Local colleges present equity initiatives to Lacey commission

Representatives from Saint Martin’s University (SMU) and South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) highlighted their ongoing efforts to create more inclusive academic environments in presentations to the Lacey Commission on Equity on August 26.

Saint Martin’s University

John Hopkins, chief diversity officer at Saint Martin’s University, presented the institution’s diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) strategy, which he said is deeply rooted in the Catholic Benedictine tradition.

The Lacey-based university emphasizes the importance of fostering a learning environment where diversity is celebrated, and all community members are supported in their personal, academic, and professional growth, according to Hopkins.

“Because we are Benedictine and Catholic, we believe relationality is the way that we affect this the best,” said Hopkins.

Key initiatives include the Diversity and Equity Center (DEC), which provides programs and services that promote social justice, mutual understanding, and inclusive excellence across the campus.  Hopkins underscored the university’s commitment to transforming its community by welcoming cultural differences and ensuring that all voices are heard.

He said the DEC is instrumental in this mission, offering resources such as campus climate surveys, bias impact response teams, and various multicultural and ethnic clubs that enhance the university's inclusive atmosphere.

“We do this with great care and compassion and uh we do it with this openness of the self to receive others,” he added.

South Puget Sound Community College

Amanda Ybarra, executive diversity officer at SPSCC, detailed the college’s approach to equity, highlighting it as one of the institution’s core themes alongside student achievement and learning engagement.

SPSCC serves a diverse student population and is dedicated to eliminating barriers that contribute to equity gaps.

“We’re looking at ways that really bring equity, and education is a huge piece of that,” said Ybarra. “We understand that, and it's at every single level of our institution.”

The college’s Equity Guiding Principles—centered on listening to and supporting the people they serve—inform every decision and initiative, ensuring that the needs of underrepresented communities are met, Ybarra explained.

Ybarra also introduced the college’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Center, a safe space designed to support students through monthly programs, mentorship, and emergency resources like food support and housing assistance.

Additionally, the college’s Ignite Program provides specialized support for students from historically marginalized identities, offering resources such as dedicated educational planning, financial aid advising, and retention scholarships.

“We're trying to not only create an environment, but we want that they feel like they belong,” she said. “We really look at what are the barriers and then how do we remove them and break down those equity gaps.”