JEDI Center
An Office Focused on Social Justice That is Also a Safe Space for People With Marginalized Identities
The Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Center was created in 2022 by Malissa Ismaila, Director of Student Inclusion and Diversity. The JEDI center is located on the 3rd floor of the McCombs Campus Center. Its predecessor, the Office of Diversity Education (ODE), led by Terri Johnson, former Assistant Dean for Multicultural Affairs, was located on the 2nd floor of the Prothro Center.
JEDI as an organization supports students from groups that are historically underrepresented in higher education by fostering a supportive community that promotes diversity and social justice. Their main work is coordinating student social justice organizations, and working with staff and faculty on diversity, inclusion, belonging, and equity (DIBE) efforts on campus.
In an interview with Dr. Ismaila in 2023, she said that the JEDI Center “is more than just a place to visit for resources, events, and workshops; it is a concept that embraces self-awareness, cultural competence, and living in your authentic self. The JEDI center is a space where individuals can have meaningful conversations, difficult dialogues, and also encouragement. We seek to offer support for identities such as age, ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, physical/invisible, religion, educational background, socioeconomic status, and body image.”
Most important to students, JEDI has created a place for students in the Coalition for Diversity and Social Justice (CDSJ), and all eleven organizations within it, to call their own. Those organizations include the likes of the Asian Student Association, the Black Student Union, the Reproductive Justice Alliance, Pirates for Pride, and many others. Students have been advocating for such a place for years.
The JEDI center hosts many events throughout the year, such as Step and Stroll, International Cultural Night, and the Ebony Gala. Events like these unite the Southwestern community and open their eyes to other opportunities this office offers. JEDI events are open to all students, faculty, and staff.
Two of the first student leaders and workers, Rachel Thompson ‘23, and Aleena Khan ‘24, have made a special connection with this office. Aleena said, “I have always had a passion for social justice and advocating for minority students, and being in JEDI has given me the means to do that on a more campus-wide level.” And Rachel, the previous president of the CDSJ, has high hopes for the future of this program, “I would like to come back to Southwestern to see that JEDI has grown more student involvement, more staff and student workers, a bigger space, and more departments on campus who are involved in the JEDI center's success.”
