Building the Beloved Community

When students return to campus at the end of the summer, they will be greeted by a new dean of diversity, equity and inclusion. The Reverend Terri Ofori has joined the Brooks faculty to head up this important work.

"I hope to contribute to the vitality of discourse surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion at Brooks School," said Reverend Ofori, "by implementing a values-based model of diversity, equity and inclusion that engages the whole person — body, mind and spirit — in a meaningful change of systems and worldviews to build the beloved community."

Reverend Ofori comes to Brooks from Ursinus College in Pennsylvania, where she served as chaplain, professor, and director of religious and spiritual life. Reverend Ofori is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church. She has served as a chaplain and lecturer at Harvard University, Brown University, Wellesley College, Emerson, Simmons, and Bloomfield College.

Reverend Ofori received her Th.M. in Education and Spiritual Formation from Princeton Theological Seminary, the M.Div. degree from Harvard University, and a B.A. in history from the Mississippi University for Women. She received a certificate in executive leadership from McCormick Theological Seminary. She completed her Clinical Pastoral Education at Harvard Medical School teaching hospitals (Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital).

"As dean of diversity, equity and inclusion, I am confident that I can provide compassionate leadership that supports Brooks and underscores the National Episcopal School Association's strategic initiative to articulate a core religious identity within the context of a diverse, multi-religious and inclusive school community by promoting values of justice, equity, service, civil discourse and moral courage," Reverend Ofori said. "The work of diversity, equity and inclusion begins with self-awareness and the understanding that people are multidimensional. The cultivation of the inner life can lead to a more meaningful and prolific outer life that contributes to individual well-being and collective responsibility."

Ofori (center) poses at the Ofori Panin Anglican School with students in a youth leadership development program that she leads in Kyebi, Ghana, where she volunteers in the summer and during holidays.

The search for a dean of diversity, equity and inclusion was extensive and was aided by search firm StratéGenius, which helps schools that are seeking diverse candidates for teaching and leadership positions. StratéGenius is one of the few BIPOC-owned search firms dedicated to serving independent schools.

Ofori (center) with the Sisters in Spirit Ghana team

"We had roughly 40 applicants for the position, narrowed the field to 11 first-round candidates, and then eventually to four candidates who interviewed on campus," said Head of School John Packard. "After consulting with a number of people and working through all the thoughtful feedback that was shared with me following the on-campus interviews, I offered the position to Terri Ofori. I am thrilled with this outcome and am very much looking forward to welcoming Terri and her family to Brooks over the summer. She is equally excited to get here and begin to know our community in ways that will surely add to the work we are doing."

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