Standing Firm by Standing Smart

How Higher Ed Boards and Presidents Can Out-Think the Anti-DEI Bullies

#HigherEdLeadership #AcademicExcellence #InclusiveEducation #HigherEdFuture #UniversityGovernance #AcademicLeadership #CampusInclusion #EducationalEquity

In 2025, higher education faces a stark choice: cave to political intimidation or find smarter ways to defend our fundamental values. This isn't about retreat – it's about advancing our mission more effectively.

A brilliant framework recently shared by DEI expert Kitara Johnson (LLC) offers higher education leaders a pathway to strengthen, not compromise, their commitment to academic excellence through inclusion. Her approach provides a masterclass in how to advance core values while disarming bad-faith attacks. Here's a link to her original post: https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/kitarajohnson_leadership-inclusion-deandtransition2i-activity-7288233232012058625-0tdN?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

The Power of Strategic Reframing

When extremist politicians demand we abandon DEI initiatives, they fundamentally misunderstand (often willfully) what these programs actually do. Johnson's framework shows how to clarify our message while deepening our impact:

From Diversity Initiatives to Excellence Through Inclusion

This isn't wordplay – it's precision. When we talk about "Employee Experience Engagement," we're actually strengthening our commitment to ensuring every voice contributes to academic excellence. We're not hiding DEI; we're showing exactly how it serves our core academic mission.

From Social Responsibility to Measurable Impact

By focusing on concrete outcomes, we deny attackers their favorite weapon: vague accusations about "wokeness." When we can show exactly how our programs improve student success, research quality, and graduate outcomes, we transform political attacks into opportunities to demonstrate value.

From Targeted Recruitment to Integrated Excellence

This evolution takes "diversity hiring" out of its artificial silo and embeds it where it belongs - in the fundamental DNA of academic quality. It's not a separate initiative; it's how we build world-class institutions.

From Equity Focus to Universal Access

This powerful shift highlights an essential truth: excellence requires accessing all available talent. It's not about helping some at others' expense; it's about expanding opportunity for everyone.

From Identity to Impact

By focusing on how diverse perspectives strengthen academic discourse and research outcomes, we demonstrate that inclusion isn't political - it's practical. It's how great institutions become greater.

Why This Is an Act of Courage, Not Compromise

This approach isn't about ducking the fight – it's about winning it by elevating the discussion from political rhetoric to demonstrable academic excellence. It gives boards and presidents the tools to stand firm on principles while speaking in terms that resonate with all stakeholders committed to institutional quality. When we reframe these programs around their measurable contributions to academic excellence, we:

• Force critics to engage with substance instead of slogans
• Demonstrate the concrete value of inclusive excellence
• Build broader coalitions of support
• Protect these essential programs by embedding them more deeply in institutional operations
• Make attacks on these programs equivalent to attacks on academic quality itself

The message isn't "we're changing because you made us." It's "we're evolving because this makes us stronger." That's not just good strategy – it's the truth.

Additional Readings:

• "The Fifth Edition of Diversity's Promise for Higher Education: Making It Work" by Daryl G. Smith (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2020)
• "From Equity Talk to Equity Walk" by Tia Brown McNair et al. (Jossey-Bass, 2020)
• "Strategic Diversity Leadership" by Damon A. Williams (Stylus Publishing, 2013)
• Current reports and guidance from the Association of Governing Boards (www.agb.org)
• Original framework: Kitara Johnson, LLC (www.kitarajohnson.com)

About the Author: Robert (Skip) Myers, Ph.D., advises and counsels college and university governing boards and their presidents seeking to optimize and align their joint leadership performance.

Follow him at Robert (Skip) Myers, Ph.D.