Constrained DEI Work: An Organizational Case Study of DEI Administrators at a Historically White University

• In Event: Equitable Education Systems and Organizational Collaboration Toward Equity

Abstract

As U.S. colleges and universities have become more diverse, inequities persist for individuals from racially and ethnically marginalized backgrounds. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) administrators have been called to address these inequities; however, at many institutions, their efforts fail to bring about lasting change within the organization. Drawing on a qualitative case study of a historically white public university and racialized organizations (Ray, 2019) theory as a conceptual framework, this paper examines how the structure and culture of the university as an organization shapes how DEI work gets implemented. Findings reveal how structural exclusion and cultural marginalization within the university lead DEI administrators to implement constrained diversity work and incremental advancement of DEI goals.

Author

• Brianna Davis Johnson, The Ohio State University