Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Artwork: Louis B. Sloan (1932-2008), “Storm Gathering Over Philadelphia”, 1961, oil on canvas, John Lambert Fund, 1962.12.

**A Message from the Belonging Committee:**

It is our goal to ensure that every person within PAFA’s community — whether they are a faculty member, staff member, student or stakeholder — feels that PAFA is there for them. The goal of the Belonging Committee is to ensure that our continued work of creating an equitable and inclusive atmosphere is implemented correctly and in a timely manner, and that we are including the voices and the needs of each and every one of our community members. We believe in the power of diversity, and work every day to ensure that PAFA is not only a great place to learn and grow, but a great community to be apart of.

Dr. Lisa Biagas, Chair, Chief Administrative Officer

Dr. Brittney Webb, Evelyn and Will Kaplan Curator of Twentieth-Century Art and the John Rhoden Collection

Maria Teicher-Doughtery, Adjunct Instructor, Illustration

Al Gury, Appointed Professor, Painting & Drawing

Dr. Anna Marley, Chief Curatorial Officer

Hoang Tran, Director of Archives & Collections

Dr. Ronke Oke, Director of DEIB & Deputy Title IX Coordinator

The Heritage of Diversity and Inclusion at PAFA

A Complicated History

“The Heritage of Diversity and Inclusion at PAFA” video highlights the complicated history of diversity and inclusion over PAFA’s 218 years, noting what went well, what didn’t, and PAFA’s commitment to the future to increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB).

The BELONGING Report.

The cover of this report, by Willie Birch, was selected from the PAFA Museum collection by BELONGING in the fall semester of 2019. Birch is an African-American artist who conceptualizes people not as monotypes but holistically. His piece visually represents our shared future and vision for PAFA and our nation. We strive to create a proverbial table as a safe space where people gather with the confidence that they can express themselves authentically. This is what it means to feel that you belong, are welcomed, and are a contributing member of a pluralistic community.

To that end, we continue to do the work needed and make changes where necessary to meet the needs of our PAFA community. From conducting campus climate checks such as the Belonging: PAFA Becomes a Pluralistic Community to creating safe and secure incident reporting methods, we want to ensure that our community can speak up, and speak out when needed, and that feedback is heard by leadership at all levels.

Download the Report Here

PAFA’s Diversity Calendar

Schedule Respectfully. With our PAFA Diversity Awareness Calendar, never forget important dates or events. Respecting the various religious observances, holidays, and events of our community creates an inclusive environment where we all can feel welcome.

Use the button below to access the calendar and to discover ways you can implement the tool; like in your signature block!

View the Calendar