Presented By: Department of Psychology
Psychology Diversity Week Discussion Panel
Defending Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at U-M
Panelists:
Dr. Germine Awad, University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor, Professor of Psychology
Dr. Matthew Countryman, Associate Professor of History and Afroamerican and African Studies, Past Chair of the Department of Afroamerican and African Studies, Faculty Director of the OVPR Arts of Citizenship Program
Dr. Carla O’Connor, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Education, Director of Wolverine Pathways
Dr. Alford Young, Jr., University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Sociology and Afroamerican and African Studies, and Public Policy
Moderator:
Dr. Kevin Cokley, University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor, Professor of Psychology, Associate Chair for Diversity Initiatives
The assault on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is one of several threats to higher education. These threats are part of what former U-M president Lee Bollinger has characterized as “an authoritarian takeover of the U.S. government”. For years the University of Michigan has been a higher education leader in DEI initiatives, operating one of the most comprehensive DEI operations in the country. This has made U-M a target, resulting in a New York Times article critically evaluating DEI at U-M and concluding that students and faculty are more frustrated than ever. Instead of defending diversity as prior U-M leadership has done, current leadership has engaged in “anticipatory compliance” by banning diversity statements and threatening to cut funding from a “DEI bureaucracy”. Diversity officers from across the country are closely watching what happens at U-M, because successfully dismantling DEI at U-M would send shock waves throughout higher education and likely represent DEI’s last stand.
In this panel, participants from different disciplinary backgrounds who are part of a DEI workgroup will discuss their efforts to defend DEI at U-M. They will discuss the strategies they have used and describe the successes as well as ongoing challenges of their efforts.
Dr. Germine Awad, University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor, Professor of Psychology
Dr. Matthew Countryman, Associate Professor of History and Afroamerican and African Studies, Past Chair of the Department of Afroamerican and African Studies, Faculty Director of the OVPR Arts of Citizenship Program
Dr. Carla O’Connor, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Education, Director of Wolverine Pathways
Dr. Alford Young, Jr., University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Sociology and Afroamerican and African Studies, and Public Policy
Moderator:
Dr. Kevin Cokley, University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor, Professor of Psychology, Associate Chair for Diversity Initiatives
The assault on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is one of several threats to higher education. These threats are part of what former U-M president Lee Bollinger has characterized as “an authoritarian takeover of the U.S. government”. For years the University of Michigan has been a higher education leader in DEI initiatives, operating one of the most comprehensive DEI operations in the country. This has made U-M a target, resulting in a New York Times article critically evaluating DEI at U-M and concluding that students and faculty are more frustrated than ever. Instead of defending diversity as prior U-M leadership has done, current leadership has engaged in “anticipatory compliance” by banning diversity statements and threatening to cut funding from a “DEI bureaucracy”. Diversity officers from across the country are closely watching what happens at U-M, because successfully dismantling DEI at U-M would send shock waves throughout higher education and likely represent DEI’s last stand.
In this panel, participants from different disciplinary backgrounds who are part of a DEI workgroup will discuss their efforts to defend DEI at U-M. They will discuss the strategies they have used and describe the successes as well as ongoing challenges of their efforts.
Co-Sponsored By
