English teacher, Multiracial Affinity Group advisor, head cross country coach, and now Upper School Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Coordinator—Mr. Ramos does it all.
After Dr. John Aden, the former Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, left Chadwick at the end of last year, the administration reached out to the faculty for volunteers to serve as DEI coordinators for each division–Lower Village, Upper Village, Middle School, and Upper School—for the 2025-26 school year.
“When I saw that I had a smaller class load this year, I thought that I would have the time and energy to devote to this one-year-only role. Because I’ve been on the Equity Team for a while, I was suited to the role and willing to do it,” Ramos said.
“I am supposed to be helping students and parents with issues that relate to diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, belonging, or identity as it relates to Chadwick School,”said Ramos.
More specifically, Ramos can assist students who feel isolated in the Chadwick community due to some facet of their identity, have an identity-related issue with something in the curriculum, need support navigating microaggressions, and more. Ramos can also connect students with the administration if a situation requires administrative action.
Ramos noted that faculty members have reached out for support, too: “Even though formally I am here for the students and the parents, it is not a surprise for me that the faculty are seeking help and advice as well, and I’m grateful and honored to be the person who can help them.”
Ramos explained a common misconception about DEI: “I want people to understand that [DEI] issues are beyond race; DEI is broader and larger than race. People can come to me with issues of gender, accessibility, birth order—those are all parts of identity, and those are all things that I might be able to help with.”
“Everybody at our school has an identity, and everybody has issues that they have to deal with,” he added.
Though his role may only be temporary, Ramos still wants to make an impact in his year as DEI Coordinator:
“My goal is to do a good job helping people who need help, so I want to be available, and I want to give the best advice that I can. I want to be able to understand where people are coming from, and then also try to help them get some form of help or closure as they face the challenges that they’ve come to me with.”
Ramos shared that the best way to get in touch with him is in person: “I am a very big fan of the drop-in; if you find my office [in the English office in Roessler,] just pop your face in there. If I am not teaching class or coaching, I will put down what I am doing to talk to you.”
However, if students or parents are not able to connect with him in person, he is also available via email or Google Chat at [email protected].
“I am very happy to be chosen to do this role because I really do like helping people. People should not hesitate to ask for help,” Ramos said.
