Diversity Programs and Events

The Student Association for Black Unity (SABU) Black Future Leaders Experience (Black FLEX) Conference is a 100% student-run leadership conference hosted annually by SABU. The purpose of Black FLEX is to provide a space for young, thriving black scholars to cultivate the most distinguished versions of themselves. As the black leaders of today, we strive to promote leadership, individuality and self-discovery, in order to better our tomorrow.

W&L celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with a host of educational and social events that highlight the cultures and achievements of Hispanic peoples across the globe. From movies in the Stackhouse Theater to dance performances and other events, Washington and Lee provides students with the opportunity to celebrate the Hispanic culture.

Washington and Lee University hosts its annual Parents & Family Weekend each fall, honoring the families of W&L students. The weekend combines informational and recreational activities, giving parents the opportunity to meet with members of the faculty, review campus life, and participate in social events.

A week of events held in October to celebrate National Coming Out Day which is Oct. 11th. The week often includes talks led by students, speakers from off campus, Sharing Our Stories where LGBTQ members of the W&L community share some aspect of their coming out stories, t-shirt sales, free swag, etc.

This weeklong event includes a Community Reflections Dinner, where students, faculty and Lexington community members can commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. King with their own personal testimonies. On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Washington and Lee hosts a birthday party in Dr. King's honor for the children of the community. Several lectures and panel discussions take place over the course of the week. Lastly, there is always a prominent speaker who delivers our annual MLK Keynote Address. Past speakers include: Roslyn McCallister Brock, Donna Brazile, Terrence Roberts, Roland S. Martin, and Andrew J. Young.

Join the WLU Native American and Indigenous Cohort and the rest of our community in celebrating Native American heritage and culture on campus!

As a part of W&L's celebration of African American History Month, student organizations in collaboration with Office of Inclusion and Engagement offer panel discussions, African American movies and documentaries, and the university invites a distinguished African American speaker to campus to lecture.

During Women's History Month, Washington and Lee seeks not only to recognize the history and achievements of women, it also seeks to honor the women on the campus at all levels. In addition to lectures and panel discussions, Knowledge Empowering Women Leaders (KEWL) implemented Love Your Body Week and a Female is Beautiful campaign as well as posted celebration women bios of the women of KEWL online.

The Virginia Colleges Equality Gala is held annually in March on W&L's campus. Students from other colleges in Virginia attend this event with W&L students and members of the W&L community.

May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, and at Washington and Lee, the Pan Asian Association for Cultural Exchange sponsors a host of events that are entertaining as well as educational as a means of showcasing the history, culture, and achievements of Asians and Pacific Islanders. Events include lectures, karaoke, displays and Asian heritage dinners in the Marketplace.

In May of 1993, the first Donning of the Kente Celebration was held at West Chester University in West Chester, Pennsylvania. The ceremony celebrated the academic and personal achievements of students of African descent. Starting from June 2006, W&L began its own celebration, and the university has carried on this tradition ever since. In May 2016, the ceremony extended its invitations to all students from marginalized backgrounds, encompassing various aspects of diversity. In May 2023, the ceremony was renamed the Donning of the Stoles, aligning with the university's commitment to inclusivity.