Examining the Consequences of the Dismantlement of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Higher Education

Larry J. Walker is Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of the Department of Educational Leadership and Higher Education at the University of Central Florida, USA.Tryan L. McMickens is Professor and Program Coordinator of the Higher Education Administration Program at North Carolina Central University, USA.Robert T. Palmer is Professor and Chair of the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Howard University, USA.Alonzo M. Flowers III is Professor and Chair of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Texas San Antonio, USA.Amy E. French is Associate Professor in the School of Counseling, Higher Education, Leadership and Foundations at Bowling Green State University, USA.Rosa M. Banda is Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, USA.

“The editors and writers of Examining the Consequences of the Dismantlement of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Higher Education articulate the real-world implications for American democracy when DEI efforts, broadly defined, are systematically extricated from institutions and organizations. By contextualizing current attacks in a racialized and gendered history, the authors illuminate a sad return to discriminatory systems and structures catalyzed by perverse readings of law and the reality that the sector had not yet fully embraced DEI as a reality. The volume provides hope, however, by illustrating that new coalitions, uses of data, and covert strategies can provide a pathway for liberation.”Mike H. Gavin, President and CEO Alliance for Higher Education“This book stimulates hearts and captivates minds, powerfully arguing that excellent education for all students is both a moral imperative and a national investment. With conviction, the authors clarify higher education’s role in cultivating citizens who serve the public good. Policymakers and institutional leaders will understand equity and inclusion not as aspirational or divisive ideals but as indispensable strategies for a prosperous society.”Randy Williams, Vice President for Inclusive Excellence, Elon University“I recommend Examining the Consequences of the Dismantlement of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Higher Education for anyone interested in learning what diversity, equity, and inclusion actually is and how it benefits our society, not just education. This book sheds light on the far-reaching repercussions of eliminating “DEI” that will be realized for generations to come.”Kimberly A. Truong, IHP Chief Health Equity and Community Excellence Officer“This edited volume is urgently timely. At a dangerously pivotal moment in our nation’s history, it examines the dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion not as political theater, but as a consequential restructuring of institutional power with measurable human impact. Situating today’s legal and political flashpoints within DEI’s civil rights roots, the book offers historical clarity and provides leaders with forward-looking guidance.”Emelyn A. dela Peña, President and CEO, National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education

• 1. The Evolution of DEI in Higher Education 2. Diversity Aversion and the Politics of White Opposition to DEI in the United States 3. Affirmative Action and the Supreme Court: A Precursor to the End of DEI? 4. Colorblind Constitutionalism and The Future of Equity: Implications of Legal Shifts in Affirmative Action Policy from Bakke to SFFA 5. Texas SB 17: Equity Under Siege and the Implications for Student Success 6. The Legal Landscape: Navigating Equity in Restrictive Environments 7. The Cost of Exclusion: What Decades of Research Reveal About the Risks of Dismantling DEI in Higher Education on Minoritized (Black) Student’s Well-Being and Belonging 8. Mental Health and Belongingness in a Post-DEI Era: Supporting Minoritized Students, Faculty and Staff on Campus 9. Stewarding the Democratic Mission: Redesigning Ed.D. Programs for Equity in Uncertain Times 10. Faculty Perspectives: Teaching and Research Without DEI 11. Faculty Leadership and Democratic Futures in Higher Education 12. Navigating Pathways Towards Tenure and Promotion in a Time of War Against DEI 13. Institutions of Higher Education as Fortifiers of the P-20 Pipeline in the Aftermath of the Anti-DEI Maelstrom 14. From Restraint to Resilience: A New Playbook for Champions of Equity