Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Group of students and faculty walking to class

“Here at Loomis, we are at a confluence of diverse people, cultures, ideas, and backgrounds — all the conditions are in place for us to deepen our compassion, our empathy, and our understanding of perspectives that differ from our own.”

Jody Reilly Soja Head of School

The mission of the Loomis Chaffee Center for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is to promote and foster an inclusive school community through the celebration of the diversity of its members; a sustained examination of privilege and biases; and the evolution of institutional policies, structures, and practices. This necessary work is guided by respect for the dignity and contribution of each member of the school community and a commitment to the best self in service of the common good.

In summer 2021, the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion was renamed the Loomis Chaffee Center for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and its mission expanded to better serve our community and meet a key part of the school’s overarching mission to create an inclusive community for all. We also expanded our DEI team, enabling us to more effectively collaborate with various stakeholders on and off the Island to create and maintain an environment where all members of our school community — students, faculty, staff, alumni, families, and visitors — are treated with respect and dignity and feel a strong sense of belonging.

Clubs, Programs, & Organizations

Student Organizations

People Rising in Support of Multiculturalism (PRISM)

Members of PRISM, a popular student organization, seek to break down social boundaries by creating a familial environment for interaction among people of different cultures in a comfortable space. Together, members explore social issues, investigate resources and opportunities, and discuss ways to better educate themselves and to share their experiences.

Spectrum

Loomis Chaffee's Gender-Sexuality Alliance, Spectrum is committed to making the Island a safer place for people of all genders and sexual and romantic orientations. Spectrum represents LGBTQIA+ students of all backgrounds everywhere on campus. Spectrum focuses on supporting LGBTQIA+ members of our community in addition to facilitating educational discussions and workshops to help allies and allies-to-be understand LGBTQIA+ issues. Spectrum works closely with faculty, student organizations, and other schools in the New England area to create exciting celebrations throughout the school year, including dances, movie nights, and discussions.

Jewish Student Union (JSU)

The Jewish Student Union helps foster the Jewish community on the Island through social connection and the sharing of faith traditions in a welcoming environment. JSU helps educate the Loomis community on Jewish traditions, heritage, and culture.

LC Christian Fellowship

The LC Christian Fellowship provides opportunities to openly discuss and explore one’s faith with Christians of all denominations in a welcoming environment.

International Student Ambassadors

The International Student Ambassador program provides avenues for student leadership on campus. International students provide support to others from similar backgrounds to help ease the transition to life at Loomis. They assist with orientation and play an integral role in international events on campus.

Muslim Student Union (MSU)

The Muslim Student Union provides a space for all students who identify as Muslim to come together and discuss current issues, celebrate major holidays, and learn about their faith. In addition, MSU members organize awareness events in order to educate their peers about the diversity of Islamic practices and Muslim cultures.

Affinity Groups and Alliances

Sister Circle

An affinity group for students who identify as Black females

Brothers in Unity

An affinity group for students who identify as Black males

Pa’lante

An affinity group for students who identify as Latino/a/x

PASA (Pan Asian Student Alliance)

Both an alliance and an affinity group for students who identify as Asian

South East Asians at Loomis (SEAL)

An affinity group for students who identify as Southeast Asian

MultiX

An affinity group for students who identify as multiracial

Arab/Middle Eastern Society

An affinity group for students who identify as Middle Eastern and/or Arabic

Young Women’s Affinity Group

An affinity group for students who identify as female

Brave Space

Both an alliance and an affinity group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, transgender, genderqueer, queer, intersexed, agender, and asexual students (LGBTQIA+) and their allies

Pelican Support Network (PSN)

The Pelican Support Network (PSN) provides cultural, social, and academic support to underrepresented students in their transition to high school and throughout their experience at Loomis. Students get together for academic study halls, roundtable lunches, alumni panels, and other academic and social activities with the goal of supporting peers and enhancing their experience at Loomis and beyond.

The PSN is a joint program run by the Center for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; the College Office; the Dean of Students Office; and the Office of Admission.

DEI Interns

The internship is a yearlong leadership position for students who are highly interested in student-facing programming tied to the Center for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Interns assist with calendar scheduling, update the bulletin board, help with advertising events, collaborate with affinity groups, and contribute to social media, including DEI/PRISM Facebook, blog, and Instagram posts.

Student Programs and Activities

CAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference

The Connecticut Association of Independent School’s Student Diversity Leadership Conference mission “is to bring students from grades 7–12 and adults from independent schools across the state together for a day of networking and dialog, facilitating cross-cultural understanding and a call to action to improve our school communities and our world.”

NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference

The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) “is a multiracial, multicultural gathering of upper school student leaders (grades 9–12) from across the U.S. and abroad. SDLC focuses on self-reflecting, forming allies, and building community. Led by a diverse team of trained adult and peer facilitators, participating students develop cross-cultural communication skills, design effective strategies for social justice practice through dialogue and the arts, and learn the foundations of allyship and networking principles.”

Hot Topics Discussions

Student-led Hot Topic Discussions provide an opportunity for thoughtful reflection and communication regarding current issues of local, national, and worldwide concern. A respectful dialog is organized in a safe environment for students to share their opinions with a goal of inspiring positive change.

Cultural Outburst

Each spring, the Loomis community comes together for this fun and festive event celebrating and sharing our cultural diversity. Highlighting the numerous nationalities and ethnicities represented on campus, students, faculty, staff, and parents organize interactive exhibits that feature food, music, visual arts, and other cultural activities for all to share and learn.

Black Alumni Mentoring Program

In 2020, Loomis Chaffee launched the Black Alumni Mentoring Program. The idea for the program came from a group of Black alumni who expressed a strong desire to guide and support the school’s current Black students. The program supplements the school’s advising system; student participation is voluntary.

SPHERE

SPHERE is a consortium of independent schools from Greater Hartford that came together in the early 1970s because of a common commitment to diversity. SPHERE’s mission is to help the member schools to collaborate in becoming and remaining culturally diverse, inclusive, and responsive environments for teaching and learning.

www.sphereschools.org

Faculty Programs and Associations

Seeking Educational Equity & Diversity (SEED)

The SEED program invites the engagement of head, heart, and soul. Seminar participants examine inner and outer ways in which systems affect lives inside and outside of school. SEED work develops ways of understanding complex relationships between self and system with regard to race, class, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability/disability, and cultural experience. Everyone becomes engaged in diversity work in both familiar and unfamiliar ways.

SPHERE

www.sphereschools.org

CAIS Commission of Diversity in Independent Schools

The Connecticut Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) Commission on Diversity in Independent Schools exists to inspire a wide spectrum of individuals in the effort to make our school communities rich in the experience of human differences. The commission provides an educators' network focused on diversity as well as training and resources for diversity advocates at CAIS member schools. It also provides ongoing support for trustees, administrators, teachers, staff, students, families, and other CAIS commissions.

www.caisct.org

NAIS People of Color Conference (PoCC)

The NAIS People of Color Conference (PoCC) provides “a safe space for leadership, professional development, and networking for people of color and allies of all backgrounds in independent schools. With seminars, a master class, and more than 100 workshops on diverse topics relevant to people of color in independent schools, PoCC equips educators at every level, from teachers to trustees with new skills. You’ll leave with knowledge and experiences to improve the interracial, interethnic, and intercultural climate in your school, which will have a positive impact on the academic, social-emotional, and workplace performance outcomes for students and adults alike.”

Black Affinity Group (BAG)

An affinity group for faculty and staff who identify as Black

BARWE (Becoming Anti-Racist White Educators)

An affinity group for faculty who identity as White

LC Women’s Group

An affinity group for faculty and staff who identify as women

Enrollment Data for 2024–25

742 total students

50.7% female; 49% male; <1% self-identify

27 U.S. states and 51 countries are represented through citizenship and/or residency

39% domestic students of color*

Race, ethnicity, and citizenship details*

14% Asian American

9% Black/African American

7% Latino/Hispanic

<1% Middle Eastern American

9% Multi-racial American

<1% Native American

0% Pacific Islander American

44% White

5% No race/ethnicity data available

12% international students**

32% of students receive financial aid

*Students are not required to report race and ethnicity data. All data collected is self-reported and for U.S. citizens/permanent residents only. The percentages listed represent the percent of total enrollment, 742.

** International students are defined as students who require an I-20 to enroll at the school. Prior to 2024–25, non-U.S. citizens/permanent residents were defined as international students. Currently, the school does not collect race or ethnicity data for international students.

Upcoming DEI Events

Meet the DEI Team