I acknowledge that I am on the on the traditional, unceded land of the Wôpanâak (Wampanoag), Massa-adchu-es-et (Massachusett), Pokanoket and Patuxet People, past, present and future. I honor with gratitude the land itself for those who have stewarded it for generations, and for the opportunity to study, learn, work, and be in community with this land. I encourage everyone in my community to engage in continued learning about the Indigenous peoples who work and live on the land they inhabit since time immemorial about the historical and present realities of colonialism. This acknowledgment does not take the place of authentic relationship with indigenous communities but serves as one way to honor the land I am on, and is the first step towards healing.

I also acknowledge the contribution of enslaved persons who were drivers of economic growth and development in the United States. I honor the legacy of enslaved people, primarily of African descent, Black Life, and the lives of all people of color that continue to make an impact on cultures and societies around the world through music, food, art, sports, architecture, science, business, and agriculture. I am indebted to their labor and their sacrifice, and must acknowledge the tremors of violence throughout generations and the resulting impact that can still be felt and witnessed today.

I am committed to building and maintaining a culture of inclusion and continue to learn and strive to continue to actively work to heal our collective colonial wounds.