Invited Panel Division D Equity & Inclusion Committee: When Knowledge Is Under Attack: Science, Evidence, and DEI in an Age of Backlash

Session Type: Invited Speaker Session

Abstract

Across the nation, scholars and educators are witnessing a growing backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and, more broadly, against the scientific enterprise itself. This discussion panel brings together leading education researchers, policy experts, and institutional leaders to examine how evidence, data, and science are being challenged in today’s polarized environment. Panelists will explore how misinformation, political pressures, and legislative restrictions shape public trust in research and constrain DEI-related scholarship and practice. Together, they will consider strategies for protecting the integrity of evidence-based inquiry and sustaining inclusive, truth-driven scholarship in higher education. The session invites critical reflection on the role of researchers as stewards of knowledge amid ongoing social and political upheaval.

Sub Unit

• Division D - Measurement and Research Methodologies / Division D - Measurement and Research Methodology

Chair

• Steven M. Sanders, Oregon State University

Panelists

• Adam Voight, Cleveland State University

• Michele Lee, Northern Arizona University

• Regina J. Giraldo-Garcia, Ball State University

• Marketa Burnett, University of Connecticut

• Anne M. Galletta, Cleveland State University