DEI policies work best when they are designed to include everyone and are backed by evidence

Diversity is good for business.& AzmanJaka/E+ via Getty Images by Henry Tran, University of South Carolina As the U.S. becomes increasingly polarized, diversity, equity and inclusion – also known as DEI – efforts have been touted as a way to bridge social divides and promote a sense of belonging for everyone, especially for those who have been traditionally excluded or marginalized. But in recent years, a backlash has set in, with many institutions defunding their diversity and inclusion efforts in response to pressure from workers, lawsuits and even state governments. Ironically, critics say that DEI efforts fail to include diverse perspectives – for example, by emphasizing certain backgrounds while neglecting others. Some argue that these programs actually worsen the problems they’re intended to solve. While it’s easy to dismiss the backlash as purely a result of bigotry – as not all criticisms of DEI are made in good faith – it’s important to consider how DEI efforts themselves can be made to be more inclusive, in order to garner the support necessary to help society as a whole progress. The insights I share are drawn from my experience as a professor of educational leadership who has extensively researched and taught...