John Choi Named Director of Equity

The Webb Schools are strengthening our focus on diversity, equity and inclusion with the elevation of Coordinator of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion John Choi to the Senior Administration Team.

As the Director of Equity, Choi will directly advise Head of Schools Taylor Stockdale and the Board of Trustees.

The appointment is effective July 1.

Other Senior Administration Team members include the Associate Head of Schools, Director of Admission, Director of Finance, Planning and Operations, Director of the Alf Museum, Director of Advancement, Director of College Guidance and Director of Marketing and Strategic Communications.

“John Choi’s promotion underscores Webb’s unwavering commitment to ensuring diversity among our students, staff and faculty; equity in all aspects of our program; and an open, inclusive community where everyone feels welcome to share who they are,” Stockdale said.

Choi joined Webb in 2018 as a member of the science faculty. He dedicated himself to providing students with opportunities to engage with topics involving identity, equity and justice. That commitment was recognized with his appointment in September 2020 to the role of Coordinator of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

Since then, Choi has partnered with his fellow faculty and staff members to bring Webb students to the People of Color and Student Diversity Leadership Conferences, sponsored multiple efforts to strengthen the Webb community and support the campus Empowering Student Voices Initiative and Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) affinity groups. This includes designing and facilitating community reads of Ibram X. Kendi’s “How to Be an Antiracist” for faculty, staff, administration and parents.

In his new role, Choi will receive additional resources to guide The Webb Schools in pursuing 11 action steps to combat racism and inequity. The plan expands on Webb’s 2018 pledge of diversity and inclusion in its Mission Statement. That pledge commits Webb to expanding underrepresented BIPOC faculty, staff and students and to ensuring BIPOC representation across volunteer leadership groups, including the Board of Trustees.

“I’m excited to begin in my new role working with the community to build authentic and sustainable institutional progress toward greater inclusivity and equity,” Choi said. “For this work to be successful, we need to lean into our relationships with one another and to realize that it is the responsibility of each one of us to guarantee a community of belonging for everyone.”

Choi said Webb will build on inherent strengths, including strong relationships between students, faculty and staff, as it fosters both personal growth and institutional improvement.