Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at GMercyU


Our 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. 

 

Tatiana Diaz, MA

Meet GMercyU's Assistant Vice President for Diversity Equity & Inclusion.

Ella/She/Her/Hers 
diaz.t@gmercyu.edu  
215-646-7300 x210737 
Mercy in Action

Read how we put our commitment to service and our Core Values into practice throughout the year.
Commitment to Social Justice

We stand with those peacefully fighting to end racism, building up human dignity, and fostering social justice in our diverse world. 

University DEI Initiatives 


CORE Programs

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.
 

Toolkits and Resources

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.


Diverse Student Organizations

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 Program

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.


Interfaith Initiatives

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. 


Mercy Focus on Haiti

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.
 

    DEI Policies 

    Community Resource Groups

    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
       

    Office of DEI Initiatives

    Support for DACA & Undocumented Students 

    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:

    Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Working Group  

    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, the Frances M. Maguire School of Nursing and Health Professions 
    • Brandi Crawford, Director of Accessibility Services 
    • Carol Evans, Assistant Professor, Director of Voices of Gwynedd 
    • Dawn Hayward,  Assistant Vice President Assessment and Compliance 
    • Ali Jabara Johnston, Associate Director for Leadership Programs 
    • Matt Lasecki, Assistant Vice President of Human Resources 
    • Holly Lightcap , Student Success Specialist 
    • Meredith Hoch-Oescher, Dean of Student Success 
    • Michelle Murray, Associate Director 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 Graduate and Professional Studies 
    • Mary Sortino, Dean of the School of Business and Education
    • Jeffrey  Wallace, Director of Campus Ministry 
    • Maria Warnick, Faculty, the Frances M. Maguire School of Nursing and Health Professions 
    • Sophia Zinobile, Admissions Counselor