Heritage Month Mailings
Honoring Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month
Dear Campus Community,
Each November, we recognize Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month—a dedicated moment of intentional reflection and celebration, honoring the histories, cultures, and traditions of Indigenous peoples and communities. Seattle University joins in this national observance with gratitude and respect for the First Nations, Inuit, and Native American tribes who have stewarded this land since time immemorial—guiding us toward deeper understanding and care for all of creation.
Building on our recent commemoration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, this month invites us to listen intently to Indigenous voices and to celebrate the knowledge, resilience, and enduring contributions that Indigenous communities bring to every facet of life. At the same time, it also urges us to confront the historic and ongoing injustices that Indigenous peoples face, and to reaffirm our shared commitment to justice and healing. We encourage all to learn, engage, and build community through the Indigenous Peoples Institute, Center for Indian Law and Policy, and our various student-led organizations.
In line with our LIFT SU principles, and in support of our commitment to pursuing inclusive excellence, we recognize that fostering inclusion means amplifying voices from a variety of perspectives. We have invited one of our colleagues to share reflections on what Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month means to her. We offer deep gratitude to Jill La Pointe, MSW, for sharing her story and perspective, and trust that you will receive her words with openness.
Jill La Pointe, MSW
Senior Director Indigenous Peoples Institute
dxʷʔal gʷəlapuʔ, dsyaʔyaʔ, dʔiišəd (to all of you dear ones, friends and relatives). tsisqʷux̌ʷał tsi sdaʔ, skaxʷəbš čəd. tsisqʷux̌ʷał is my ancestral name, and the Upper Skagit people are where I come from. Although there are 574 Federally recognized tribes in the United States, there are still another 400 that are not recognized. Each tribal Nation has their unique histories, culture, language, and narratives. As Indigenous people, we are still here, surviving and thriving.
I was fortunate to grow up with my grandmother, Vi taqʷšəblu Hilbert, who was a storyteller and culture bearer. She guided and helped me retain connections within our tribe and general Indigenous communities. There are too many who, for one reason or another, are not so fortunate. It is widely acknowledged that those who have a strong sense of identity through culture have better overall wellness. Positive cultural identity grows out of visibility and positive representation of one’s culture in society. Our traditional ways of knowing and understanding the world haven’t always been recognized by academic communities. My elders taught us that the Earth is our first teacher. The Red Cedar is highly prized in this region and teaches us generosity. The Big Leaf Maple is another favorite here. It is often covered with mosses, lichens and licorice ferns. It reminds us to have willingness – to try on different experiences, and to be willing to let go of things that no longer serve us – like the beautiful crimson leaves that burst with vibrant color and then fall off the trees every autumn.
The late Bruce Subiyay Miller, from the Skokomish tribe, reminded us that in traditional times people were gifted with unique talents, information or skills. This required us to work cooperatively. Everyone in the community was taken care of by working together. I was brought up to listen not only with my ears, but with my eyes and with my heart. When our tribal communities prepare and come together there is much thanksgiving expressed. I continually strive to be more like my ancestors, who had tremendous gratitude and compassion for all living beings.
Resources and Renewal to Inclusion
To show support throughout Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month, we invite you to visit the Office of Diversity and Inclusion website to find inspiring Zoom backgrounds, and a range of other educational resources.
As we celebrate Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month—carrying its spirit forward beyond November—let us honor the enduring legacies, achievements, and wisdom of Indigenous peoples, whose contributions continue to enrich our collective story and illuminate paths toward deeper understanding and reconciliation. Equally, this moment also calls us to renew our commitment to addressing the inequities and discrimination these communities endure, and to work together toward building a campus where all are respected, valued, and empowered to thrive.
Sincerely,
Eduardo M. Peñalver, President
Natasha Martin, Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion
Honoring Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month
Dear Campus Community,
Today, September 15, Seattle University is proud to honor the annual observance of Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month, a time that extends across September and October and coincides with the independence celebrations of several countries. More than a commemoration on the calendar, this season is an invitation to pause, listen, learn, and celebrate the many ways Hispanic and Latin American communities have shaped, and continue to shape, the history, culture, and future of the United States. We also recognize that “Hispanic” and “Latin American” as terms and identities are not a monolith. These identities reflect a wide range of cultures, countries, languages, traditions, histories, and lived experiences. Within that diversity are stories of belonging, migration, perseverance, creativity, leadership, and community. Honoring this heritage means making space for those differences and recognizing the distinct contributions and perspectives each community brings to our shared human story.
The vast influence of Hispanic and Latin American communities can be found throughout society in our arts and traditions, our neighborhoods and institutions, in our classrooms and campuses, and in generations of people whose courage and determination have helped move our country forward. As we all navigate a modern-day context rife with challenge, complexity and uncertainty, this month reminds us not only to celebrate those contributions, but also to consider how we can foster an environment where every member of our community feels seen, respected, supported, and provided a sense of safety and belonging.
In line with our LIFT SU principles, and in support of our commitment to pursuing inclusive excellence, we recognize that fostering inclusion means amplifying voices from a variety of perspectives. We have invited two of our colleagues to share their reflections on what Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month means to them. We offer deep gratitude to Justin Gonzales and Kelli Rodriguez for sharing their stories and perspectives, and trust that you will receive their words with openness.
Justin Gonzales
Director of Marketing and Communications, Cornish College of the Arts
To be honest, I have a complicated relationship with my heritage. As a Mexican American individual whose Mexican family lived out-of-state, I always felt extremely disconnected from that side of my identity.
Growing up in Southern California, I was surrounded by a vibrant Mexican community, but I often felt like I belonged more in the periphery. On top of that, I am very much an introvert; thus, pushing myself to explore a part of myself and a community that felt foreign to me was quite uncomfortable.
At first, that discomfort was debilitating. I had this idea in my head that if I couldn’t show up perfectly, then I shouldn’t show up at all. But what good does that do?
Admittedly, I still have a lot to learn about myself and my heritage. However, being a member of a community is not about being perfect. It’s about showing up and sharing your unique perspective and experience to expand the collective consciousness.
Reflecting on Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month in 2026 has stirred up quite a lot of feelings for myself. On one hand, I am very proud of my Mexican American heritage and truly believe a lot has happened this year that we should be proud of and celebrate. On the other hand, we live in a country that has made great efforts to target our communities in the name of “national safety”. Families have been torn apart. Children have been separated from their parents. Neighbors have been abducted. Folks have been deported to places they’ve never been before.
While xenophobia continues to stoke the flames of bigotry, it is us (all marginalized communities) who are forced to live with the violent consequences.
Today, living in the periphery is no longer an option. Progress cannot happen if we don’t force ourselves to be at least a little bit uncomfortable. To move forward, we must look inward and to each other. Communities are only as strong as we make them.
As one of my personal heroes, Dolores Huerta, has said, “Walk the street with us into history. Get off the sidewalk.”
Kelli Rodriguez, JD
Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, School of Law
I found Michele Serros in college: a worn copy of Chicana Falsa on a required reading list. I finished it in one sitting, and although I didn't have words for it at the time, I felt seen in a way I never had before. Serros wrote about growing up Chicana in Southern California, caught between cultures. Like me, she wasn't fluent in Spanish, and was often distanced by her community for not being "Mexican enough."
The sounds and smells of my Chicano culture filled my childhood. Family gatherings meant dozens of relatives packed into my grandparents' home, laughter carrying from room to room, mis tías taking turns stirring a pot of something that had been simmering for hours. Spanish and English tangled together in the same conversation, often in the same sentence. I could follow along well enough, laughing at the right moments, but I never spoke Spanish fluently enough to engage fully.
My grandmother had worked her whole life to speak clearly: to sound polished. On our long car rides together, she would arrive with a list of new words, and we would work through them together. She asked me to pronounce each word, define it, and use it in a sentence. She wanted badly to assimilate, to speak without an accent; to make certain no one had reason to believe she wasn't intelligent. For as much as she yearned to master English, I longed to speak Spanish.
Reading Serros, I understood for the first time that fluency was never the whole story; she didn't apologize for who she was, and that permission changed me. I did not inherit the language of my Mexican ancestors, but I inherited everything else: resilience, determination, and a fierce belief that I belonged in rooms my ancestors never had access to.
Now, I carry that belief into every one of those rooms. This Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month, I’m reminded of the responsibility that comes with it: to ensure the people coming up behind me have that same permission to show up as their whole selves and know there is space for them too.
Resources and Renewal to Inclusion
To show support throughout Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month, we invite you to visit the Office of Diversity and Inclusion website to find inspiring Zoom backgrounds, and a range of other educational resources.
Throughout Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month, and in the celebration and honor we carry forward, this observance also calls us to look beyond celebration and recommit ourselves to challenging racism, prejudice, and bigotry wherever they exist. Together, as a Jesuit, Catholic university, we can help cultivate a campus where every person is valued for who they are, treated with dignity and respect, and embraced as an essential part of our community.
Sincerely,
Maura B. Mast, PhD
President
Natasha Martin, JD
Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion
Honoring LGBTQIA+ Pride Month
Dear Campus Community,
With the arrival of Pride Month, Seattle University proudly recognizes and celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community and the impact LGBTQIA+ individuals have had on our campus and beyond. We take this moment to reaffirm our support for the LGBTQIA+ community and acknowledge the vast range of perspectives, identities, and lived experiences that come together to generate the unique contributions that have helped shape our community. Built upon generations of advocacy, courage, and hope, Pride remains a powerful expression of resilience, community building, and an ongoing pursuit of dignity and visibility that remains ever-present today. Seattle University is enriched by the presence, leadership, and perspectives of LGBTQIA+ community members, and we remain committed to cultivating an environment where all students, faculty, staff, and alumni feel seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.
Pride Month also reminds us that celebration exists alongside continued awareness and action. We must call attention to the persistent inequities, discrimination, and violence that LGBTQIA+ communities continue to confront. Even amid important progress, there remains important work to be done to ensure safety, equity, and belonging for all people. Rising violence against transgender and genderqueer individuals continues with devastating impact including in our local community. Let us stand alongside our LGBTQIA+ community members with care, solidarity, and action. We are called not only to support one another in moments of celebration, but also to educate and act in ways that advance a more just and inclusive society.
In line with our LIFT SU principles, and in support of our commitment to pursuing inclusive excellence, we recognize that fostering inclusion means amplifying voices from a variety of perspectives. We have invited two of our colleagues to share their reflections on what LGBTQIA+ Pride Month means to them. We offer deep gratitude to Lori Koshork and Kevin Krycka for sharing their stories and perspectives, and trust that you will receive their words with openness.
Lori Koshork, MA, LMHC, NCC
Interim Sr. Associate Director, Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)
I am a late bloomer regarding my queer identity. I did not come out to my family until 2005 when I knew I was in the relationship with the woman I would marry. I remember that conversation clearly telling my family that there were three reasons I wanted them to know about my queer identity: 1) I wanted them to know me authentically as I had been withholding an important part of myself from them; 2) I felt like a hypocrite as I counseled college students on their own identity development without fully doing so myself, and 3) I had fallen in love and wanted my partner to know my family, and they her. The reaction I received was what I had hoped. My family had figured it out and were just waiting for me to be ready to receive their support.
My wife and I will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary this fall. Though, technically, it is the anniversary of our commitment ceremony. If not for LGBTQ+ pride advocacy and events that raised visibility, championed equality, and reduced stereotypes through research and education, we may not have had our legal marriage in 2013.
I think about the past few decades and compare my own collegiate experience to that of today’s undergraduate and graduate students. I am heartened that now there is greater acceptance at more campuses of queer identities thanks to LGBTQ+ Pride movements than there was in the 1980s when I was contemplating my own identity (and hiding in the closet under the dust bunnies).
I was privileged to work at Cornish College of the Arts for 17 years before our partnership with SU last spring. Early on I witnessed the rise of new (or rather, newly recognized) gender identities which challenged my dichotomous thinking about gender. I am amazed by our students’ strength in challenging norms and naming identities that help us relate to each other more authentically. To me, that is the beauty and strength of LGBTQ+ Pride Month, to watch people come together and advocate for changing norms, and laws, for the better.
Kevin C. Krycka, PsyD
Professor Emeritus, Director of Academic Calendar Conversion
Pride Month is our time to reflect, celebrate, and recommit to being for each other as persons and as an LGBTQIA+ community. As I reflect as someone stepping into retirement, I first notice we are continuously in the mode of making sense; making sense of this charged political period, making sense of the journey we had over the past years, making sense of the impulse to hunker down, be silent, and of the equally strong impulse to as the late Congressman John Lewis would say, get into some good trouble.
From my perspective we found our voice on campus somewhere in the early 1990’s at the confluence of progressive politics and laws and an SU administration that held sacred its commitment to the ‘other.’ Since, we’ve populated committees and stepped up to key roles and tasks confronting the university. We raised a collective presence, some of us pushing aside our internalized hesitance and fears of reprisal. We made good trouble that would bring queer scholarship and stories into the curriculum, a moral habit we exercise today across many courses, centers, institutes, affiliation groups, and even in department bylaws.
The university has kept pace with us as well in some important ways. It became a trailblazer when it approved Queer-Net, the name for our faculty and staff ally group still running today and later in approving the first LGBTQIA+ student group, the Triangle Club. These came despite resistance from the archdiocese, donors and some more senior faculty who protested the use of ‘queer’ in our name saying it was derogatory. But we claimed that word anyway and made it our own, bringing a fuller appreciation of difference into the light.
We have a history of making good trouble. Our legacy is to stand up and speak up for those marginalized and facing erasure, not only ourselves. Maybe it’s Pope Leo’s fresh voice, maybe it’s simply having a long view, but I trust that our speaking up and speaking out will always be in our fabric and the fabric of SU. Happy Pride Month.
Resources and Renewal to Inclusion
To show support throughout LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, we invite you to visit the Office of Diversity and Inclusion website to find inspiring Zoom backgrounds and a range of other educational resources.
As we recognize and celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride this month, may we honor the vibrancy, strength, and diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community. May this time also serve as a renewed call to confront the discrimination, injustice, and violence that continue to affect LGBTQIA+ individuals, while deepening our shared commitment to cultivating a community where all people feel welcomed, safe, and respected.
Sincerely,
Stephen V. Sundborg, S.J., Interim President
Natasha Martin, Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion
Honoring Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Dear Campus Community,
With the arrival of May, Seattle University joins in observing Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, a time set aside to recognize the depth, diversity, and influence of AAPI communities. While ‘Asian American and Pacific Islander’ is officially designated, the AAPI community represents a broad constellation shaped by distinct ethnicities, languages, cultures, histories, and lived experiences. For example, one may encounter terms such as ‘Asian Pacific Islander Desi American’ (APIDA) and ‘Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander’ (AANHPI), each offering a unique way of naming this diversity. While language may differ, our purpose does not. We seek to recognize and celebrate the individuals, stories, and contributions that enrich our university community. To those across our campus who identify as part of these communities and our alumni, your presence plays an integral role in shaping who we are.
This month also invites more than recognition. It calls for honesty about the realities AAPI communities have faced and continue to face. Alongside meaningful achievements are histories marked by exclusion, inequity, and harm that still resonate today including new waves of anti-Asian and anti-immigration hate and discrimination. As a Jesuit Catholic university, we remain steadfast in strengthening belonging, addressing injustice, and standing in support of AAPI communities. For many – spanning a range of identities, national origins, and citizen-related statuses – this moment may be rife with added uncertainty and fear. As a learning community, we can meet this moment with intention in caring, educating, and embracing shared responsibility to challenge inequity and promote thriving.
In line with our LIFT SU principles and commitment to inclusive academic excellence, fostering inclusion means amplifying voices from a variety of perspectives. Through listening and learning, our community grows stronger. In that spirit, we have invited two colleagues to reflect on what Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month means to them, sharing perspectives that help deepen our understanding and connection as a campus community. We offer deep gratitude to Andrea Fontana and Dean Butch de Castro, and trust that you will receive their words with openness.
Andrea Fontana
Associate Director
Center for Jesuit Education
When I began this reflection, I remembered that while I primarily identify as Asian American, I also have a connection to Pacific Islanders! My dad and paternal grandmother are New Zealand–born Chinese, and my mom migrated to New Zealand from China as a teenager.
As I learned more about AAPI Heritage Month, I was struck that May commemorates both the arrival of the first known Japanese immigrants to the U.S. (May 7, 1843) and the completion of the transcontinental railroad (May 10, 1869), built largely by Chinese laborers. The latter made me think about my own family history. My parents’ ancestors also left China for a gold rush in New Zealand, supporting miners as market gardeners.
Early Chinese immigrants in the U.S. were blamed for disease and faced harsh discrimination—something that felt painfully familiar during COVID-19. After the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act and its subsequent renewals, immigration laws in 1965 again allowed Chinese immigrants, this time favoring highly educated individuals and skilled workers. This is how my father came to the U.S., as a Fulbright Scholar with a PhD in mathematics. I’m grateful for the opportunities that education has opened for our family, while also recognizing those left out.
Even being invited to share this reflection feels significant. I don’t often feel visible as an Asian American woman in mainstream culture. A friend once observed that many of her Asian friends tend to ask questions and listen, rather than speak about themselves. That helped me understand why I sometimes feel unknown in spaces where I’ve spent years.
I also see this pattern on an institutional level. People of Asian descent are often overlooked in conversations about race and less frequently seen as leaders, shaped by assumptions about what leadership should look like.
I can thankfully say I have felt more belonging than exclusion over my long tenure at SU. I have also enjoyed watching the student body grow more diverse. With SU now an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI), I invite us to consider:
• How are we prioritizing resources to see and support AANAPI students?
• How are we learning from their diverse experiences? How can we better reflect those experiences in how we teach, lead, build community, and care for them?
• How can we respond not only through cura personalis but also through culturally informed pedagogy, policies, and practices so that we may lower barriers for, recognize and celebrate the gifts of the AANAPI community?
Butch de Castro, PhD, MSN/MPH, RN, FAAN
Charles M. Pigott Endowed Dean
College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month reminds me to pause for intentional reflection on my Filipino-American identity. Annually for this occasion, I revisit Carlos Bulosan’s book, “America is in the Heart,” published in 1943. A semi-autobiographical memoir of journeying from the Philippines to the U.S., it recounts experiences as a migrant worker throughout west coast states laboring in agricultural and fishing industries during 1930s America. Reflecting the times, the story characterizes the hardships that Filipino immigrant men endured as they were subjected to exploitation, discrimination, hatred, and violence, while endeavoring to make better lives for themselves amidst the opportunity of “America.” Despite depictions of institutional, systematic injustice, Bulosan maintains hope and idealism through frustration and despair. A passage that keeps me humbled and inspired (though recognizing its dated solely referencing of men) is,…
‘It is but fair to say that America is not a land of one race or one class of men. We are all Americans that have toiled and suffered and known oppression and defeat, from the first Indian that offered peace in Manhattan to the last Filipino pea pickers. America is not bound by geographical latitudes. America is not merely a land or an institution. America is in the hearts of men that died for freedom; it is also in the eyes of men that are building a new world. America is a prophecy of a new society of men: of a system that knows no sorrow or strife or suffering. America is a warning to those who would try to falsify the ideals of freemen.’
While “America is in the Heart” is cornerstone to Filipino-American history, it is core to the Filipino-American story I am privileged to live out and which continues to unfold for the Filipino-American community. I take this moment to hold my utang na loob (debt of gratitude) to honor the struggles along with achievements of prior generations of Filipino-Americans as foundation upon which I am fortunate to rise to and hold a leadership position at Seattle University. [The Carlos Bulosan Exhibit is housed in the Eastern Hotel in Seattle’s International District.]
Resources and Renewal to Inclusion
To show support throughout Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we invite you to explore a range of resources and events. Visit the Office of Diversity and Inclusion website to find inspiring Zoom backgrounds, a range of other educational resources, and in the coming weeks, a full recording of Professor Sital Kalantry’s recent Red Talk, “Indian Americans: From ‘Model Minority’ to ‘Job Thief’.” (Watch the promo video now). Additionally, the community is invited to celebration and educational programming hosted by the Asian American Studies Program and MOSAIC Center that include screening of the short film, Paper Daughter, followed by a panel discussion led by the director and Seattle University faculty. The event - AANHPI Heritage Month Celebration - is scheduled for Thursday May 28th, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. in Wycoff Auditorium and Lobby with more details to come.
As we honor Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage this month and beyond, we recognize the depth of impact and lived experience within this community and beyond. We also renew our commitment to addressing racism, xenophobia, pushing forward equity, and sustaining the ongoing work of creating a community where inclusion is actively practiced and meaningfully upheld.
Sincerely,
Stephen V. Sundborg, S.J., Interim President
Natasha Martin, Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion
Honoring Women's History Month
Dear Campus Community,
Yesterday marked the beginning of Women’s History Month. Seattle University takes this moment to recognize the countless efforts, accomplishments, and impacts women have had on our world. Whether we look globally or within our Seattle University community, we are blessed with the incredible innovation, leadership, and wisdom from women across a broad range of backgrounds and experiences. In every industry including higher education, women move through boardrooms, athletic spaces, classrooms, and communities in profound ways that highlight their ability to lead with perseverance, care, and fortitude. To all women in our midst – students, staff, faculty, and alumni, we share in your successes and offer gratitude for who you are and what you bring to this university community.
As International Women’s Day celebrates 115 years and the UN’s Commission on the Status of Women holds its seventieth session, we acknowledge that the fight for gender equity is not over. While strides in gender equity and representation have been made, women’s full empowerment remains elusive in many places due to sexism, misogyny, and violence against women. Guided by our Jesuit values, it is paramount that we continue to advocate for the rights and care of all women, including those who face additional barriers. With every positive step towards progress, we must pair our celebration with honest reflection and recommit to ongoing action needed to reach a just and equitable world where all women can thrive.
In line with our LIFT SU principles, and in support of our commitment to pursuing inclusive excellence, we recognize that fostering inclusion means amplifying voices from a variety of perspectives. We have invited two of our colleagues to share their reflections on what Women's History Month means to them. We offer gratitude to Professor Yasemin Sari and Kristin DiBiase for sharing their stories and perspectives, and trust that you will receive their words with openness.
Dr. Yasemin Sari, PhD, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences
If there is any moment in my teaching where I want students to remember a date – I say, “Remember 1789, the year of the French Revolution, the ‘emergence’ of the citizen, and the acknowledgment of the human being as having dignity (equal moral worth).” It is also the year that marks the declaration of universal equality based on the principle of humanity (neither law, nor history). Such recognition of our equal ability to judge and make decisions for ourselves is a relatively new assumption/belief/premise, and honestly, one that is too important to outsource.
Of course, this story is far from complete. So, let’s try to fill it in briefly.
Despite the motto of the Revolution – namely, liberté, égalité, fraternité — the role of women in it was pivotal. The Women’s March to Versailles inspired Olympe de Gouges to publish her 1791 Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen, calling out the hypocrisy of the 1789 Declaration and noting that “woman has the right to mount the scaffold, so she should have the right to equally mount the rostrum” (Article 10). But this call for the recognition of women’s agency did not take effect immediately. In fact, following her statement, de Gouges did mount the scaffold in 1793.
Subsequent women’s rights movements helped women enter and shape the public sphere – unsettling the insistence that women belonged to the household, to private life (and to privacy as a sort of deprivation). To be sure, universal suffrage is not a privilege, but “a necessity” – as W.E.B. Du Bois argued in 1920. If we concede today that women can indeed think, judge, labor, and act, it still seems that we have not achieved the equality we require to determine our own life goals. Perhaps when all women can speak for their experiences and be equal interlocutors in public discourse – we may approximate this goal.
Seattle University is at the center of such creation: our mission is to not only create, but also to foster, and to sustain and to encourage the ability to be equal members of the community, identifying shared concerns and creating a world in which we each have a place.
Kristin DiBiase, Associate Dean for Student Affairs, School of Law
Women are so powerful a force that society has spent millennia convincing us otherwise. Patriarchy is not natural order -- it is historical fiction reinforced through violence and dominance so consistently that it has been mistaken for truth. Centuries of treatment as second-class citizens worldwide begs the question--as a society, why do we collectively hate women?
Such contempt is rooted in fear. In our desire to unravel the universe's mysteries--sequencing the human genome, probing the furthest reaches of space, and attempting to fabricate humanity itself in zeroes and ones--mankind often attempt to become gods themselves. Women's more visible link to the divine--our capacity to incubate life; ways of knowing and sensing; and connection to each other and the earth--is an unwelcome reminder to men that they are not gods and inspires our marginalization.
And yet, we have still managed to succeed, despite these obstacles. We have still built stability without authority and sustained the very institutions that exclude us. Society continues to devalue and burden women even as the narrow definition of who and what a man is permitted to be steadily shrinks. Applying a patriarchal paradigm to our democracy is inherently flawed: any societal model founded in domination and subjugation cannot fully deliver abundance; and predictably yields a harvest of fragmentation, isolation, and civic erosion.
But hope remains: anything man-made can be remade, and women continue demonstrating that collaboration, consensus-building, and emotional fluency are a superior alternative. If we want a future rooted in dignity, then all of us--regardless of gender--must expand our definition of power and commit to becoming more fully human.
Resources and Renewal to Inclusion
To show support throughout Women's History Month, we invite you to visit the Office of Diversity and Inclusion website to find Community Resources as well as inspiring Zoom backgrounds.
As we continue through Women’s History Month, let us reflect on the dedicated women who came before us and those who stand alongside us today, to celebrate, support, and learn from their unique experiences and multi-faceted expertise. Let us also recommit to fighting for gender equity, combatting systems of oppression, and breaking down the barriers that too often hold women back from full equality and empowerment.
Sincerely,
Eduardo M. Peñalver, President
Natasha Martin, Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion
Honoring Black History Month
Dear Campus Community,
February begins observance of Black History Month and 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of the first week-long celebration created by historian and educator Carter G. Woodson. This pivotal milestone invites our Seattle University community to recognize and celebrate the triumphs, resilience, and cultural impact of the Black community. History reflects a global African diaspora and generations of achievements and contributions that have been instrumental in building and shaping the nation we are today. To our Black students, staff, faculty, and alumni, we see you and we are grateful for your presence and for the many ways you strengthen our university community.
At the university’s recent Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration, in his keynote address, Professor Randall Kennedy encouraged us to remember the progress and life-changing advancements that generations before bequeathed through their persistent, intelligent, collective struggle for freedom and justice, and our shared duty to continue the pursuit of an equitable and just future. As we address anti-Blackness including attempts to erase the painful history of enslavement, Jim Crow, and structural forces that continue to impact thriving in many Black communities, we also must empower Black joy, healing, and dignity.
In line with our LIFT SU principles, and in support of our commitment to pursuing inclusive excellence, we recognize that fostering inclusion means amplifying voices from a variety of perspectives. We have invited two of our colleagues to share their reflections on what Black History Month means to them. We offer deep gratitude to Carlyn Ferrari and Dre Williams for sharing their stories and perspectives, and trust that you will receive their words with openness.
Carlyn Ferrari
Associate Professor of English, College of Arts and Sciences
Lessons from Our Ancestors
I must be honest: I am finding it hard to be hopeful these days. As I write this, I have a knot in my stomach, and I am deeply unsettled by the normalization of human suffering and callous indifference toward it. It is shameful.
But I am not defeated. While I may not always have hope, I know where to find it.
Growing up in a predominantly white suburb in the San Francisco Bay Area, Black writing was the only place where I saw myself. And it is where I find hope.
As a Black feminist scholar, I am committed to excavating and amplifying the stories of Black people, especially Black women. For me, Black History Month is an invitation to meditate on the Black writers—those living and those who are now our ancestors—who have imagined powerful counter-futures and who continuously remind us both of what it means to be human and our obligation to one another as members of a global community.
The moment we are living in is not unprecedented. Our Black ancestors have been here before. And, truthfully, had we heeded their cautions, we would not be here today. Their words offer wisdom, insight, courage, and a moral reckoning if we choose to bear witness and listen.
I am filled with a righteous, justifiable anger, and I offer the words of our ancestor Audre Lorde, from her 1982 address, “Learning from the 60s”:
Within each one of us there is some piece of humanness that knows we are not being served by the machine which orchestrates crisis after crisis and is grinding all our futures into dust. If we are to keep the enormity of the forces aligned against us from establishing a false hierarchy of oppression, we must school ourselves to recognize that any attack against Blacks, any attack against women, is an attack against all of us who recognize that our interests are not being served by the systems we support. Each one of us here is a link in the connection between anti-poor legislation, gay shootings, the burning of synagogues, street harassment, attacks against women, and resurgent violence against Black people. I ask myself as well as each one of you, exactly what alteration in the particular fabric of my everyday life does this connection call for? Survival is not a theory. In what way do I contribute to the subjugation of any part of those who I define as my people? Insight must illuminate the particulars of our lives: who labors to make the bread we waste, or the energy it takes to make nuclear poisons which will not biodegrade for one thousand years; or who goes blind assembling the microtransistors in our inexpensive calculators?
Lorde’s words are hopeful for me because I believe them, because I take them seriously, and because in them I see a path forward. They offer a vision of the love, compassion, and true freedom necessary for a just and humane world.
Most importantly, they remind me that I cannot remain complacent, so I must act if I am truly to be my ancestors’ wildest dreams.
Dre Williams
Senior Admissions Counselor for Fine & Performing Arts
As a Queer Black man in America, I carry multiple identities that have been historically marginalized. These identities shape not only how I move through the world but also the responsibility I feel as an artist. I believe deeply in the Jesuit value of cura personalis—care for the whole person—and understand that art can care for the spirit, challenge the mind, and call the heart toward justice. Because of this, I see my work as an actor, director, performing artist; as a vehicle to confront oppression, broaden understanding, and inspire social change. Whether through the stories I tell, the images I create, or the words I speak, my goal is to offer perspectives that illuminate truths others may never encounter, encouraging a deeper awareness of our shared humanity.
During the Civil Rights Movement, artist Jacob Lawrence created his iconic series chronicling the Great Migration of African Americans in the 1920s. His work not only captured a pivotal moment in American history but reflected the Ignatian call to find God in all things, including struggle, perseverance, and community. Lawrence’s paintings remind us of the sacrifices made so Black Americans could pursue the American Dream—sacrifices now threatened by modern systems that seek to erase this history. As Ignatian spirituality teaches, if we fail to reflect on our past, we cannot discern our future. Erasure breeds repetition, and repetition sustains injustice.
Art does more than comment; it activates. It urges us to respond. Writers like Maya Angelou and Toni Morrison embody the Ignatian value of faith that does justice through their illumination of Black life in America. Their words capture the complexities of emotion, identity, and resilience. In The Bluest Eye, Morrison confronts the internalized self-hatred born from systemic racism, colorism, and socioeconomic oppression. She reveals how society’s distorted value systems harm Black children (and people)—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Her storytelling reminds us of the Jesuit call to honor the intrinsic dignity of every person, especially those whose humanity has been historically denied and overlooked.
Although some may like to believe these struggles are behind us, we continue to live in a time of reckoning. This moment demands discernment, courage, and action—hallmarks of Ignatian leadership. The artists who came before me used their gifts to help society see more clearly. They have inspired me to pursue the arts as a way of helping people understand one another, reflect on themselves, and cultivate empathy. I do this on stage through works like Race By Jaime Pachino which illustrated various racial situations like microaggressions, red lining, protests and lynchings from real stories and American Pageant By Michael King which is an anthology of scenes from the start of American History through the lens of civil rights until present day. Art creates enough distance for the audience to observe truth, yet invites them close enough to feel it and after Race we invited the audience to conversation and gave a call action.
As I reflect on our Jesuit values, I often consider how my voice can contribute to a more just world. Magis—the call to do more for the greater good—guides my dedication to telling stories that uplift, challenge, and transform. To be legendary, for me, is to envision a world where every person has an equal opportunity to flourish; where humanity operates in harmony rather than opposition; where we stand with others, not above them. My art is my offering toward that vision—a call to justice, a gesture of hope, and an act of love for the world as it is and the world it can become.
Resources and Renewal to Inclusion
To show support throughout Black History Month, we invite you to visit the Office of Diversity and Inclusion website to find inspiring Zoom backgrounds, and a range of other educational resources.
As we celebrate Black History Month, let us honor both the accomplishments and the sacrifices, and renew dedication to learning and growing to develop new ways to combat the realities of oppression and violence faced by the Black community. Let us lean into humanity’s most loving instincts and continue striving to build a campus and world that is inclusive and welcoming to everyone.
Sincerely,
Eduardo M. Peñalver, President
Natasha Martin, Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion
Honoring Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month
Dear Campus Community,
November 1st marks the beginning of Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month. As we welcome this important observance, Seattle University is proud to affirm and celebrate the diverse cultures and traditions that shape Native American and Alaska Native Heritage. This month provides an opportunity for focused attention on honoring the contributions, legacies, and resilience of the First Nations, Inuit, and Native American tribes who have inhabited and stewarded this land for thousands of years. Building on our recognition of Indigenous People’s Day last month, let us reflect on the profound influence of Indigenous communities on our nation and confront the ongoing systemic challenges they encounter. Let us also appreciate the vast knowledge and wisdom they hold which enriches our culture, deepens our understanding of the land, and inspires us to pursue justice and reconciliation. We encourage you to deepen your learning, growth, and support of the Indigenous community by exploring the happenings and resources of the Indigenous Peoples Institute, Center for Indian Law and Policy, and our various student-led organizations, including the SU Indigenous Student Association, SU First Nations, Hui O Nani Hawai’i Club, and Native American Law Students Association.
In line with our LIFT SU principles, and in support of our commitment to pursuing inclusive excellence, we recognize that fostering inclusion means amplifying voices from a variety of perspectives. We are especially honored to partner with a student leader this month to share reflections on what Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month means to her. We offer deep gratitude to Branndi Bowechop, ‘26, for sharing her story and perspective, and trust that you will receive her words with openness.
Branndi Bowechop
Psychology Major, class of 2026
Student Athlete - Track and Field
President of Indigenous Student Association
Peer Health Educator with Wellness and Health Promotion
Ɂux̌u·Ɂaƛa·ksa Ɂux̌u·s q̓aq̓a·pakx̌iya· (Hello everyone, My name is Branndi Bowechop)
To me this month is to represent our people, it is a reminder that we are still here. It is important that we acknowledge everything that our ancestors endured and overcame. Without them, we would not be here. As someone who has had the privilege to have grown up immersed in my culture, continuously taught our teachings and history, I have made it a goal of mine to be able to do my best to bring that here to campus. To make it feel more at home, to be able to create a community for us here on campus, to have people to connect with and support one another. I hope that our community on campus can become more educated on Native American culture and learn to put aside systemic stereotypes.
Resources and Renewal to Inclusion
To show support throughout Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month, we invite you to visit the Office of Diversity and Inclusion website to find inspiring Zoom backgrounds, and a range of other educational resources.
As we continue to reflect and honor Native American and Alaska Native Heritage throughout November and beyond, let us celebrate the significant and inspiring achievements, traditions, and wisdom of Indigenous peoples both in our nation and globally. We must also reaffirm our shared commitment to combating the persistent injustices faced by Native American and Alaska Native peoples and strive to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone.
Sincerely,
Eduardo M. Peñalver, President
Natasha Martin, Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion