Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is central to the College's commitment to developing a comprehensive infrastructure for the advancement of inclusion, equity, and pluralism at Bennington.
"The College affirms the intersecting identities of all its community members—students, faculty, staff, and alumni—and recognizes their contributions to the vitality of our unique living and learning environment. The College’s approach to pluralism and inclusivity—both as fields of inquiry and practice—is to prioritize flexible thought, and to invite the examination of access, value, and power through its institutional policies and areas of study."
- Bennington College's Vision Statement for Institutional Pluralism and Inclusion
Mission Statement
The Office of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (ODEI) warmly and intentionally embraces collective and collaborative approaches that nurture a just, equitable, vibrant, and intellectually stimulating educational atmosphere, along with fostering a culture of critical and compassionate campus engagement rooted in antiracism and social justice.
In pursuit of this mission, ODEI concentrates on four key areas of involvement:
• Fostering a sense of belongingness and community
• Connecting theory and practice
• Ensuring inclusive recruitment and retention
• Advocating for systemic and progressive change
Land Acknowledgment
Bennington College sits on land which has served as a site of meeting and exchange among indigenous peoples since time immemorial. The Western Abenaki and Mohican people are the traditional caretakers of these Vermont lands and waters, which they call Ndakinna, or “homeland.” We remember their connection to this region and the hardships they continue to endure. We give thanks for the opportunity to share in the bounty of this place and to protect it.
Office Hours
Location
Barn 101 & EAC-West
Contact
Email Melissa Smith for Appointment
What We're Reading and Thinking About
Bias Incident Reporting Form
If you witness or feel that you are the target of a bias-related act, you may report the incident using this form and your bennington.edu email address. Note: This reporting form is not a 911 or Emergency Service. Do not use this form to report immediate security threats. If this is an emergency, please contact Bennington Campus Safety.
Anti-Racism at Bennington
Resources
Combating Antisemitism
- Antisemitism Education Resources (Berkeley Center for Jewish Studies)
- Antisemitism on Social Media: Challenges for academics and policy-makers (World Jewish Congress)
On Anti-Arab Bias and Combating Islamophobia
- Presumptively Antisemitic: Islamophobic Tropes in the Palestine–Israel Discourse (Rutgers Center for Security, Race and Rights)
- Resources for Combating Islamophobia (Columbia University)
- What is Islamophobia (Georgetown University Bridge Initiative)
Our Team
Alfredo Medina, Jr.
Rojay R. Bryan '22
Rojay's Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 10am-2pm
Taha Ahmar Qadeer
Taha Ahmar Qadeer (he/him) is from Lahore, Pakistan, studying liberation psychology and poetry at Bennington. Taha is a senior, and has been at the ODEI office since his sophomore year. He has led many events centered around BIPOC and Queer visibility. Beyond Bennington Taha works on r0ver magazine.
Kai Schaffer
Kai Kennedy Schaffer (they/them) is a Junior at Bennington College, studying music and l photographic practice. Hailing from the vibrant Reconstructionist community of Los Angeles, their plan interweaves Jewish Diasporic identity with music technology, improvisation, and composition, whilst exploring decolonial photo history via abstraction. In their work with the office of DEI, they strive to create an environment that embraces multiculturalism, conversation and a sense of belonging.
Melissa Smith