The Last Director, not the Last Hope: Personal Reflections on DEI persistence in an anti-DEI climate
Abstract
This article will highlight the personal narrative of the author’s final months as the Director of Multicultural Affairs as their institution began to comply and implement Anti-DEI policies and shutter cultural centers. The narrative explores the author’s initial feelings of hopelessness while highlighting the community presence and support that will remain in the face of these policies Throughout this article, the author provides an exploration of the impact of these policies on student sense of belonging as well as their potential identity development throughout their college experience while also exemplifying the importance of Cultural Centers and DEI-focused staff and spaces.
Recommended Citation
Smith, C. R. (2025). The Last Director, not the Last Hope: Personal Reflections on DEI persistence in an anti-DEI climate. The Vermont Connection, 46(1). https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/tvc/vol46/iss1/5