Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Westminster

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You Belong at Westminster

Westminster College is committed to providing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and our guests. On this page, you will find links to various DEI-related resources that we hope will enhance your Westminster experience.

As you’ve probably learned already, Westminster College has a deep commitment to a diverse and inclusive campus.

 

From the Vice President/ Dean of Student Life:

Dr. Kasi Lacey
Vice President and Dean of Student Life

As the Dean of Student Life, I have a deep personal commitment to that goal as well, rooted in my own family background as well as my training as a psychologist and training in diversity, equity, and inclusion.

At Westminster, you will find those objectives integrated into all areas of student life, including: 

  • Intercultural engagement
  • Gender inclusive housing
  • Athletics and recreation

 In addition, we have established numerous programs designed for a diverse range of students, but also to enable all students to engage with each other and develop a broader perspective on each others’ lives. These programs include:

  • The annual “Colors of Westminster” Retreat
  • The Center for Faith and Services
  • Diversity Dialogues, featuring guest speakers and an annual leadership workshop
  • The annual Women’s Retreat
  • A variety of clubs and organizations, including the Alliance, the Black Student Union, the Remley Gender Center, and the Interfaith Advisory Board.

At Student Life, we strive to complement and enhance each student’s academic experience by providing the opportunity for a fully rounded college experience. Health and safety are always the most important items on the agenda, but our broader goal is to foster an inclusive student body by empowering students with the tools and opportunities to fully develop their potential.

I hope you find the information on DEI and Student Life helpful, and I encourage you to come visit us at our office, or email me, and share your experiences, suggestions and ideas.

Kasi N. Lacey, Ph.D.


    • Colors of Westminster
      Colors of Westminster is an annual retreat in which a group of Westminster students retreats off campus to discuss what diversity means to them, how this impacts their world view and interactions with others, and how Westminster can support their growth and development with DEI. These intentional activities and discussions are led by our professional staff in the Intercultural Office.
From the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs/Dean of Faculty:
Dr. David Roebuck
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty



A progressive college campus is one that welcomes all points of view and attracts faculty and students from broadly diverse backgrounds. In my role as the chief academic administrator those goals always guide my decisions and actions. Specifically, this means that:

  • When new faculty are being recruited to join the Westminster community we do everything within our power to attract highly qualified professionals who represent social demographics as well as the demographic composition of our student body.
  • When new academic programs are being considered we always try to weigh the impact those programs might have on attracting a more diverse student body.
  • When major campus events such as the Hancock Symposium are being planned, finding speakers and topics representing diverse views and from diverse backgrounds is a primary goal.
  • Every effort is made to ensure that all classes provide an environment of acceptance and tolerance.

In this spirit, if at any time you believe these goals are not being met or could be improved upon, I hope you will drop me a note or make an appointment to visit with me. Your feedback is valuable!

Enrollment Services

Enrollment Services vigorously supports Westminster College’s mission and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. In particular, the office ensures the outreach, recruitment, and retention of prospective and current students fosters a diverse and inclusive experience where people of all backgrounds are welcomed, connected and valued. 

Recognizing that diversity, equity and inclusion is an essential element of academic excellence, Westminster is proud to offer scholarships to students whose academic achievement and varied experiences will enhance and enrich the education of all students and the educational mission of the College. The following awards are available each academic year and are subject to meeting desired qualifications:

  • Frank A. and Barbara A. Absher Endowed Scholarship (female)
  • William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship (ethnicity)
  • Neel Trustee Scholarship (ethnicity)
  • Paul M and Mildred E Peterson Scholarship Fund (handicapped/disability)
  • Harry N Schweppe, Jr. Memorial Scholarship (female)
  • Dr Peter and Jane Yu International Student Scholarship (international)
  • Perry Family Annual Scholarship (ethnicity & female)

Please contact the financial aid office at financialaid@wcmo.edu if you have any questions or need more information.

Westminster prides itself on being accessible to all, and we are committed to this idea by offering a test-optional admissions policy. We recognize that standardized test scores are not always the best predictor of academic ability and we will do everything we can to ensure that we get to know you as a person throughout the admissions process, not just an applicant. You can learn more about our admissions policies at https://www.wcmo.edu/admissions-aid/index.html

  • Opportunities for alumni of all backgrounds to mentor and support Westminster students
  • A call for alumni who are women, POC, LGBTQ, and other traditionally under-represented groups to become engaged and make a difference.
  • Links to events that may be of special interest.
  • Giving opportunities, particularly in support of DEI.
  • President's Club
DEI Program Offerings

Race/Racism

PHL 212: Intro to Ethics (J. McRae)

POL 351: Women and Politics (Wright-Smith)

LST 101: The Leader Within (multiple instructors)

PSY 113: Psychology as a Social Science (Jones)

ENG/TNS 330: Caribbean Literature (LaVine)

ENG/TNS 330: Literary Remixes (LaVine)

ENG/TNS 345: African Diasporic Literatures (LaVine)

ENG/TNS 315: Booker Prize-Winning Literature (LaVine)

ENG 249: World Literature, 1800-the Present (LaVine)

ENG 239: American Literature, Civil War to the Present (LaVine, Reed)

Religious Diversity

PHL/REL 333: Asian Philosophy and Religion (J. McRae)

PHL/REL 102: World Religions (J. McRae)

PHL/REL 333: Asian Philosophy and Religion (Limbaugh)

PSY/REL 300: Psychology of Religion (Jones)

LGBTQ Issues

PHL 212: Intro to Ethics (J. McRae)

BUS 322: Cross Cultural Management (Eames)

ENG/TNS 330: Caribbean Literature (LaVine)

ENG/TNS 330: Literary Remixes (LaVine)

ENG 239: American Literature, Civil War to the Present (LaVine, Reed)

Women/Gender

PHL 212: Intro to Ethics (J. McRae)

BUS 322: Cross Cultural Management (Eames)

POL 351: Women and Politics (Wright-Smith)

LST 100: Remley Women and Gender Center Internship (Wright-Smith)

ENG/TNS 330: Caribbean Literature (LaVine)

ENG/TNS 345: African Diasporic Literatures (LaVine)

ENG/TNS 330: Literary Remixes (LaVine)

ENG/TNS 315: Booker Prize-Winning Literature (LaVine)

ENG 249: World Literature, 1800-the Present (LaVine)

ENG 239: American Literature, Civil War to the Present (LaVine, Reed)

Transnational Issues (politics, culture, etc.)

HIS 110: World History II (Goodfellow, retiring after Spring 2021)

HIS : Nazi Germany (Goodfellow, retiring after Spring 2021)

POL 351: Women and Politics (Wright-Smith)

POL: Human Rights and Security (Wright-Smith)

POL: Politics and Security of Developing Nations (Wright-Smith)

PHL/REL 333: Asian Philosophy and Religion (Limbaugh)

ENG/TNS 330: Caribbean Literature (LaVine)

ENG/TNS 345: African Diasporic Literatures (LaVine)

ENG/TNS 330: Literary Remixes (LaVine)

ENG/TNS 315: Booker Prize-Winning Literature (LaVine)

ENG 249: World Literature, 1800-the Present (LaVine)

Comparative Cultural Issues (domestic)

PHL: Environmental Ethics (J. McRae)

PHL 242: Biomedical Ethics (J. McRae)

PHL 244: Business Ethics (J. McRae)

POL 351: Women and Politics (Wright-Smith)

LST 101: The Leader Within (multiple instructors)

ENG 239: American Literature, Civil War to the Present (LaVine, Reed)

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) is a faculty led professional development series that provides regular training and programming to faculty. The CTL is intentional about providing training and development to our faculty that prepare them for working with and teaching a diverse student body:

1. Undergraduate Scholars Forum: The annual Undergraduate Scholars Forum is a program hosted by the CTL that features research and projects conducted by our students in collaboration with faculty and represents a wide array of students, study interests, and diverse points of view.

2. Handcock Symposium: Thanks to the generous support from the Handcock family, Westminster College hosts an annual Symposium, hosting speakers from across the world, to discuss various topics of interests. The lectures, break-out sessions, or workshops hosted are intentionally selected to expose our campus to diverse worldviews. Several well-know politicians, speakers, advocates, or experts in their respective fields have been on campus including Robert Kennedy, Jr., Sir Bob Geldof, Dr. Bennet Omalu, General David Petraeus, Senator Bernie Sanders, and Former Secretary of State, Madeline Albright, among others.

 

Message from the President
Don Lofe portrait

Donald P. Lofe, Jr., President and Chief Transformation Officer

Dear Westminster College Community,

As we set a course for Westminster College’s future, we are committed to a strategic mission, vision, and set of values that champion diversity, equity, and inclusion; that pour fresh resources into diversity initiatives; and that emphasize Westminster’s role within a larger community. We understand "diversity" in its broadest sense, inclusive of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability, status, and more.

Westminster’s mission has long committed us to forming lifelong learners and leaders of character. To fulfill this most important mission, it is essential that we attract students, faculty, and staff of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and demographics. It is essential that we support and nurture them, that we offer a curriculum that is meaningful, that we maintain a campus environment that is inclusive and welcoming, and that the students who become our alumni remain engaged, with a strong feeling of belonging.

With your participation and support, I am confident we will succeed in this most important effort. Please know that I am deeply and personally committed to this vital initiative.

Sincerely,

Donald P. Lofe, Jr.
President and Chief Transformation Officer

Meet the Diversity Council
(listed alphabetically)
Sarah Hairston
Assistant Professor of Education
Bernie Hansert
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Mandy March
Associate VP and Chief HR Officer, Title IX Coordinator
Tanys Nelson
Director of Online Program
Talisha Washington
Head Women's Basketball and Women's Golf Coach