Who is Rosetta Lee?

Amelie Cook, Christopher Haliburton, Emma Lin, Janitza Luna, Nichola Monroe, and Chris Ndiritu

January 17, 2020

Despite her expertise on the subjects of diversity, inclusion, and equity, Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee describes herself as an “accidental consultant.” In fact, she initially aspired to be a doctor – a path far from the one she lives out today. While attending Harvard University, Ms. Lee realized that she wanted to experience more of life before going into medical school, so after majoring in Biology, she moved on to study professional theater.

Eventually, Ms. Lee ventured into the field of education. She is currently a teacher at the Seattle Girls’ School, where she instructs students on all sorts of topics including: art, ethics, math, science, social justice, and technology.

“I was going to conferences to learn about issues of identity and differences of power and privilege, and at the same time I was going to teacher conferences to learn about how to be a teacher and how to set up classrooms,” Ms. Lee said. “I [asked] where are those spaces where the two overlap.”

Ms. Lee then began planning and running her own workshops and sessions for teachers and students. She balances her schedule as a teacher and a diversity consultant by splitting her time between the two. She leaves town every other week and approximates that she spends about 100 to 150 days a year on the road. Throughout the year, she visits an estimated 75 to 150 schools, and through her visits, the schools gain a connection with her along as well as learn the morals behind her teachings.

Within the classroom, she strives to create a space where her students feel supported in their experiences, and feel valued for who they are.

“In terms of whether I expect people to listen to me or take my word heart to heart or apply it, that’s always my hope but never guaranteed… The impact is really about the partnership I provide and what the school is willing to take from it,” Ms. Lee said.

Ms. Lee has established herself as one of the most sought-after diversity counselors in the country. She is making her mark, and she has done so for the Webb community by teaching it the tools it needs to move forward into a better, more inclusive 2020 where we can strengthen our bonds through our diversity.

About the Contributors

Amelie Cook, Copy Editor

Amelie Cook (‘20) is entering her third year in journalism and is ecstatic for her new position as Copy Editor. Amelie balances her time in journalism with being a Day Student Prefect and babysitter on the weekends. She spent most of her summer babysitting amazing kids and visiting family when she got the chance. As a DSP, she is responsible for improving day student life and hosting fun events on campus. She loves listening to her favorite artist Bazzi and reading murder mystery books. The secret to Amelie's boundless enthusiasm is to sleep—a lot. Once awake, she focuses her energy on environmental issues as she believes society should put more emphasis on combating climate change.

Christopher Haliburton, Co-Editor of Opinion

Christopher Haliburton (‘20) is enthusiastic about his new position as Co-Editor of Opinion for the Webb Canyon Chronicle. This year, Christopher decided to make the transition from day student to boarder, which has helped him create a more balanced schedule between the responsibility of serving as co-head of the Honor Cabinet, playing football, and running track. In his free time, Christopher enjoys listening to Beyoncé or Chance the Rapper, playing video games, and staying up-to-date on his favorite TV shows, such as Stranger Things. He is primarily interested in social justice issues because he hates to see people being mistreated. Christopher is most excited to contribute to the Opinion section and expand the audience of the WCC to people of more diverse backgrounds this year.

Emma Lin, Editor of Culture & Lifestyle

Emma Lin (‘20) will be entering her senior year at Webb. Embracing her new role as the Editor of Culture & Lifestyle for the Webb Canyon Chronicle, Emma hopes to approach more articles with an angle and drive her topics towards a compelling focus. Having lived in both California and Hong Kong growing up, Emma’s experience of contrasting cultures and lifestyles prove that she is indeed the right person for the job. Outside of the classroom, Emma is a devoted environmentalist and founder of the Environmental Club, which makes it no surprise that her favorite class is AP Environmental Science. In her free time, Emma enjoys dancing, watching movies and spending time with friends around Southern California. Apart from her leadership role at the Webb Canyon Chronicle, Emma is also the Vice President of her class and hopes to bring her class together and make the best out of their final year at Webb.

Janitza Luna, Editor-in-Chief

Standing at 5’0”ft tall, Janitza Luna ('20) embodies the persona of small and mighty. Born into the Aries astrological sign, her fiery determination and zeal are an awe-inspiring force. Janitza enjoys collaborating with her peers, as it gives her an opportunity to learn about other people’s backgrounds. Her interest in sociology is the root to her reasoning and it allows her to develop human understanding because she is able to understand and appreciate the different perspectives of her peers. As a result, Janitza is an empathetic and kind being. She is also a fun person to be around; she shows her goofy and light-hearted personality through her creation of weird Snapchat videos and Spotify playlists.

Nichola Monroe, Chief Editor of Features

If you’re looking for a Webb big sister, Nichola Monroe (‘22) is the person for you. An experienced co-chair of the VWS dorm prefect council, she is always looking for ways to lend her knowledge to newer students both in the dorm and outside. As a returning member of the Webb Canyon Chronicle and this year’s Chief Editor of Features, she is excited to write engaging articles, share her journalism experiences, and help others thrive. Over this last summer, Nichola fostered her leadership skills at a summer camp in Maine. She lived in a cabin with younger girls and taught them how to make ceramics and jewelry, sewing, and other important life skills. Although Nichola usually resides in Dana Point, she is currently living at Webb and hopes to initiate new dorm activities for other boarders in Jameson to enjoy. Also an activist, Nichola cares deeply about current issues like climate change and sustainability. When she’s not helping other people, you can most likely find her outdoors, whether it's dancing, walking her dog at the beach, knitting under a tree, or simply just doing somersaults in front of her dorm. Favorite song: "Stay for the Summer" by Logan & Isabel

Chris Ndiritu, Co-Editor of Technology

Chris Ndiritu (‘20) is a passionate tennis player and a talented chef. He learns his cooking methods off of YouTube videos and creates his own variations on dishes such as pasta and mac and cheese. At the same time, Chris enjoys going off campus to places such as the Claremont Village or Victoria Gardens. For his senior year, Chris hopes that he can get off campus more to have fun. Also, he believes that the whole college process is overhyped so he just wants to have a good time. Chris joined Webb Canyon Chronicle as an Editor of Technology this year hoping to make an impact on the Webb community. Chris loves teamwork because it allows him to meet more people and work more efficiently.