"Belonging is voice," Cynthia says. "Students were here getting a great education, but many felt invisible. If they weren't invisible, they felt like they were in trouble. That had to change."

When Cynthia joined DSHA as Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, she brought more than 20 years of experience and a readiness to lead. After years of supporting DEI work elsewhere, she saw in DSHA an opportunity not just to build programs but to shape culture.

And that work started with listening.

Students began coming forward with concerns, with experiences, with ideas. Cynthia helped them transform these emotions into action: researching, articulating, and ultimately presenting their perspectives with clarity and courage.

In one defining moment, students of color led a presentation to faculty, sharing what they experienced in classrooms and how the community could grow.

"They were nervous," Cynthia recalls. "But they did it the right way. They spoke honestly, respectfully, and they were heard." That moment helped build something essential: trust.

From there, the work expanded. Dasher Dialogues evolved into meaningful, community-wide conversations. A reimagined freshman orientation addressed issues of language and belonging from the very start of a student's journey. Over time, DEI became not just a program, but a presence woven into the daily life of the school.

"There is nothing that DEI does not touch now," Cynthia says. "It's part of who we are."

Her approach to leadership remained deeply personal. "I look at them like they are my daughters," she says of Dashers. "I talk to them the way I would want someone to talk to mine."

That meant encouragement, accountability, and, at times, fierce advocacy. But perhaps her greatest shift came in learning to step back.

"At DSHA, leadership is student-led," she reflects. "That was new for me. I was used to doing the work. Here, I learned to guide and let them lead."

The trust in students is what she believes makes DSHA special and what gives her confidence in the future.

"I have learned that these girls know what they need," she says. "They are creative, they are passionate, and when you give them space, they rise."

She has seen that rise firsthand. She recalls one student who arrived without the academic foundation needed to succeed at DSHA. Through determination – and the collective support of faculty, staff, and peers – she not only graduated, but thrived.

"That was a communal effort," Cynthia says. "We worked hard, but she worked harder. And she never gave up." It's a story that reflects what Cynthia believes at her core: every student, when supported and seen, can succeed.

That belief also shaped how DEI evolved during her time at DSHA. What began as a focused effort grew into something fully integrated, supported by faculty, embraced by administration, and embedded across the student experience.

Looking ahead, that work will continue in a way that more deeply reflects DSHA's mission. The next chapter of DEI will be rooted within Campus Ministry, affirming the call to honor the dignity of every person is grounded in Catholic faith and Scripture.

It is a natural extension of the culture Cynthia helped build – one where belonging is not just encouraged, but lived.

Her advice for the future is simple: Don't stop.

"Keep it at the table," she says. "Keep supporting the work. Keep having the conversations even when they're hard."

As she prepares for retirement, Cynthia looks forward to a different kind of becoming – one that includes time for herself, for healing, and even for learning something new: "I'm going to teach myself to crochet," she says with a smile.

But her legacy at DSHA is already complete. She leaves behind a community where students are no longer invisible, where they are known, heard, and empowered to find their place.