The goal of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee is to promote diversity within AWAC as well as across WAC more broadly.

Objectives

• Consider diversity, equity, and inclusion along the lines of: demographics/identity, institutional type, disciplinary backgrounds, institutional roles, language;
• Keep all AWAC committees and efforts accountable on issues surrounding DEI;
• Amplify voices that enrich conversations and inform decision-making explicitly through DEI lenses;
• Be attentive of who the AWAC is for and the various (and variety of) stakeholders;
• Identify challenges and strengths in achieving sustainable efforts to promote diversity within AWAC membership.

Actionable Items

• Identify what has been working so far to build or maintain DEI in the organization and the WAC/WID community;
• Include explicitly in each committee’s annual report accountability of DEI efforts, especially in terms of how the DEI work is integrated as core than peripheral work;
• Involve various (and a variety of) stakeholders in leadership and key support roles within in the conference;
• Make language in the organization, community, conferences, journals more accessible to a wider audience and participants by removing or limiting jargon.

DEI-Related Data and Resources in Higher Education

1. Map of DEI-legislation in the US updated August 2025 (Tableau)
2. Report on the impact of Anti-DEI legislation on Directors and Leaders of DEI in Higher Education with resources
3. The Compact for Academic Success (October 2024)
   • American Council of Education Webinar PPT
4. Organization Statements
   • ACE (American Council on Education, with 30 organizations signing) October 25: Statement by Higher Education Associations in Opposition to Trump Administration Compact
   • ACLS (American Council of Learned Societies) October 2025: ACLS Statement Regarding White House “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” – ACLS
   • AACU October 2025: AAC&U Statement on the Trump Administration’s “Compact for… | AAC&U
   • NCTE 2024: NCTE Position Statement on Supporting Teachers and Students in Discussing Complex Topics
   • ACE Statement:  Navigating Anti-DEI in Higher Education – Higher Education Today

Committee Membership

Committee Chairs

Stacey Sheriff
Aimee Mapes

Members

Al Harahap
Amit Anshumali
Anna Kinney
Anna Zendell
Anthony Lince
Cheryl Duffy
Christy Goldsmith
Daris McInnis
Galia Fussell
Josef Vice
Kathleen Turner Ledgerwood
Megan Callow
Myra Salcedo
Sara Large
Sheryl Bone
Stacy Kastner
Traci Gardner