Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at GMercyU
GMercyU's Core Values place inclusive excellence at the center of our culture as a Catholic, Mercy university.
What Does “Inclusive Excellence” Mean?
Inclusive excellence recognizes that to successfully advance our mission we must value, engage, and include the rich diversity of all the members of our community: students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the university.
How We Achieve It
Creating a culture of inclusive excellence begins with infusing diversity and equity into the GMercyU’s admissions, hiring, and promotion processes. It is strategically integrated into the curriculum and co-curriculum, our student development and leadership, and into our administrative structures, practices, decision-making, and culture.
Why It Matters
Inclusive excellence is central to GMercyU’s mission to develop students with successful careers and meaningful lives in a global society. Challenging all community members to engage in this collaboration and transformative personal and professional work will help us continue to build a true Mercy community.
University DEI Initiatives
A component of the Office for Student Engagement, CORE Programs aims to educate the GMercyU community in topics relating to our Core Values and our focus on the Critical Concerns of the Sisters of Mercy.
Anti-Racism in Action Website
CORE Programs and the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion created this site to help facilitate learning and provide a non-comprehensive list of resources on understanding racial/cultural trauma. It includes toolkits and trainings; Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) resources; coping strategies; outside therapists; and ally resources.
#StopAsianHate Toolkit
In response to the alarming number of anti-Asian hate crimes since the start of the pandemic, CORE Programs created this toolkit to share the steps you can take towards advancing change and awareness.
LGBTQ+ Resources
A compilation of LGBTQ+ resources from GMercyU, our Keiss Library, local and national resources
Anti-Racism in Higher Education
Resources from Keiss Library on teaching and learning about anti-racism today.
Justice with Mercy Compilation
As the justice system has addressed recent and news-worthy key cases, this non-exhaustive resource list allows us to discern how Justice, Non-Violence, Antiracism, and Mercy are connected.
Providing space for students to come together, spread awareness to the community at large, and help propel our University forward:
See a recent example of a GMercyU student organization in action:
GMercyU Raises Progressive Pride Flag on Campus for LGBTQ+ Awareness Week
NEW! Weaving Equity into Leadership
This powerful student program aims to assist you in developing a greater understanding of your personal identity, better understand your role as a leader in a diverse Mercy community, and to help you learn how to utilize your own skills, knowledge, and resources to support the development of your peers. Using the Speak Out e-course called "Race, Power, and Privilege," we hope you will learn to:
- Unpack prejudice, discrimination, and oppression
- Cover key definitions essential to anti-racism education
- Offer activities to assess and evaluate one's own identity and responsibility
- Outline steps to practice solidarity
Student leaders of student organizations, RAs, SGA, OAs, SAAC, and selected student athletes are invited to participate. *This program is a collaboration between the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and the Office for Student Engagement.
NEW! Student Diversity Council
Comprised of the leaders of diverse student organizations, the Student Diversity Council's mission is to support and create a space where diversity-focused student groups can collaborate, communicate, and build community. The goals of the council are:
- To form relationships based on mutual support and inter-group awareness
- To create open collaboration between the organizations, the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and the Office for Student Engagement
*This program is a collaboration between the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and the Office for Student Engagement.
Integrated Studies at GMercyU is a student-centered, inclusive post-secondary program for individuals aged 18-26 with intellectual disabilities. This program is designed to provide excellent opportunities in education, career development, and social participation within an inclusive academic setting.
In the Mercy tradition, our Campus Ministry team seeks to be an open and affirming presence for all, promoting the search for spiritual growth with an emphasis on service to society.
Through various student, staff, and faculty projects, GMercyU support the Mercy Focus on Haiti: A group of Sisters of Mercy, friends, and colleagues walking with the Gros Morne, Haiti community. You can learn more about GMercyU's connection with Mercy Focus on Haiti here.
DEI Policies
A Community Resource Group (CRG) consists of staff and faculty who work together to promote the university’s mission and values, and raises awareness and understanding of issues affecting traditionally underrepresented groups and their allies.
Policy: The University recognizes a group that successfully completes the Community Resource Group recognition process as a CRG. See entire policy here.
Scope: This policy applies to all active employees. CRG status is not available to commercial, political, or social groups.
Implementation: The responsibility for reviewing, approving, and implementing the CRG Policy rests with the AVP of Diversity Equity and Inclusion in consultation with the AVP of Human Resources.
Spectrum Steering Committee (CRG)
The mission of this CRG is to encourage and support LGBTQ+ and allied employees and to utilize their resources and tools to foster community among LGBTQ+ and allied faculty, staff, students, and alumni of the University. For more information or to contact the group, please email spectrum@gmercyu.edu.
The purposes of the association shall be:
- To encourage and support the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and allied employees of the University; and
- To mentor the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and allied students and alumni of the University; and
- To foster community among the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, queer/questioning, and allied students, faculty, staff, and alumni of the University; and
- To create and implement educational and social lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning and allied university programs and events; and
- To support and encourage Gwynedd Mercy University’s Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; and
- To represent the interests of Gwynedd Mercy University’s Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and of these students, faculty, staff, and alumni in creating a diverse, affirming, and leading University
Faculty and Staff of Color Community Resource Group
The mission of the Faculty and Staff of Color Community Resource Group at Gwynedd Mercy University is to foster connections and develop an attentive community through the discussion of current relevant issues, both at the University and in the larger community, that will support and advocate for the DEI and anti-racism efforts at GMercyU.
For more information or to contact the group, please email fsofcolor@gmercyu.edu.
GMercyU has introduced a policy for those who wish to be known by something other than their legal name.
See the Chosen Name Policy (PDF).
You can complete the Addition of Chosen Name Form, then please email it to registrarpaperwork@gmercyu.edu to be processed.
View the Chosen Name Policy FAQs (PDF).
In keeping with our mission and core values, Gwynedd Mercy University is committed to welcoming a diverse community of students, faculty, and staff. The University does not discriminate against any applicant for admission or employment based on race, color, ethnicity, religion, age, gender, gender identity, citizenship status, or any other legally protected class status.
See our Non-Discrimination Policy, which applies to all University faculty, administrators, staff, and students.
Office of DEI Initiatives
As a Mercy community, we stand committed to our undocumented and DACA students. We support you and are committed to your success. Your initial point of contact for related questions is Tatiana Diaz, AVP of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, 215-646-7300 x21073.
The point of contact will:
- Serve as point person for student concerns
- Connect students with campus resources
Looking for the latest updates on legislation and national resources? Consult the following sites:
- Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition DACA Resources
- National Immigration Law Center
- United We Dream
DACA and Undocumented Working Group
This group works to identify strategies to support undocumented and DACA students at GMercyU. Members include:
- Joseph Alaimo, Director Of Financial Aid, Financial Aid
- Shanon Algeo, Head Women's Lacrosse Coach/Sports Information Assistant
- Tatiana Diaz, AVP of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
- Atasha Quarles, Associate Director of Financial Aid
- Jesse Ruhl, International Student Liaison, International Student Services
- Betsy Stone Plummer, Assistant Director of Campus Ministry for Community Service, Campus Ministry
- Sophia Zinobile, Admissions Counselor
Led by Tatiana Diaz, AVP of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, the working group is charged to develop concrete steps and metrics of progress for improving diversity, equity, and inclusion at GMercyU. The group:
- Serves as an organizational mechanism to cultivate and sustain synergy and collaboration of initiatives and programming related to diversity, equity, and inclusion across the University
- Monitors and reports on the University’s progress in the execution of initiatives and work plans
- Makes recommendations for effective internal and external communication of University initiatives in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Works to identify and advance systemic structures, practices, policies, and traditions that will advance diversity, equity, and inclusion, while also removing barriers of the same kind
Members include:
- Patricia Brown O’Hara, Assistant Professor, Frances M. Maguire School of Nursing and Health Professions
- Kim Cooney, Director, First-Year Experience
- Carol Evans, Assistant Professor, Director of Voices of Gwynedd
- Dawn Hayward, Assistant Vice President Assessment and Compliance
- Meredith Hoch-Oescher, Dean of Student Success
- Alexandra Jabara Johnston, Associate Director for Leadership Programs
- Matt Lasecki, Assistant Vice President of Human Resources
- Michelle Murray, Director of Housing and Residence Life
- Deb O’Reilly, Digital Content Specialist
- Lorraine Phillips, Assistant Professor, School of Arts and Sciences
- Atasha Quarles, Associate Director of Financial Aid
- Gianna Quinn, Director of Alumni Relations
- Peggy Rosario, Assistant Professor, School of Business and Education
- Mary Sortino, Dean of the School of Business and Education
- Jeffrey Wallace, Director of Campus Ministry
- Maria Warnick, Assistant Professor, Frances M. Maguire School of Nursing and Health Professions
- Sophia Zinobile, Admissions Counselor
Looking for an all-gender bathroom?
Find one at these locations around campus, marked with an "all-gender restroom" sign.
- Fatima Hall
- St. Bernard Hall: 2nd floor
- Visitation House: 1st floor, 2nd floor
- Tabor House: 1st floor, 2nd floor
- Keiss Library: 1st floor (two near entrance), 2nd floor
- St. Brigid Hall: 1st floor
- Siena Hall: 1st floor (3)
- Alexandria Hall: 1st floor
- Admissions House: 1st floor, 2nd floor
- Assumption Hall: 1st floor (one by the Lincoln Library, one near the kitchen), 2nd floor
See locations of some of our all-gender restrooms here. (PDF)
The all-gender bathrooms help ensure that all students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors have places on campus where they feel safe using the restroom. They also affirm the rights of all students to use a restroom according to their gender identity.
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