Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

When Kavitha Kasturi walked into her first Student Diversity Leadership Conference in 2022, it was the first time she had been in a space in which most people belonged to historically underrepresented groups.

“The first moment you step into a room with thousands of kids from diverse backgrounds, it’s a different feeling—a great feeling, an immediate feeling of belonging,” said Kavitha.

The first moment you step into a room with thousands of kids from diverse backgrounds, it’s a different feeling—a great feeling, an immediate feeling of belonging.—Kavitha Kasturi, class of 2025

Held every year during the week after Thanksgiving, the Student Diversity Leadership Conference brings together student and adult representatives from independent schools across the US and abroad. Organized by the National Association of Independent Schools, SDLC takes place alongside the organization’s People of Color Conference. Both gatherings provide opportunities to self-reflect, connect with others, and learn how to build inclusive, equitable, and just classrooms and communities.

Because Rowland Hall believes in the importance of these conferences and the benefits they bring to the school community, every year the school pays to send a group of faculty and staff, as well as six Upper School students, to them. Each year, these representatives leave SDLC and PoCC inspired and excited to share what they learned with their community at Rowland Hall.

As in years past, when the 2023 SDLC wrapped, the student representatives—then juniors Kavitha Kasturi, Tenzin Sivukpa, Mattie Sullivan, Sylvia Rae Twahirwa, and Evan Weinstein, and then 10th grader Gavin Schmidt—were looking forward to sharing their experience back at school. But the group, some of whom were repeat conference attendees, also felt a pull to think bigger.

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That’s because the students knew, as of 2023, Rowland Hall was the only Utah independent school that attended SDLC—meaning very few students in the state benefit from the four-day experience. While they’d be sharing what they learned with their Upper School peers, they worried it was too small an impact. They wondered if there was a way to expand their reach. As the Rowland Hall representatives gathered for a debriefing on the last day of the conference, an exciting idea was floated: Could the students create their own SDLC-inspired conference for other Utah high schoolers?

It’s the kind of idea that could easily be shared then forgotten, but in the weeks following their return to campus, the SDLC group—along with then junior Hasan Rahim, who had attended SDLC in 2022, and then ninth grader Aoife Canning—kept the conversation going. Guided by advisors Dr. Kate Taylor, Dr. Chandani Patel, and Harper Lundquist ’16, the students began discussing all that actually goes into planning a conference, as well as what elements of SDLC they wanted to keep and what they thought was missing from the experience. Dr. Taylor wasn’t surprised by what she witnessed.

“This group happens to be very action-oriented, which is something I love about them,” she said. “They’re big visionary thinkers.”

And before they knew it, these visionaries’ questions had transformed into a solid plan. By January, they were working on what would soon be known as Wings of Inclusion: Cultivating Joy in Education, a first-of-its-kind student-led conference scheduled for Friday, September 6, and Saturday, September 7, at the Lincoln Street Campus.

In the months that followed, the students immersed themselves in the complicated world of event planning. Between classes and extracurriculars, and then during summer break, the group tackled a long to-do list: design a logo and marketing plan, craft a schedule, communicate with speakers and performers, extend invitations, identify facilitators, arrange catering, decide on activities, gather discussion questions. In line with priority 2 of Rowland Hall’s strategic vision, advisors were on hand for guidance as needed, but focused on empowering the students to make decisions and take the lead as much as possible.

As summer drew to a close and a new school year ramped up, the group put the finishing touches on their conference and prepared to welcome students from Wasatch Academy, the Waterford School, Copper Hills High School, and Olympus High School to campus.

The Wings of Inclusion conference aimed to provide attendees with a space of belonging and safety, where everyone is celebrated for who they are and can connect, and even be vulnerable, with others.

Guided by the theme of Cultivating Joy in Education (which builds on Rowland Hall’s 2024–2025 school-wide theme, Joy, and was inspired in part by a presentation the students heard from Dr. Gholdy Muhammad, author of Unearthing Joy), the Wings of Inclusion conference aimed to provide attendees with the kind of space Kavitha remembered walking into for her first SDLC—one of belonging and safety, where everyone is celebrated for who they are and can connect, and even be vulnerable, with others. The schedule, thoughtfully crafted by the student organizers, included space for both affinity groups (groups that share identities) and family groups (groups of randomly mixed participants), as well as unstructured social time, meals, and performances by Punjabi Arts Academy, Salt Lake Capoeira, and Best of Africa.

The students also scheduled three guest speakers: Stacy Bernal, a candidate for Utah State Senate; Michelle Mooney, impact manager for the Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office; and Dr. Mary Ann Villarreal, vice president for diversity, equity, and student success at American Association of Colleges and Universities, and a Rowland Hall trustee. “Our main goal was to show there are people of color or other diverse identities in positions of power,” said organizer Sylvia Rae. They hoped student attendees would see themselves in these community leaders, and that the speakers’ stories about their personal and professional journeys would help attendees understand that leadership and changemaking were within their reach.

And while the conference’s attendees certainly had an impressive group of adults at the event to look up to (in addition to the speakers, Ryan Hoglund, Robin Hori, Dr. Lydia Jackson, Dr. Nate Kogan, and Stacia McFadden served as conference facilitators, while advisors Dr. Patel and Kaleb Nielsen coordinated the program), the strongest role models of the weekend were the student organizers themselves. In addition to managing the flow of the event, these students all took on the facilitation roles that make breakout spaces safe and provide valuable, joyful experiences for attendees, some of whom may feel unwelcome in other communities.

“There’s definitely a nurturing role, a caretaking role,” said Sylvia Rae about being a facilitator. “You’re bigger than yourself at that moment: ‘I’m facilitating this conversation and it's not about me now; it’s about others.’”

And though the Wings of Inclusion turnout was smaller than the students originally hoped for (30 people attended the inaugural conference), the size turned out to be beneficial. It allowed facilitators to lead deeper conversations and for all attendees to more fully participate. “It was the perfect amount of people,” reflected Sylvia Rae.

Speaker Michelle Mooney, who stayed for a breakout session after addressing the group on Saturday morning, said watching the student facilitators lead their groups was heartwarming, and even reinvigorated her feelings about her own role in the community—particularly when it comes to empowering rising leaders. Though still in her 20s, Michelle said she’s already thinking about the legacy she’ll leave for the next generation to carry on, and she hopes more professionals will recognize the capabilities of students and young adults and help cultivate them as leaders.

“We don’t need to doubt that the youth know what to do, and we really need to empower our youth to feel like they have a place,” said Michelle.

And as Wings of Inclusion showed, when students are empowered, they can do incredible things. As the conference wound down on Saturday evening, a feeling of joy could be felt on campus—an attestation of the small-but-mighty power of this student-created gathering that, only nine months earlier, had been but a question, a dream of a space in which students from across the state could gather to pour strength, love, and inspiration into one another.

To close the event, the organizers gathered the group for an open mic session. Though they knew speaking in front of others is scary, and they were a bit worried the minutes may be filled with silence, they wanted to provide a moment of reflection for attendees. They didn’t wait long before one student stood up. Another followed. Then another. As each student came to the mic, they shared their gratitude for this welcoming conference, for this safe space in which they could share their experiences and be themselves. Some said they had never had this kind of opportunity before. Some called out the guest speakers who made them feel that they, too, can make a difference. They were grateful. They were inspirational. “It was the best moment of the conference for me and my peers,” said Kavitha.

They felt so good for having created a space for people in the broader community, to see their efforts can have a positive impact, that their voices, their actions, have power.—Dr. Kate Taylor, Upper School English teacher

For Dr. Taylor, who supported the students’ dream from its earliest days, the positive feedback the students have received is incredibly well-deserved. And, perhaps more importantly, it’s an ongoing reminder to these leaders that they are never too young to make real change.

“They felt so good for having created a space for people in the broader community, to see their efforts can have a positive impact, that their voices, their actions, have power,” said Dr. Taylor.

And the organizers can know that the inaugural (and soon to be annual) Wings of Inclusion conference will play an important role in helping more young adults from across the state believe in themselves and their ability to make a difference.

“Little things like this really matter. It made an impact,” said Kavitha. “It’s inspiring, and it made me want to keep going.”

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Banner: Rowland Hall seniors Tenzin Sivukpa, Mattie Sullivan, Evan Weinstein, Kavitha Kasturi, Hasan Rahim, and Sylvia Rae Twahirwa smile for a photo at the 2024 Wings of Inclusion Conference.

Equity & Inclusion

By Dr. Chandani Patel, Director of Equity and Inclusion

In its third year, the Office of Equity and Inclusion continued to implement programs and initiatives towards cultivating a community where each member thrives.

Led by Dr. Chandani Patel, Rowland Hall’s director of equity and inclusion, this year the team included four divisional coordinators across the school and a part-time equity and inclusion intern. Collaborating with other key partners, the Office of Equity and Inclusion built capacity across the school so that more individuals share the responsibility for advancing an equitable and inclusive Rowland Hall community. This year in review highlights programs and initiatives we led this year, with the help of many partners, to foster a sense of belonging for all. 

We want to thank the students, faculty, staff, trustees, alumni, and parents/caregivers who have contributed to this work this year. We look forward to working with many more of you in the years to come.

Ongoing Faculty Support for 2023–2024

During the 2023–2024 school year, divisional equity and inclusion coordinators collaborated with and provided support to faculty colleagues to advance equity and inclusion in classrooms and divisions. Coordinators worked closely with Dr. Patel and division principals to identify key needs, design resources, and facilitate learning opportunities. The coordinators were Quincy Jackson ’16 (Beginning School), Samantha Hemphill (Lower School), Susan Phillips (Middle School), and Dr. Kate Taylor (Upper School).

We again hosted a national Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity seminar, led by fifth-grade teacher Jen Bourque, where participants considered how they can use their classrooms, communities, or workplaces to create a more equitable environment for all.

2023–2024 DEI Learning Communities and Affinity Groups

• Belonging @ Rowland Hall Learning Community: This learning community convened a group of faculty and staff committed to advancing belonging for all community members at Rowland Hall. Organized around a set of topics related to equity and inclusion, the community met once a month and was open to all faculty and staff to come learn together. 
• Student JEDI leaders: This group of Upper School students facilitated learning opportunities for Middle School peers, including on topics such as recognizing and respecting differences, and organized community-building programs, such as luncheons and movie nights, to bring students together across their identities. 
• Inclusion, Outreach, and Equity (IEO) Committee: This committee of board members and administrators worked to identify and support strategic alignment centered on Rowland Hall’s priority to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion across the school community. 
• Affinity groups: Twenty-one affinity groups—spaces that bring together people with common identifiers or life experiences—in the lower, middle, and upper schools built relationships and engaged members in shared learning (see list of groups below). A faculty and staff BIPOC affinity group, for those who identify as Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color, gathered to recognize cultural heritage months and build community. The White Antiracist Educators group met to discuss key readings related to equity and inclusion and ways to activate allyship. Three parent/caregiver affinity groups (listed below) also met throughout the year to build community and provide mutual support. 

Student Affinity Groups

Twenty-one affinity groups supported lower, middle, and upper schoolers this year:

• Banana Splits, Lower School
• Kids of Color, Lower School
• Neurodivergent Club, Lower School*
• Rainbow Club, Lower School
• Arab and Muslim Affinity Group, Middle School*
• Boys Affinity Group, Middle School*
• Jewish Affinity Group, Middle School*
• Neurodivergent and Allies Affinity Group, Middle School
• Sexuality and Gender Alliance, Middle School
• Students of Color, Middle School
• Asian Affinity Group, Upper School
• Black Student Union, Upper School
• Christian Affinity Group, Upper School*
• Girls of Color, Upper School
• Infinity: Neurodivergent and Allies Affinity Group, Upper School
• Jewish Affinity Group, Upper School
• Latine Affinity Group, Upper School
• Multiracial Affinity Group, Upper School
• Muslim Affinity Group, Upper School
• Queer Straight Alliance, Upper School
• Queer/Trans People of Color, Upper School*

*New in 2023–2024

Affinity groups in the Lower School are requested by families, led by faculty mentors, and provide space to build community and support. Affinity groups in the middle and upper schools are requested by students and are student-led in terms of topics and activities. 

Parent/Caregiver Affinity Groups

• Active Allies*
• Families of Neurodivergent Students*
• Families of Students of Color

*New in 2023–2024

2023–2024 Programming

• MLK Week 2024: Weavers and Dreamers: This year’s MLK week theme, Weavers and Dreamers, invited us to consider—alongside storytellers, artists, and musicians—how our dreams of and for the future necessitate listening to each other’s stories, being in relationship with each other, and working toward a shared future. The program featured guest performers Micah Willis ’14 as well as Mama Charlotte and Ashley Finley from the Nubian Storytellers of Utah Leadership. We also celebrated long-serving board member and trailblazing community member Reverend Pastor France A. Davis as he retires from the Board of Trustees. 
• Second annual STEM Symposium: Led by the Upper School Science Department, this annual program was designed to offer our Upper School students an opportunity to learn from researchers across a variety of STEM disciplines about their work. The program provided students with a lens into a diverse array of career pathways with the hope of igniting their curiosity and showcasing role models in our community. 
• (*NEW*) All Affinity & Alliance Group Celebration: This end-of-the-year celebration was an opportunity for members of all affinity and alliance groups across the school to come together to build community and celebrate each other. Members of student, faculty and staff, and parent/caregiver affinity groups were in attendance. 
• Pride Parade 2024: More than 100 participants from the Rowland Hall community marched in the Utah Pride Parade this year. The group was led by student members of the Upper School’s Queer Straight Alliance, the Middle School’s Sexuality and Gender Alliance, and the Lower School’s Rainbow Club. This year, we hosted a float-decorating party for students and families the evening before the event to help build community and add Rowland Hall pride to our float. 

Community Education & Impact

Educational Programs

• Deliberate Dialogue on Indigenous Perspectives (October) was an opportunity for the community to explore the grounding principles that inform indigenous ways of learning and knowing. Participants learned about indigenous knowledge systems through music and art, resources created by indigenous communities, and discussion about education and indigeneity. The event was presented by Emily Quetone Khan, director of learning services, and her father, Tucker Quetone, who are members of the Kiowa Tribe and citizens of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. 
• Author Talk and Discussion with Kimberlee Williams (April) allowed participants to explore how to racially diversify their friend groups, how to show up for and with colleagues in ways that disrupt historic patterns, and how to intentionally and thoughtfully be in community with one another across racial differences.

Community Impact

• Together with Director of Community Engagement and Impact Ryan Hoglund, Dr. Chandani Patel launched the Center for Community Impact, which the two will be co-directing. The Center is designed to educate, empower, and inspire individuals to become agents of positive change in their communities and beyond and will offer opportunities for Rowland Hall students to establish deep and reciprocal relationships with community partners.

Equity & Inclusion