Photo: Tamisha Chesnut
NEW ROCHELLE, NY (October, 2021) – The Ursuline School has appointed Tamisha Chestnut as its first Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) who is already making strides to further the school’s mission of inclusion and respect for all.
Ms. Chestnut leads Ursuline’s initiatives to cultivate a fully inclusive community, as set out in a DEI action plan developed by the school in the summer of 2020. She is leading the DEI team as it designs student workshops, organizes faculty education programs, and creates affinity and alliance groups.
“Tamisha’s presence is already being felt with her work in recruiting meaningful and powerful guest speakers to inspire and empower our students to become wise, active, globally-minded leaders, and to inform the entire school community,’’ said Ursuline President Dr. Colleen Melnyk.
Dr. Melnyk pointed to two speakers who recently addressed the student body and parents: psychiatrist and self-care expert Dr. Janet Taylor, author of The Courageous Classroom: Creating a Culture of Safety for Students to Learn and Thrive, who spoke about returning to the classroom in a COVID environment and Carla Harris, Vice Chairman of Wealth Management and Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley and author of Expect to Win, whose presentation kicked off the school’s financial literacy program.
Ms. Chestnut brings to her new role a broad range of experience in all aspects of human resources and diversity, equity and inclusion. She began her work in the field at Morgan Stanley where she served as Director of Human Resources & Diversity for the Global Wealth Management Group. Most recently, she served as Director of Human Resources at The Nightingale-Bamford School, where she was responsible for providing vision and executive leadership to fulfill the school’s mission and strategic human capital planning initiatives.
As an alumna of Academy of Mt. Saint Ursula, Ms. Chestnut understands and has lived out the Ursuline mission.
“Enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion is a core institutional value at The Ursuline School that aligns with our mission and is a component of our Strategic Plan,” said Ms. Chestnut. “There are a multitude of innovative and culturally rich experiences that I am excited about sharing with students, both in and outside of the classroom. Our students will be better prepared for life beyond Ursuline as we introduce them to diverse perspectives and foster an appreciation for differences that will enhance their educational and social experiences.”
Ms. Chestnut holds a Master’s degree from Mercy College and is a graduate of Hampton University in Hampton, VA.
The Ursuline School is an all-girls, Roman Catholic, independent college preparatory school, grades 6-12, celebrating its 125th year. It is located on a 13-acre modern campus in New Rochelle. The mission of the school is to educate, inspire and empower young women to become wise, active, globally-minded leaders by cultivating lifelong learning, spiritual growth, integrity, respect for all and dedication to Serviam – “I will serve.”
