About the Office

“In addition to expanding diversity in faculty and staff, Smith must make its classrooms and discourse more inclusive and reduce barriers to full participation in its academic and co-curricular offerings.”

from Lives of Distinction and Purpose, A Plan for Smith

Participation in National Organizations

American Council on Education National Conference on Race & Equity Liberal Arts Diversity Consortium National Association of Diversity Offices in Higher Education

Staff

Floyd Cheung | he/him

Vice President for Equity and Inclusion
Floyd Cheung guides the development and administration of all equity- and inclusion-related initiatives and programs at Smith. Among his responsibilities are programming, curricular initiatives, and supporting the recruitment and retention of a diverse faculty, staff and student body. A professor of English language and literature and American studies, Cheung was the founding chair of the Five College Asian/Pacific/American Studies Certificate Program. He most recently served as faculty director of the Sherrerd Center for Teaching and Learning.
College Hall 302 • 413-585-2141

Queen Lanier | she/her

Assistant to the Vice President for Equity and Inclusion
Queen Lanier is the initial point of contact for the office. She works closely with the vice president to prioritize the workflow of the office, maintain the office budget, and schedule committee and individual meetings for office members. Queen manages all aspects of the office’s day-to-day operations while also serving on the Cromwell Day Committee, Inclusion in Action and the Virtual Community Engagement Team. If you have any questions about the office or need to make an appointment, email Queen.
College Hall 302 • 413-585-2141

Toby Davis | he/him

Inclusion Education Trainer/Facilitator
Toby Davis ’03 is available to provide a variety of trainings to individual departments, groups and the campus as a whole. In addition, Toby serves as the point person and advocate for low income, first generation, trans and gender-nonconforming students. His areas of interest include antiracism, queer and trans liberation, intergroup dialogue and compassionate communication. He holds a B.A. from Smith College and an M.Ed in Social Justice Education from the University of Massachusetts, as well as a certificate in Social Justice Mediation. His office hours are Mondays 2:30-4pm or by appointment.
College Hall 307 • 413-585-6261

Raven Fowlkes-Witten | they/them

Program and Outreach Coordinator
Raven Fowlkes-Witten serves as the point person and advocate for undocumented, trans and gender non-conforming students. They organize and provide resources for these groups as well as advise and support students as needed. Raven oversees the office social media and is excited by campus programs centered around equity and inclusion. Please email them to schedule an appointment.
College Hall 307 • 413-585-6260

Marjorie Valdivia | she/her

Action Planning Project Coordinator and Facilitator

Marjorie Valdivia serves as the point person to support individual departments in their efforts of developing their racial justice action plans. She is available to provide a variety of trainings to individual departments. She holds an M.Ed and PH.D in Social Justice Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and has ten years of experience in the field of social justice education. Marjorie is the co-author of a chapter intended to support educators and community leaders to teach about race and racism in the book Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice. In addition, she recently collaborated on a book chapter that focuses on providing pedagogical approaches on how to teach about class and classism for the upcoming fourth edition of Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice. As a social justice educator she is committed to developing, promoting an inclusive learning community that is caring, supportive and welcoming, and fosters interests and commitment to equity and inclusion. Her office hours are Wednesdays 2-4 or by appointment in College Hall 307

Letters to the Community

Inclusion Council

The Inclusion Council was established in 2009. The Council works with the vice president for equity and inclusion to promote and achieve Smith’s diversity and social justice goals. Membership includes faculty, staff, and students from key constituencies on campus. Over the years, the Inclusion Council has advised on the recruitment and retention of a diverse student body and workforce, strategic planning for equity and inclusion, and responses to community concerns

If you have questions or input for the Inclusion Council, please email oei@smith.edu.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Inclusion Council is to offer grounded perspectives on how inclusion, diversity and equity—inherent in the relationships, practices and activities of students, staff and faculty—are playing out at Smith College. The members of the council shall advise the Vice President for Equity and Inclusion on what’s working well and how the College can improve.

Toward Racial Justice at Smith

A Living Document for Community Comment

In this time of urgent racial crisis, we emerge from ongoing planning into powerful action.

With recommendations from our Toward Racial Justice at Smith plan, Smith College continues its commitment to transparency, to inclusivity and to racial justice at Smith. Informed by student, staff and faculty voices to Inclusion in Action work, as well as student and alumnae/i demands, discussions with the Inclusion Council and Presidents’ Cabinet, the college commits to action.

Learn About Plan Action Items