Living and learning together in a diverse but tightly knit academic community depends upon all members, staff, guests, and visitors respecting the identities and dignity of others. At Lincoln we embrace diversity and affirm equality, and are working hard to increase participation, and enhance the experiences, of groups historically underrepresented in higher education.

Lincoln, like many institutions, scrutinised its past and present as related to race in the wake of the 2020 murder of George Floyd and protests against institutional racism worldwide. In June of that year, Lincoln became the first Oxford college to institute a Commission charged with the exploration of its experiences and practices, and with making recommendations for ways to strengthen the College's commitment to anti-racism.

The Commission—composed of eleven members representing fellows, students, staff, and alumni—was chaired by Sonali Naik, KC, a distinguished alumna (Law, 1986), immigration lawyer, and former chair of Liberty. Its report was submitted to Governing Body in January, 2022. The Chair summarised the report's aims as ‘to identify barriers to race equality and to eliminate racism in the College; to encourage people from black and ethnic minority backgrounds to apply as students and staff to Lincoln; and to increase and foster the academic and career progression of those who are black or from an ethnic minority’.

Th Commission's thirty-three recommendations, and the actions taken on them to date, can be read HERE.  They give the policy framework of the College's wider resolve to eliminate racism of all kinds and in all aspects of College life. The actions are regularly reviewed, and many policies and initiatives continue to evolve and expand as a vital part of the College's mission to foster teaching and learning in a community that is diverse, inclusive, and affirming of all.

The Anti-Racism Advocate—a fellow responsible to Governing Body for College-wide oversight and advocacy of anti-racism policy and initiatives— is Dr Kimberly Palladino.