Affinity Groups
Loyola University Chicago’s Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is committed to enhancing feelings of belonging across our campuses. However, we cannot do so alone.
We believe in the power of Loyola’s faculty and staff community to rally around a common interest, purpose, or goal. From there, creating structured engagement opportunities that connect our colleagues to one another and to a greater purpose.
To activate this vision, OIDEI is thrilled to support Affinity Groups (AGs) for faculty and staff!
Similar to Loyola’s many student organizations, AGs help to provide an increased sense of belonging for faculty and staff. With support from the OIDEI, AGs are established and managed by members of the Loyola community.
We invite all Loyola faculty and staff to lead the way by elevating what is important to you and your colleagues while creating a sustainable community to connect with others around diverse ideas, talents, and interests.
Affinity Groups (AGs) proudly promote inclusion and a sense of belonging at Loyola University Chicago. AGs are open to all Loyola faculty and staff who support the mission and vision of the AG.
Benefits of Affinity Groups include:
- An increased sense of belonging for faculty and staff
- Breaking down employee silos between schools, units, and campuses
- Deepening of colleague relationships
- Cultivating personal and professional development
- Positive impact to recruitment + retention efforts
- Help drive diversity, equity, and inclusion by enhancing cultural awareness
For those interested in starting an Affinity Group for Loyola faculty and/or staff, there will be a call for new Affinity Groups in the fall!
FAQs
Active Affinity Groups
Administrative Support
The Administrative Support Affinity Group is dedicated to empowering and elevating administrative support staff across LUC campuses by fostering a supportive community of collaboration, professional development, and shared expertise. We strive to create a space where support staff can connect, learn, and grow through mentorship, networking, and the exchange of best practices. Our vision is to champion the vital role of administrative support staff in organizational success, advocate for career advancement opportunities, and cultivate a culture of excellence, innovation, and efficiency within our roles. Any Loyolan in support of this work is welcome to join. For more information, please contact Rachel Guy (rguy1@luc.edu), or Suzan Cibulskis (scibuls@luc.edu).
Black Faculty and Staff
The Black Faculty and Staff Affinity Group at Loyola University Chicago fosters community, professional growth, and institutional change by uniting faculty and staff across all campuses by creating spaces for authentic connection, mentorship, and advocacy while amplifying Black excellence and cultivating a stronger sense of belonging within the Loyola community. Through collaborative engagement, we aim to break down institutional silos, share knowledge and resources, and celebrate the success of Black students, faculty, and staff. Please contact Cory Barnes (cbarnes9@luc.edu) for more information.
Early Career Professionals
The Early Career Professionals Affinity Group is dedicated to supporting those who are early in their career and/or new to working at Loyola. With pillars of professional development, community building, and inclusion, our mission is to strengthen the connections and skills of early career professionals while building coalitions across all three Loyola Chicago campuses to cultivate an institutional culture where early career staff can thrive. If you have questions or are interested, please email Bizzy Stephenson estephenson@luc.edu or Madeline Stanton mstanton2@luc.edu.
Jewish Faculty, Staff, and Allies
The Jewish Faculty, Staff, and Allies (JFSA) affinity group at Loyola University Chicago will celebrate and support Jewish faith, heritage, culture, and identities through networking, personal, and professional development, strengthening the diverse learning community and supporting Loyola's commitment to cura personalis across all campuses. If you have questions or are interested, please email Laurence Bolotin lbolotin@luc.edu.
If you would like to sign up for the JFSA Affinity Group mailing list, please submit your name and email address here.
La Loyola Latine
La Loyola: Latine Faculty and Staff Affinity Group promotes cultural pride and recognition at Loyola University Chicago. La Loyola supports staff and faculty with a shared interest to build community and connect across our campuses. Our mission is to nurture the spirit of collegiality, share resources, mentor fellow colleagues, unite as a network of professionals, and increase visibility of faculty/staff who hold marginalized identities. If you have questions or are interested in joining La Loyola, please email the chair, Wendolyn Gomez, wgomez2@luc.edu and the vice chair, Ramiro Jiménez, rjimenez3@luc.edu.
La Loyola: Latine Faculty and Staff Affinity Group promueve el orgullo y reconocimiento cultural en la Universidad Loyola de Chicago. La Loyola apoya profesores y empleados Latines con un interés compartido de construir una comunidad y conectarse en todos nuestros campus. Nuestra misión es fomentar el espíritu de colegialidad, compartir recursos, orientar a nuestros colegas, unirnos como una red de profesionales y aumentar la visibilidad de empleados con identidades marginadas. Grupos de afinidad (Affinity Groups (AGs)) promueven con orgullo la inclusión y el sentido de pertenencia en la Universidad Loyola de Chicago. Si tiene preguntas o está interesado en unirse a La Loyola, envíe un correo electrónico a la presidenta, Wendolyn Gomez, wgomez2@luc.edu, y al vicepresidente, Ramiro Jiménez, rjimenez3@luc.edu.
If you would like to sign up for La Loyola’s mailing list, please submit your name and Loyola email address here.
We are recruiting leadership members for the 2025-2026 academic year. Email Wendolyn Gomez, chair, at wgomez2@luc.edu to schedule a 15-minute informational meeting.
Upcoming event: Kick-off Monday, June 2nd from 12pm-1pm on Zoom: Join us for La Loyola’s book club! We are excited to start reading The House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea in community! Join us on zoom to discuss the book together this summer. If you are interested in joining the club, please email Jackie Molina, events & activities manager, at jmolina2@luc.edu.
LUC Pride Network
The LUC Pride Network Affinity Group supports the advancement and belonging of LGBTQIA+ employees at Loyola University Chicago. We serve this goal by building a community grounded in solidarity and joy through events and gatherings that foster connection and conversation. We remain a space steadfast in welcoming and serving all employees while centering the experiences of those at the margins of gender identity, sexual orientation, and/or sex with an understanding that each of these experiences are hued through multiple layers of systemic power. The work of those that came before provide drive as we create a community and culture of justice, equity and uplift for ourselves and generations to come at Loyola.
For more information, please contact Cami Christopulos cchristopulos@luc.edu or Polly Eron meron@luc.edu
Mindfulness and Meditation
The Meditation and Mindfulness Affinity Group seeks to create a supportive community for LUC staff and faculty to explore, discuss, and practice mindfulness and meditation in their daily lives. We welcome both those curious about meditation and mindfulness, as well as individuals with established practices. By embracing nondenominational meditation and mindfulness concepts, we aim to foster personal and professional growth, encouraging self-care and care for others.
For more information, please contact Dianna Stencel (dstence@luc.edu) or Christopher Dickman (cdickman@luc.edu)
Join us for the Mindfulness and Meditation Affinity Group kick-off event!
Affinity Groups (AGs) proudly promote inclusion and a sense of belonging at Loyola University Chicago. AGs are open to all Loyola faculty and staff who support the mission and vision of the AG.
AGs están abiertos a todos los profesores y personal de Loyola que apoyan la misión y la visión del AG.
What are AGs?
Affinity Groups (AGs) are voluntary, self-led groups comprised of faculty and/or staff with a common purpose, goal, or interest. With support from the OIDEI, AGs are established and managed by members of the Loyola community. AGs help to achieve our collective goals of increasing inclusion and feelings of belonging by offering structured opportunities for like-minded individuals and allies to connect across Loyola University Chicago.
What is the goal of an AG?
AGs help to achieve our collective goals of increasing inclusion and feelings of belonging by offering a space for like-minded individuals and allies to connect. Like Loyola’s many student organizations, AGs provide an increased sense of belonging driven by the actions of individuals who create lived experiences on our campuses – that’s you!
Additionally, AGs are a platform for breaking down silos, building and deepening colleague relationships, and cultivating personal and professional development alongside peers with a unique role, perspective, or interest at the University.
Who can start or join an AG?
AGs are open to all Loyola employees and may include faculty, staff, or a combination of both. Most importantly, AGs are community driven, meaning any faculty or staff at Loyola can form, lead, and/or join an AG of interest.
What do AGs do?
AGs have a leadership structure, actively recruit new members, and hold meetings and activities to ensure member engagement. AGs may focus on uplifting a specific affinity (BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities), a specific purpose (new staff networking, educators pursuing tenure), or a specific interest (sustainability on campus), as examples. The potential for the types of AGs are endless! Regardless of the focus, AGs are open to all faculty and staff who support the mission of the AG.
How do I start an AG?
If you are interested in starting a Faculty Staff Affinity Group open to all Loyola employees, please email institutionaldiversity@luc.edu
Loyola University Chicago’s Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is committed to enhancing feelings of belonging across our campuses. However, we cannot do so alone.
We believe in the power of Loyola’s faculty and staff community to rally around a common interest, purpose, or goal. From there, creating structured engagement opportunities that connect our colleagues to one another and to a greater purpose.
To activate this vision, OIDEI is thrilled to support Affinity Groups (AGs) for faculty and staff!
Similar to Loyola’s many student organizations, AGs help to provide an increased sense of belonging for faculty and staff. With support from the OIDEI, AGs are established and managed by members of the Loyola community.
We invite all Loyola faculty and staff to lead the way by elevating what is important to you and your colleagues while creating a sustainable community to connect with others around diverse ideas, talents, and interests.
Affinity Groups (AGs) proudly promote inclusion and a sense of belonging at Loyola University Chicago. AGs are open to all Loyola faculty and staff who support the mission and vision of the AG.
Benefits of Affinity Groups include:
- An increased sense of belonging for faculty and staff
- Breaking down employee silos between schools, units, and campuses
- Deepening of colleague relationships
- Cultivating personal and professional development
- Positive impact to recruitment + retention efforts
- Help drive diversity, equity, and inclusion by enhancing cultural awareness
For those interested in starting an Affinity Group for Loyola faculty and/or staff, there will be a call for new Affinity Groups in the fall!