On August 17, nine RCDS community members–alumni, parents, administrators, and admissions officers–attended the 2023 Igniting Genius HackBAC Mixer & Heads of School Celebration in Martha’s Vineyard, MA. 

The event, which was co-sponsored by RIISE and the Black Alumni Collective, honored independent school heads of color, senior administrators, alumni of color, and winners of the 2023 Igniting Genius Pitch Competition. Head of School Randall Dunn was the evening’s keynote speaker.

A national network organization that supports families of color in navigating independent schools, Resources in Independent School Education (RIISE) focuses on access, application, and enrollment. RCDS and RIISE are proud longtime partners in admissions and enrollment work to make sure that students of diverse backgrounds thrive and succeed in independent schools.

Left to right: Lexi Massey, Assistant Director of Lower School Admissions; Courtney Doucette, Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management; Gina Parker Collins, RIISE founder; Sydney Coffield ’21; Ali Morgan, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Shams Elbardissy ’17; Yolanda Coffield P’21; Summer Elbardissy ’13; Liz Dunn; and Randall Dunn, Head of School.