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

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 Black faculty and staff across all campuses. We are dedicated to 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 support the success of Black students, faculty, and staff.

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.

Upcoming events:

April 16th from 12-1pm: The Early Career Professionals (ECP) Affinity Group hosts a virtual Lunch Club for members to bring their lunch to the Zoom room, learn, and connect. Join our virtual April Lunch Club using the Zoom link to discuss all things wellness. We will be opening a discussion about self-care and how we prioritize our wellness as well as sharing information about some of Loyola's wellness related benefits.
May 21st from 12-1:30pm: Join Early Career Professionals (ECP) for our second annual spring picnic! Lunch provided, come when you can, leave when you must. We will gather on the lawn between MDS Chapel and Coffey Hall on LSC. Save the date, RSVP using the registration form by May 14.

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.

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

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

To activate this vision, OIDEI is thrilled to support Affinity Groups (AGs) for faculty and staff!

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!

Affinity Groups

FAQs

Active Affinity Groups

What are AGs?

What is the goal of an AG?

Who can start or join an AG?

What do AGs do?

How do I start an AG?