Woman standing in front of "Nice to meet you" welcome presentation

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Justice (EDIJ)

In a community reflecting many perspectives and experiences, we strive to infuse EDIJ tenets throughout Lesley, creating an environment grounded in understanding, trust, and connectedness, where people can participate equally and fully, express their identities, and engage across differences.

Woman presenting in front of an image of MLK


Intercultural Affairs

We create welcoming environments that enable Lesley's diverse community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni to interact with one another through meaningful dialogue and engagement that bridge their differences and strengthen the Lesley community. We support affinity spaces for students, resource groups for faculty and staff, wellness and brave spaces, lectures on global topics, and various other ways for students, faculty, and staff to engage around equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice at Lesley and beyond.

Learn more about Intercultural Affairs.

Training, Education, and Development (TED) 

At Lesley, we create learning programs and development experiences that recognize and value diverse perspectives within our community. Our aim is to make us a stronger community of learners, teachers, and professionals, as well as to enable our students to incorporate equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice in their lives, their communities, or wherever their paths take them. 

Lesley community members can learn more at our TED page.

Office of Equal Opportunity

The Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) at Lesley is responsible for addressing and responding to reports of discrimination and harassment, including sexual misconduct, to help create a campus where all members of our community have access to the University. In doing so, OEO ensures compliance with Title IX as well as other federal and state nondiscrimination laws. To learn more about this office, please visit the OEO webpage.

Urban Scholars Initiative (USI)

We help low-income college students, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college, to realize their academic and life potential by supporting their financial, academic, and emotional needs while they matriculate at Lesley University. Through the Urban Scholars Initiative, we provide tuition assistance, tutoring, and mentoring to enable students to graduate from college with modest or no loan debt. Since launching in 2013, more than 200 students have participated and the graduation rate has remained consistently high at 90%.

Learn more about the Urban Scholars Initiative.

At Lesley University, our differences enrich our collective experience and offer unique perspectives. We strive to Engage our Human Differences by encouraging meaningful dialogue, embracing diverse identities, and cultivating a culture of inclusion. We recognize that a diverse community fosters creativity, innovation, and personal growth, and we are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels valued and heard.

Enhancing our Belonging in Community is a central focus of our department. We are dedicated to creating a sense of belonging for every community member, including students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Through various programs, initiatives, and resources, we aim to build connections, foster empathy, and promote understanding across diverse backgrounds. A strong sense of belonging is crucial for personal well-being and academic success.

As we look toward the future, we are unwavering in our commitment to Strive Toward an Equitable Future. We recognize that systemic barriers and social inequalities persist, and we are dedicated to dismantling these structures through education, advocacy, and action. Our department works collaboratively with individuals and groups across campus to identify and address issues of inequity, creating a more just and equitable society.

We acknowledge that the land we occupy on our campus in Cambridge has been cared for by Indigenous people since time immemorial. Explorers and colonizers came here and stayed without treating the people they met as equals or as rightful stewards of this land, taking their lives, land and resources.​​

We are gathered on the traditional homelands of the Massachusett Nation. We also acknowledge their neighbors and relatives, the Nipmuc and Wampanoag Peoples. ​

We humbly recognize the sacrifices that this country’s Indigenous communities were forced to make in order for us to be here and to hold this ceremony.  We honor their connection to these lands and are grateful for the legacy they left us -- ceremonial and sacred places in nature, ancestral burial grounds on this land, and language through place names and words now integrated into English.

 

Contact Us

How to Contact Us

Where to Find Us

  • Physical Location
    Porter Campus at 1815 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge MA 02140