Trinity College Renames the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, to the Office of Community and Belonging

Isabella Chirkis

Editor in Chief

On Feb. 5, students and staff of Trinity College were notified via email from President Daniel Lugo that the school would be renaming its Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, to the Office of Community and Belonging. Lugo informed the staff and student body that the name change lies in the foundation of creating Trinity’s new and more concrete values which are “access, belonging, connection, curiosity and open inquiry.” 

This change comes as DEI departments at colleges and universities across the country come under fire following the Trump Administration’s pressure to erase DEI. In recent months, Harvard University renamed their DEI office to the “Community and Campus Life.” Other schools across the country have renamed their DEI offices in similar ways.  

In an interview with Dr. Davis, the Vice President for Community and Belonging, she explained how this has been a three year process, which started with honest conversations and questioning if the current name of the DEI office truly captures all that Trinity does and stands for. In 2023, the college was booming with its bicentennial celebration, and later in 2025, following the inauguration of President Lugo, which paused these conversations in order to focus on these events. In 2025, the conversation about renaming the office was reopened, Dr. Davis emphasizing to the Tripod: “The backdrop of the nation was kind of in the background. By sharing a timeline we hope people understand the 2025 anti-DEI climate in our nation was not our driver, we started this way before, and we took pauses because we recognized the timing for our campus needed to be different” she stated. 

Over the past two semesters, Trinity conducted sessions of values conversations, talking to over 600 students and staff who helped define our campus’ values. Getting the Trinity community involved in this decision was crucial according to Davis, emphasizing the name change and our school’s future: “we have done good work because others have joined us” she stated. A greater sense of community is the overall goal moving forward, as “community” was the most used word during these values conversations. With the focus of the campus on community and its importance to our environment, Davis highlights how we are better, together: “Community and belonging broaden who we are and also help make it clear where our focus is.” 

In a discussion about the next phase of the work by students and staff, Davis told the Tripod about a new tradition, called “Trinity’s Spring Read.” An annual book club for students, faculty and staff, members of the Trinity community have the opportunity to sign up and receive the semester’s book for free.This spring, the book choice is “Conversations With People Who Hate Me: 12 Things I learned Talking to Internet Strangers” by Dylan Marrow. The book club will follow with a visit from the author on March 5. 

The next step, according to Dr.Davis, is to raise awareness about Trinity’s newly implemented values that emphasize: “Who are we, what do we stand for, and what is it going to be like when I join that community.”