Navigating anti-DEI legislation as diversity affairs professionals in academic medicine in the Midwest: A collaborative critical autoethnography (Stage 2, 2:26 PM)

• In Event: e-Lightning Ed-Talk Session 18 - Stage 2

Abstract

Institutions of higher education in the U.S. could be defined as intellectual testing grounds that facilitate diverse interaction promoting discovery and innovation for the benefit of a transnational populist (Dillabough, 2022). Yet, today, institutions of higher education are caught within a political paradox where the liberal paradigms often associated are being scrutinized. This challenge becomes even more fraught when considering the role of academic medicine. For this paper, we experts and former professionals in diversity affairs at an institution of academic medicine in the Midwest, engage in collaborative critical autoethnography to explore and understand the impacts of anti-DEI legislation at our school. We interrogate the political impact on our campus climate, psychological safety, and academic freedoms.

Authors

• Sacha Sharp, Indiana University

• Tiffinie Snowden, NA

• Niki Messmore, Indiana University - Indianapolis

• Amy Ribera, Indiana University