrating Black History Month - A Celebration of Black Excellence
DEIB News
International Women’s Day
Assembly
See article
Celebrating Black History Month - A Celebration of Black Excellence
See article
Assembly Recognizing International Day of Persons with Disabilities
See article
View our previous DEIB Efforts
here
.
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Skip To Main Content
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
The community of Mount St. Dominic Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell, has built its foundation, and everything that flows from it, on the Four Dominican Pillars of prayer, study, community, and mission.
Out of those core values flows a commitment to seeking the truth in all aspects of life, and a focus on the promotion of peace and justice. To fully and faithfully live those values within a modern-day construct, the Mount is focused on creating and sustaining an environment of belonging – free of racism, bias, and discrimination of any kind.
The process of establishing guiding principles to create an environment of intention that nurtures and ensures diversity, equity and inclusion at the Mount is underway. Our commitment to DEIB will remain an ongoing priority that spans the Mount’s school culture, curriculum and community – past, present and future. It will be through great care and respect, education and understanding, collaboration and transparency that the Mount will embody the positive change we empower our students to make in the world.
Progress Will Fuel Change – Change Will Inform Our Future
DEIB Efforts at the Mount
Spring 2023
Winter 2023
Fall 2022
Winter 2022
Summer 2021
Spring 2021
Winter 2021
Fall 2020
Summer 2020
DEIB Coordinator Rotanna Adefowokan lead us in an equity and inclusion presentation at the February Faculty Meeting, sharing her background and her certification in Rutgers University’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Program. She provided great suggestions for classroom conversations.
The Mount welcomes Dr. Rotanna Adefowokan as our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Coordinator who will collaborate with vested stakeholders to support the Mount's ongoing work.
To broaden understanding of the fundamental ideas of diversity, equity, and inclusion, Ms. Rotanna enrolled in Rutgers University's online DEI Degree Program. Using this educational background, she will work to advance Mount St. Dominic Academy’s DEIB initiatives by helping to create best practices and policies, provide DEIB professional development opportunities, and led the constituent group of faculty, staff, parents, and students to find collaborative ways to move ahead. We look forward to having her at the Mount for this important work.
As she began her work here at MSDA this winter, Dr. Adefowokan coordinated meeting with faculty, staff, admissions, and marketing teams, as well as members of the Students DEI Task Force Group, and set the following goals in place:
Collaborate with the head of school, principal, and the admissions and marketing teams to advance Mount St. Dominic Academy’s DEIB initiatives
Implement the school’s DEI strategic plan in collaboration with members of the DEI Strategic Team
Establish and uphold anti-racist, inclusive policies that support the success and well-being of all community members
Collaborate with the principal, teachers, and club/activity moderators to strategically implement and enforce inclusive practices
Coordinate DEIB-related speakers, field trips, and conferences
Engage families in DEIB work
Develop and implement professional development opportunities for faculty and staff
Participate in community events, on and off-site
DEIB Breakfast Meeting gathered school community members to advance DEIB efforts moving forward. The team includes administrators, teachers, students, parents, and constituents.
DEIB at The Mount:
Moving Forward with Intention
Stepping into 2022 with great optimism and intention, we are eager to share an update on Mount St. Dominic Academy’s continuing journey toward a more diverse, equitable and inclusive environment for all.
Since the summer of 2020, the Mount’s founding commitment to seeking the truth in all aspects of life has been brought into renewed focus. With Caritas and Veritas – compassion and truth – as our guiding principles, we have set out on a path of community-wide self-discovery in order to create and foster an environment free of racism, bias, and discrimination of any kind, where our students feel comfortable being their authentic selves, celebrated and secure with a sense of belonging, with the foundation they need to excel at the Mount and beyond.
Much of the recent progress outlined below has grown out of structures and relationships put in place early on in the Mount’s move toward understanding and integrating
DEIB at MSDA, some of which we’ve previously shared in
The Mount
Magazine and through other channels including:
The creation of the
DEIB Subcommittee of the MSDA Board of Trustees
, led by Ms. Sandy Castor, MSDA Class of 2001 with alumnae, staff and trustees as members
The identification and onboarding of professional
DEIB consultant,
Nika White Consulting
, to expertly and thoughtfully guide the Mount through this process
The formation of the
MSDA DEIB Student Task Force
to promote communication, trust and collaboration among peers, faculty and staff, moderated by faculty member and DEIB Coordinator, Ms. Nicole Perez, MSDA Class of 2010.
The Organizational Assessment
Over the course of the past year, Dr. Nika White, an award-winning management and leadership consultant recognized by
Forbes Magazine
as a Top 10 DEI Trailblazer for her work with more than 100 corporate, educational, government, and non-profit brands, has worked closely with the DEI Subcommittee of the board and members of the administration. A thorough organizational assessment of the Mount was undertaken to gauge the school culture and identify growth opportunities. The process of working with Dr. White included:
A deep dive into school assets like the student and employee handbooks, policies, procedures
A survey of all students and faculty to understand their Mount experiences through a DEI lens
Focus groups with students, parents, faculty, and board members
Mandatory foundational learning training sessions for all staff and faculty
Training for the members of the MSDA DEI Strategic Planning Committee in preparation of their work on crafting and executing the Mount’s long-term and comprehensive, DEI Strategic Plan
Change Taking Place at Mount St. Dominic Academy
Informed by the data from the cultural assessment and training sessions, several positive steps have been made with the support of the aforementioned foundational committees, and a community-wide commitment to the work:
The creation of resource banks for faculty and staff supporting culturally responsive practices and inclusive and equitable pedagogy
Ongoing professional development with the most recent workshops taking place in fall 2021 entitled: Unpacking the Cultural Assessment, led by Ms. Perez and MSDA Principal Laura Hollenbaugh; and Unconscious Bias Training, facilitated by Kirsten S. Branigan and Carole Nowicki of
KSBranigan Law P.C.
Participation in the New Jersey Catholic School Diversity Conference in October 2021 by MSDA students, current parents, staff, faculty and alumnae
Revisions to the Student Handbook, informed by the DEIB Student Task Force - to clarify articulated expectations regarding respectful behavior amongst community members; confirm systems of accountability; ensure equitable and inclusive dress code and discipline policies
Ongoing curriculum audits and revisions to design curriculum through a DEIB lens; increasing diversity and perspectives within texts and lessons
Next Steps: Enrolling The Mount Community
Like one of the four Dominican pillars, study, this foundational work is an ongoing endeavor that has no end or finite conclusion. As we progress on this journey, we look forward to expanding the network of stakeholders engaged in our DEIB efforts to include our parent community. Our current students and families, along with our staff and faculty, drive our culture; by incorporating the life experiences and perspectives of our parent community we hope to expand our learning and awareness while creating an atmosphere of belonging for all.
We look forward to updating our community on a regular basis, but also hope this becomes an ongoing dialogue throughout our community. Please reach out to us at
DEI@MSDAcademy.org
with comments, questions or for information about committee involvement. We thank everyone who has partnered with us, helped us lean-in to learning, and offered grace during the process
.
DEI Alumnae Committee re-positioned as part of the MSDA Alumnae Council to ensure sustainability and enhance representation across alumnae endeavors
Student DEI Task Force presents to and meets with each class year; provides perspectives and suggestions for adjustments to MSDA Student Handbook / Code of Conduct
MSDA staff, faculty and committee of key stakeholders participates in DEI focus groups with Dr. Nika White to help educate, inform and drive change
MSDA undertakes a DEI survey of the current community – students, families, faculty and staff
Fall 2020
MSDA Student DEI Task Force formed - see
magazine article
Nika White Consulting
engaged as agency of record to provide MSDA staff, faculty, administration and board of trustees with strategic counsel targeted at improving diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the MDSA community
MSDA Alumnae Sandy Castor ’01 and Ghilianie Soto ’08 named to the MSDA Board of Trustees (link to PDF of magazine article)
MSDA DEI Alumnae Committee formed
MSDA Board of Trustees Creates DEI Committee
Plan in Action
Reyna Gowie '23 and Morgan Brown '23 meet with Social Studies Teacher Ms. Nicole Perez '10 and DEIB Coordinator Rotanna Adefkowan
Celebrating Black History Month - A Celebration of Black Excellence
DEIB News
International Women’s Day
Assembly
See article
Celebrating Black History Month - A Celebration of Black Excellence
See article
Assembly Recognizing International Day of Persons with Disabilities
See article
View our previous DEIB Efforts
here
.
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