SU hosts DEIA symposium to foster community discussions, collaboration
Syracuse University hosted its semi-annual DEIA forum on Wednesday, featuring ODI leaders Mary Grace Almandrez and Tanya Williamson. The forum exchanged ideas and engaged in meaningful discussion regarding diversity and inclusion efforts. Maxine Brackbill | Senior Staff Photographer
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UPDATE: This story was updated at 12:47 p.m. on April 4, 2025.
Mary Grace Almandrez emphasized Syracuse University’s continued commitment to inclusivity and the importance of advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility efforts on campus during SU’s semi-annual DEIA forum on Wednesday.
Almandrez, vice president of SU’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, said the university will continue to be a leader in the space amid President Donald Trump’s anti-DEIA orders. The forum was an opportunity for faculty, staff and students to discuss DEIA on campus.
“I think about this moment in time, being very dynamic and at times, dealing with unexpected circumstances,” Almandrez said. “What remains consistent is our commitment to community and connection.”
Tanya Williamson, ODI’s assistant vice president, joined Almandrez in moderating the discussion in the Schine Student Center. The talk focused on the university’s spring semester DEIA initiatives and the future of such policies under the Trump administration.
Almandrez highlighted several accomplishments from this semester, including professional development events focused on addressing the challenges students of color face on campus, cultural barriers across academic disciplines and dialogue about wellness on campus.
She shared the results of the university’s CORE Four Workshops and said participants are applying its teachings in their roles on campus. The workshops, open to SU faculty, staff and students, focused on the foundations of DEIA, allyship, identifying microaggressions and strengthening the sense of belonging on campus.
La Shaun Jones, an administrative assistant for New Student Programs, spoke about recent changes within her program in terms of descriptions and labels pertaining to DEIA. She said there have been changes to language in event descriptions to “stay underneath the radar” amid Trump’s anti-DEIA policies. Jones questioned if the university would see a campus-wide mandate to avoid losing federal money.
In response, Almandrez reaffirmed the university’s commitment to continue supporting DEIA initiatives and said this work at SU remains unwavering. She said its offices will continue to comply with the law while also retaining its core values.
“It’s not an erasure, because that’s not who we are,” Almandrez said. “The work we’re doing is critical. It is part of our DNA.”
The forum also included an interactive group discussion. Participants were given postage sheets to write their thoughts on finding community at SU and which ODI services have the greatest impact.
Carlota Deseda-Coon, the director of the Kessler Scholars Program for the Intercultural Collective at SU, emphasized the importance of stepping outside comfort zones and creating safe spaces to cultivate growth as a whole community.
“As long as you feel respected, we can probably have a space where we can have that dialog, even with people that don’t think like you do, or don’t think like I do,” Deseda-Coon said. “That’s the only way that we can move forward to provide a space, or little pieces of space that ultimately can make us all feel a part of something larger.”
Emlyn Lewis, an SU sophomore, said having DEIA services available on campus provides her with comfort and reassurance, and makes SU feel like a closer-knit community.
Almandrez said the university is focusing on improving DEIA initiatives on campus, with the creation of a new suite in Steele Hall that will house the Inclusion and Belonging Office and Disability Access team.
She also said there haven’t been discussions about dismantling affinity groups at SU. She said these groups are essential for the university’s growth. The university has created two new groups, including one founded by LGBTQ+ faculty, staff, and allies, she said.
In the face of adversity and change, Almandrez said she believes in the strength of the SU community to continue fighting for the future of DEIA.
“We are a campus that is resilient,” she said. “We are a campus that has this long legacy and history of being a campus that is working into all, and we will continue to do this work together as we weather these different storms.”
