The 45th Pullias Lecture
Top diversity, equity and inclusion scholars in higher education will come together to discuss the current challenging environment in higher education and offer their historical and policy insights into this issue at the 45th Pullias Lecture, set for Thursday, March 28 at 11a.m. The event will be held at the California Science Center in Los Angeles.
“Understanding and Navigating an Increasingly Hostile DEI Environment in Higher Education” is the topic of this year’s Lecture. Moderated by Rossier School of Education Dean Pedro Noguera, the panel features a distinguished panel of national experts on DEI, including:
- Eddie Cole, Associate Professor of Education and History, UCLA
- Liliana Garces, Professor of Community College Leadership, University of Texas, Austin
- Royel Johnson, Associate Professor of Higher Education, USC Rossier School of Education and a member of the Pullias Center faculty.
The recent attacks from the judiciary with the Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action and the legislative attacks through Critical Race Theory bans, restrictions on DEI training and calls for dismantling DEI offices, have left DEI champions and advocates in a challenging situation. Campus leaders fear that funding will be cut and their actions to support equity will be penalized. Many are preemptively making changes to avoid scrutiny from legislators. How can and should campus leaders move forward in this constrained environment that has emerged? And most importantly, how can we turn the current tide so that DEI efforts are not vulnerable to elimination?
