Over a year since Penn began taking down references to diversity, equity, and inclusion across campus, current and former University leaders met at a national conference in Philadelphia to discuss the future of DEI in higher education.
The March 26 conference — hosted by the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education — saw roughly 800 total attendees. Speakers and participants included former Graduate School of Education Assistant Dean for DEI Raquel Arredondo and GSE professor Amalia Daché.
“In light of recent discussions surrounding the dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives on college campuses, I feel compelled to express my profound concern,” Maurice Stinnett, the event's keynote speaker, wrote in a statement to The Daily Pennsylvanian. “The erosion of DEI programs threatens to undermine the very foundation of higher education, which thrives on diverse perspectives and inclusive environments.”
Stinnett's keynote address was part of a series of programming examining how higher education institutions are adapting DEI-related work in response to evolving legal and regulatory conditions.
Last January, President and 1968 Wharton graduate Donald Trump signed an executive order requiring universities that receive federal funding — such as Penn — to terminate any DEI programs that could be in violation of federal civil rights laws. In response, Penn revised longstanding University policies and initiated a series of modifications to DEI initiatives and programs.
“This isn’t the first time higher education and other sectors have faced backlash when expanding access and opportunities,” Emelyn A. dela Peña, president of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, said at the conference.
She added that the field that she and other diversity officers work in “has always evolved in response to external pressure.”
Arredondo, having previously served in a DEI leadership role at Penn, wrote to the DP that the conference discussed larger shifts already underway at institutions like Penn.
RELATED:
Jameson reaffirms Penn’s commitment to ‘access and inclusion’ in campus-wide message
“Higher education, like many sectors, is navigating a genuinely difficult moment,” Arredondo explained. “The political landscape has created real pressure on institutions to walk back the language, the infrastructure, and in some cases the commitments they made around equity and belonging.”
Arredondo also emphasized that changes at Penn came in response to federal action targeting DEI programs.
“It felt as though decisions were being made more so as a result of external pressures rather than internal commitment,” she told The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Over the past year, Penn has removed DEI-related webpages, renamed offices, and made revisions to long-standing policies in response to federal directives.
In a statement to the DP, Faculty Senate Chair-elect Roy Hamilton wrote that these shifts highlight a broader challenge facing higher education.
“In this changed environment, Penn is attempting to thread a difficult needle: remaining compliant with new legal and regulatory expectations while holding fast to the core institutional values that recognize how diversity of experience, background, and perspective strengthens our academic mission,” Hamilton wrote.
He added that “whether Penn succeeds in threading that needle will only become clear with time.”
Stinnett similarly emphasized that institutions should continue prioritizing inclusion as they navigate changing federal expectations.
“These initiatives play a crucial role in fostering understanding and collaboration among students from varied backgrounds, enriching the academic experience for all,” he wrote.
RELATED:
Jameson reaffirms Penn’s commitment to ‘access and inclusion’ in campus-wide message
Senior reporter Ananya Karthik covers central administration and can be reached at karthik@thedp.com. At Penn, she studies communication and economics. Follow her on X @ananyaakarthik.
