Six students attended the annual NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) held the last week of November.

The SDLC theme was, “Believing and Belonging in our schools: Reckoning with injustice, reconciling with love." Highly skilled faculty in diversity issues facilitated the online sessions in which students explored various core aspects of their identity.

Students connected with peers from independent schools across the United States and beyond to engage in conversation centered on multicultural issues and their experiences as independent school students.

One student said, “The conference was much more meaningful than what I thought it would be. Everyone was so vulnerable, open-minded, and respectful."

When asked about the most impactful aspect of their experience, another student reflected, “I was able to express myself and have forward thinking conversations.” 

Following a variety of conversations around identity, a student shared, “I hold each part of myself with love and pride."

One of the goals of the Student Diversity Leadership Conference is develop cross-cultural communication skills while building community. One student noted, “I was empowered with the agency to embrace my cultural identity without hesitation or justification.”

The conference was held virtually, though participants all gathered off campus to participate in debriefing conversations led by Ursuline faculty and administrators. At the conclusion of the conference, another student said, “the conference felt like an exhale, and I feel refreshed and sad to end our time together."

UA Student Conference Attendees:

• Giselle Sethi '22
• Luciana Pauwels '22
• Victoria Rivera '22
• Alana Houston '23
• Jana Elawar '23
• Stephanie Limaye '23