President's Commission

The President's Commission on Racial Equity and Social Justice

About Us

What We Do

We are 31 faculty, staff, and students reviewing and collecting data to make recommendations for a stronger, more inclusive Bard. The formal charge of the Commission is as follows: “Conduct an audit of Bard’s past, report on the present state of affairs, recommend a plan of action for the future.”

As a recommending body, this Commission identifies ways to build upon previous successful DEI work, recommending structural changes for enhanced success. The Commission does not investigate specific incidents. However, all information shared can be useful in supporting final recommendations to enhance campus climate. Individuals who wish to formally report an incident should complete the Bard Incident Reporting Form.

What We Do

We are 31 faculty, staff, and students reviewing and collecting data to make recommendations for a stronger, more inclusive Bard. The formal charge of the Commission is as follows: “Conduct an audit of Bard’s past, report on the present state of affairs, recommend a plan of action for the future.”

As a recommending body, this Commission identifies ways to build upon previous successful DEI work, recommending structural changes for enhanced success. The Commission does not investigate specific incidents. However, all information shared can be useful in supporting final recommendations to enhance campus climate. Individuals who wish to formally report an incident should complete the Bard Incident Reporting Form.

Commission Membership

Kahan Sablo, CHAIR, Dean of Inclusive Excellence
Myra Armstead, VICE CHAIR, Vice President of Academic Inclusive Excellence and Lyford Paterson
Edwards and Helen Gray Edwards Professor of Historical Studies
Dinaw Mengestu, VICE CHAIR, Professor of Written Arts and Director, Written Arts Program
Riti Bahl, Student Leader
Bree Bogle, Student Leader
Krista Caballero, Associate Director of the Center for Experimental Humanities
Nicole Caso, Associate Professor of Spanish and Chair, Division of Languages and Literature
Erin Cannan, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Civic Engagement
Mirelva Colon, Counselor
Adrian Costa, Speaker of the Student Body
Deirdre d’Albertis, Dean of the College and Professor of English
Duhita Das, Student Leader
Omar Encarnacion, Professor of Political Studies
Donna Ford ‘80, Visiting Associate Professor of Literature and American Studies
John Gomez, Director of Security
Alexander Hall ‘17, Housing Associate, Bard Prison Initiative
Cammie Jones, Associate Dean of Experiential Learning and Civic Engagement
Gabriel Mendes, Director of Public Health Programs, Bard Prison Initiative
Stefan M. Méndez-Diez, Assistant Professor of Mathematics
A. Sayeeda Moreno, Assistant Professor of Film and Electronic Arts
Miles Rodriguez, Assistant Professor of Historical Studies and Latin American and Iberian Studies
Michael Sadowski, Executive Director of Bard Early College Hudson and Associate Professor, Bard MAT
Program
Kimberly Sargeant ‘14, Assistant Director of Access and Equity Programs
Whitney Slaten, Assistant Professor of Music
Jovanny Suriel, Assistant Dean of Civic Engagement and Director of Career Development
Erika van der Velden ‘04, Director of Disability Resources
Dumaine Williams ‘03, Vice President and Dean of the Bard Early Colleges
Manny Williams, Student Leader
Shuo Zhang, Assistant Professor of Physics

Administrative Support has been graciously provided by Sherry Gildersleeve, Assisstant to the Dean of the College

2020–21 Progress Report

Last updated January 25, 2021

HEDS Diversity and Equity Survey

During the fall 2020 semester the campus-wide HEDS Survey was administered with the following response rates:

Undergraduate Students: 37% (619 responses)
Graduate Students: 35% (97 responses)
Faculty: 72% (223 responses)
Staff: 43% (252 responses)
Administrators: 93% (75 responses)

The results of this survey will support recommendations to enhance the campus climate and measure the success of future DEI initiatives.

A History of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts at Bard

The President's Commission authored a comprehensive historical narrative of Bard's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts during the following eras:

The Age of Integration, Affirmative Action, and Multiculturalism (Before 2000)
The Diversity Era (2000–2015)
Confronting Systemic Racism (2016–2019)

Student Town Hall Sessions

During the fall 2020 semester, the President's Commission facilitated two student town hall sessions.

Current Action Items

Organizing and analyzing HEDS Data
Administering an Alumnx Survey
Soliciting narratives from previous employees
Reviewing current data from Simon's Rock, the Bard Prison Initiative, and Bard High School Early Colleges

Spring Agenda

Identify common themes from all data collected
Envision goals for a more inclusive Bard College
Draft recommendations to achieve these goals
Submit the final report and present findings to President Leon Botstein

Additional Information

Don't miss the Diversity@Bard Newsletter for updates on DEI activities on campus
Share your DEI thoughts and experiences with the Commission. Submit Testimony to the Commission