Teaching for Equity in Treacherous Times

In over half of US states legislators have introduced bills that would limit or prevent DEI-related curriculum and programming in higher education. There are additional legislative threats to the rights of LGBTQIA2S+ individuals in education. Movements to restrict college and university instructors’ academic freedom are permeating state legislatures, boards of higher education, and boards of trustees. Although postsecondary education in Michigan is not currently facing anti-DEI legislation the time is right for understanding why and how equity and inclusion should be central to our work as educators at MSU. This talk will offer context for understanding the stakes we face and what is at stake for our institutions and students, as well as strategies for moving forward within a national and state context divided on our rights and responsibilities to teach in ways that advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in higher education.


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Kris Renn

Kristen A. Renn, PhD, is the Mildred B. Erickson Distinguished Professor of Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education and serves as Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies for Student Success Research at Michigan State University. With her background in student affairs administration and commitment to equitable opportunities and outcomes, Dr. Renn’s focuses her research on the learning, development, and success of minoritized students in higher education. She is author or co-author of nine books about higher education, including Student Development in College: Theory, Research, and Practice and College Students in the United States: Characteristics, Experiences, and Outcomes. She is Michigan State University’s Liaison to the University Innovation Alliance and co-Principal Investigator on several grants related to increasing success for low-income and underrepresented students.