We don’t just talk about diversity.
Wheaton believes embracing diversity leads to personal growth, intellectual enrichment, freedom and social justice. Being a part of Wheaton means more than being tolerant of people who are different from you. It means appreciating and celebrating those differences.
In the fall of 2018, Peony Fhagen (Associate Provost for Diversity & Faculty Development), Raquel Ramos (Dean of the Marshall Center for Intercultural Learning), and Shaya Gregory Poku (Associate Vice President for Institutional Equity and Belonging) formed Diversity, Equity, & Access Leadership (DEAL), an umbrella entity that oversees the implementation of the Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan and support campus Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) work. In Fall 2020, Stephanie Burlington Daniels (Associate Professor of Theatre and Dance) joined Shaya and Raquel as a fellow DEAL Co-Chair.
Shaya Gregory Poku
Associate Vice President for Institutional Equity and Belonging
Effective March 15, 2021 Dean Shaya Gregory Poku will move into Wheaton’s inaugural position of Associate Vice President for Institutional Equity and Belonging. This senior-level role is a fulfillment of one of Wheaton’s 10 Action Steps towards Racial Justice to create a senior-level position focused on inclusion and equity.
More about the Office for Institutional Equity and Belonging
DEAL
Our Diversity, Equity and Access Leadership (DEAL) group strives to create opportunities for innovative diversity work to ensure that Wheaton consistently provides a diverse, inclusive, equitable, and accessible learning community.
Vision & Mission
The DEI Vision and Mission Statement provides a framework and an anchor for our campus to guide our work as we continually outline new action steps and refresh our Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan going forward.
10 Action Steps
The campus community has outlined 10 specific action steps toward racial justice that we will undertake as a community to fulfill our mandate for institutional equity.
Recent Blog Posts
All DEAL Posts
Taking action together to create an anti-racist society
The Wheaton College community has demonstrated that by working together we can do great things. Never in the history of our country has that ability been more necessary than it is right now. The difficult, complicated life-saving work of acknowledging, examining and dismantling systemic racism through action will take all of us.
Our current student community
68% of our student body report having parental education.
Our international students reside from 50+ countries across the world.
More than one quarter of our current student community are students of color.
Additional Resources and Networks
Marshall Center for Intercultural Learning
Marshall Center for Intercultural Learning
Wheaton College is committed to principles of equal opportunity in admission of students, its educational programs and employment.