News and Articles

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No Governor, Slavery did not help slaves and your advancement of this gibberish is indicative of your lack of leadership and thirst for power. 
Commentary by Dr. Christopher Metzler, Board Chair, LEAD Fund, August 1, 2023

 

Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, has been correctly criticized for his poisonous comments about slavery. In July 2023, he defended Florida's new academic standards for teaching African American history, which include the claim that some enslaved people "developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit." In addition, he tried to shift blame to the board of education saying that they did it not him.
 

DeSantis's comments have been widely condemned by historians, educators, and civil rights groups. They argue that DeSantis is whitewashing the history of slavery and trying to minimize the horrors of the institution. In particular, DeSantis's claim that some enslaved people benefited from slavery is based on a misunderstanding of history. While it is true that some enslaved people were able to learn skills that they could use after they were freed, this was not the norm. The vast majority of enslaved people were denied even the most basic education, and they were often subjected to brutal physical and psychological abuse.
 

DeSantis's comments are part of a broader pattern of his downplaying the history of racism in the United States. In the past, he has also said that the Confederate flag is a symbol of "heritage, not hate" and that Florida schools should not teach about critical race theory.
 

DeSantis's comments about slavery are emblematic of his desire to use race as a sledgehammer in his designed culture war. They distort history and perpetuate the myth that slavery was not as bad as it really was. This makes it difficult for people to understand the full extent of the damage that slavery has done to the United States. It can also make it more difficult to address the lingering effects of slavery, such as racial inequality and Desantis know this. However, he places his desire to be President above all else. Despite the fact that he is destined not to be The GOP nominee.
 

Let me be clear that slavery was a system of chattel slavery, which means that enslaved people were considered property. They were not allowed to own property, they could not marry without their master's permission, and they could be bought and sold like any other piece of property.
Slavery was a brutal and dehumanizing institution that caused immense suffering, stigma and its a stain on America's soul. 
 

It is important to remember this history and to teach it accurately so that we can prevent it from happening again.

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LEAD Fund Hosts Washington, DC Symposium on the Supreme Court and the Future of Affirmative Action

 

Join the Fund for Leadership, Equity, Access and Diversity for an engaging event on the Supreme Court and the Future of Affirmative Action.

"Don't miss this opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions, gain a deeper understanding of the Supreme Court's ruling, and explore the impact it may have on various aspects of our lives.”

— Dr. Christopher Metzler, Chair of the LEAD Fund’s Board of Directors

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WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, UNITED STATES, July 12, 2023/EINPresswire.com/ -- Media Contact: Shirley J. Wilcher, MA, JD
Email: shirleyj@leadfund.org
Tel: 240-893-9475
Date: July 11, 2023
Washington, DC 20006

The Fund for Leadership, Equity, Access and Diversity (LEAD Fund) announces its upcoming Symposium on the Supreme Court and the Future of Affirmative Action. This in-person gathering will take place on Monday, July 24, 2023 at 10:00 AM in the heart of Washington, DC, at the offices of Korn Ferry, 1700 K Street Northwest #suite 700, Washington, DC 20006. Seating is limited. The event is open to the press.

During this symposium, the speakers will delve into the recent landmark Supreme Court decision, Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions Inc v. the University of North Carolina (SFFA). Reversing 45 years of judicial precedent, the Supreme Court ruled that the Harvard and UNC admissions programs were unconstitutional and violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act o 1964. Symposium participants will discuss the potential impact of the decision on diversity in higher education admissions and its implications for our society. Esteemed speakers, including legal experts and scholars, will share their insights and perspectives on this crucial topic.

LEAD Fund Chairman Dr. Christopher Metzler said: "Don't miss this opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions, gain a deeper understanding of the Supreme Court's ruling, and explore the impact it may have on various aspects of our lives. Mark your calendars, save the date, and join us for the Symposium on the Supreme Court's Decision on Affirmative Action and Diversity." Fund President Shirley Wilcher added: "We thank Korn Ferry for providing the venue and hosting the event."

The LEAD Fund was established to provide thought leadership in promoting inclusive organizations and institutions through research and education on issues related to diversity, social responsibility, human and civil rights. The LEAD Fund is a “Think and Do” tank, which advances new knowledge and tested strategies aimed at eliminating prejudice and discrimination. The Fund is a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization. It complements the work of the American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity (AAAED) through programs and activities that address a range of concerns, including affirmative action, equal opportunity, equity, access, civil rights, and diversity and inclusion in education, employment, business and contracting.

Registration is available via Eventbrite. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/symposium-on-the-supreme-court-and-the-future-of-affirmative-action-tickets-669433151577?aff=oddtdtcreator

Speakers:
Confirmed speakers who represent the fields of higher education, law, and the corporate sector, include:

Carol Ashley, Esq., Jackson Lewis PC
David Hinojosa, Esq., Director, Education Opportunities Project, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
Rosemary Kilkenny, Esq., Vice President for Institutional Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Georgetown University
Dr. Beverly Magda, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
Dr. Christopher Metzler, Board Chair, Fund for Leadership, Equity, Access and Diversity (Moderator)
JT Saunders, Chief Diversity Officer, Korn Ferry, Washington, DC

If you require an accommodation, please contact the Fund at shirleyj@leadfund.org.
For more information, email: shirleyj@leadfund.org or Tel: 202-349-9855 or 240-893-9475
Fund for Leadership, Equity, Access and Diversity
1701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Suite 200
Washington, DC 20006
202-349-9855
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Shirley J. Wilcher
Fund for Leadership, Equity, Access and Diversity
shirleyj@leadfund.org
Visit us on social media:
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President of The Fund for Leadership, Equity, Access and Diversity (LEAD Fund) Asserts the Supreme Court’s Affirmative Action Decision May Inspire the Next Civil Rights Movement  

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Despite “This Far and No Further” message of the Supreme Court, Wilcher Urges Academic Institutions to Use Creative Strategies to Prepare the Next Generation of Leaders

For Immediate Release: July 7, 2023

Media Contact:  Shirley J. Wilcher 240-893-9475; 202-349-9855  shirleyj@leadfund.org; executive@aaaed.org

  

Washington, DC – July 7, 2023.  Op Ed. 

Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and UNC: “This Far You May Come and No Further”

 

One of the adages Professor Derrick Bell used in his constitutional law class at Harvard was the biblical passage found in Job 38:11: “This far and no further.” What I believe Professor Bell was alluding to was not the power of the Almighty, but the determination that the racially privileged will always work to maintain the status quo.  The Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard and the University of North Carolina decision is a declaration by Chief Justice John Roberts’ Supreme Court that diversity has its limits and thus far may it go to usher underrepresented students of color onto the pathway of leadership and power in America.

For 45 years since the Bakke decision, the Supreme Court has held that diversity in admissions was a compelling interest under the Constitution. In the Grutter decision of 2003, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor wrote: “These benefits [of diversity] are not theoretical but real, as major American businesses have made clear that the skills needed in today’s increasingly global marketplace can only be developed through exposure to widely diverse people, cultures, ideas, and viewpoints.”[1]  Companies including Apple, General Electric, META and Intel have forcefully advised in their amici briefs that they need diverse, well-educated college graduates to serve a diverse consumer base.[2]

Instead of clearly affirming the principle that diversity is a compelling interest under the Constitution, Justice Roberts wrote for the 6-3 majority that this compelling interest is no longer measurable to survive the strict scrutiny analysis. He added that race-based admissions programs operate as a stereotype, and that the universities’ admissions programs lack a “logical end point.”  He added: “College admissions are zero sum, and a benefit provided to some applicants but not to others necessarily advantages the former at the expense of the latter.”[3]  Justice Roberts is effectively suggesting that if you add one Black student to the student body, you are taking away from White or Asian-American students, who collectively constitute a majority of the student body at Harvard.  Justice Sotomayor was appalled at such a conclusion: “Nothing in the Fourteenth Amendment or its history supports the Court’s shocking proposition, which echoes arguments made by opponents of Reconstruction-era laws and this Court’s decision in Brown.”[4]  Moreover, what Justice Roberts failed to acknowledge is that by adding a privileged White son of a donor, you are taking away from talented Black or Hispanic students.”

In addition, requiring a numerosity test to measure the goal of training future leaders is also facially illogical. Institutions who attempt to do so would be criticized as using quotas and racial balancing. The “stereotyping” trope is also old and, in my view, is based on racial assumptions about the abilities of Black and Latino students. Moreover, one has to question whether beneficiaries of preferences for legacy admits, children of financial benefactors, et al., feel stereotyped or stigmatized. I think not.[5]

Lastly, the 25-year aspirational goal espoused by Justice O’Connor in Grutter was just that, a hope not a reality.  Twenty-five years is not enough and invoking Dr. Martin Luther King’s “content of character” maxim as former Vice President Pence uttered on CBS Face the Nation (July 2, 2023) will not suffice.  

The only exception in the decision is that students can refer to their race in their college essays.  How colleges will be able to use that information is not clear.

I can only conclude that Professor Bell’s quote of “This far and no further” was prescient, and if he were alive today, he would say “I told you so.”  The Court was willing to overlook factors used by colleges to ensure that children of privileged families continue to have an advantage.”[6] The only factor the Court had an issue with was race.

Despite this blow to diversity in admissions, I believe the academic community will find solutions and the civil rights movement has not come to a close. Thanks to this Supreme Court, the new civil rights movement may have begun.

[1] Grutter v. Bollinger, 539 U.S. 306 (2003) (O’Connor, J.) https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/us-supreme-court/539/306.html

[2] Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina, Brief for American Business Enterprises as Amici Curiae Supporting Respondents, https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/20/20-1199/232357/20220801135424028_Nos.%2020-1199%2021-707%20-%20Brief%20for%20Major%20American%20Business%20Enterprises%20Supporting%20Respondents.pdf 

[3] Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/20-1199_hgdj.pdf

[4] Id at 46.

[5] CNN, Michael Kinsley, “How affirmative action helped George W.”, Jan. 20, 2003,  https://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/01/20/timep.affirm.action.tm/

[6] SFFA, Dissent of Justice Sotomayor, at 44.

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The Fund for Leadership, Equity, Access and Diversity (LEAD Fund) Asserts the Supreme Court’s Decision in the Students for Fair Admissions Case will not be a Barrier to Diversity in Higher Education or the Workplace of the Future

The Fund urges Academic Institutions and Corporations to Use Creative DE&I Strategies to Prepare the Next Generation of Leaders

 

For Immediate Release: June 29, 2023

Media Contact:  Shirley J. Wilcher 240-893-9475; 202-349-9855 

                 shirleyj@leadfund.org; executive@aaaed.org

  

Washington, DC – June 29, 2023. The Fund for Leadership, Equity, Access and Diversity (LEAD Fund), a national not-for-profit organization styled as a “Think and Do Tank,” strongly urges the nation’s academic institutions to use creative strategies to prepare the next generation of leaders notwithstanding the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions Inc v. the University of North Carolina (SFFA).[1]  In SFFA, the plaintiffs, including White and Asian-American students, asked the Court to rule that race-conscious higher education admissions programs should be declared unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution and under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In both cases, the lower courts found no discrimination and upheld the principle that diversity in admissions is a compelling interest under the Constitution.

Reversing 45 years of precedent the Supreme Court ruled that both Harvard University and the University of North Carolina violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and Title VI.[2]   It curiously argued that the 14th Amendment, enacted to overcome the vestiges of slavery, is color-blind and that the institutions failed to sustain the strict scrutiny test used by the Court because they failed to operate their race-based admissions programs in a manner that is “sufficiently measurable to permit judicial [review]” and because their admissions programs operated as a “stereotype.”  The Court added: “College admissions are zero sum, and a benefit provided to some applicants but not to others necessarily advantages the former at the expense of the latter.” The Court also argued that these programs lacked a “logical endpoint.”

The Court’s decision is limited to higher education admissions, not employment or contracting.

Founded in 2014, the LEAD Fund was established to provide thought leadership in promoting inclusive organizations and institutions through research and education on issues related to diversity, social 

responsibility, human and civil rights. A 501 (c) (3) charitable organization. the Fund complements the work of the American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity (AAAED) through programs and activities that address a range of concerns, including affirmative action, equal opportunity, equity, access, civil rights, and diversity and inclusion in education, employment, business and contracting. The LEAD Fund places a special emphasis on the emerging demographics in the United States in all of its work.  In 2022, the Fund joined AAAED in filing an amicus curiae brief in support of the universities’ admissions programs.

Dr. Christopher Metzler, Chair of the LEAD Fund Board, stated: “One of the central objectives of affirmative action is to promote inclusivity and diversity in various sectors. The Court failed to understand that by actively considering individuals from underrepresented groups in employment, educational admissions and contracting, affirmative action seeks to create a level playing field and increase representation. This approach acknowledges the benefits of a diverse workforce and student body, including improved creativity, innovation, and problem-solving capabilities.” 

Shirley J. Wilcher, Fund President and CEO, stated: “As Justice O’Connor wrote in the Grutter decision (2003): ‘These benefits [of diversity] are not theoretical but real, as major American businesses have made clear that the skills needed in today’s increasingly global marketplace can only be developed through exposure to widely diverse people, cultures, ideas, and viewpoints.’”[1] Wilcher added: “Companies and colleges must increase their efforts to enhance DE&I programs and promote partnerships to amplify the pipeline of potential leaders at the K-12 and collegiate levels. Such partnerships can develop students who are ready to thrive in the workplace of the future.”

President Biden spoke on the Supreme Court’s decision: “Our nation is stronger when our colleges and universities reflect the vast and rich diversity of our people. But while talent, creativity, and hard work are everywhere across this country, equal opportunity is not.”[2] 

Despite the Court’s decision, in 2021, 54.7 percent of K-12 students enrolled in public schools were students of color: Only 45.2 percent were White.[3]   Dr. Metzler continued: “This is a crucial moment where selective academic institutions will be either the nation’s gate-keepers by foreclosing opportunities to a growing, multi-ethnic student population, or will serve as the pathway to a more inclusive workplace from the entry level to the C-Suite.”

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Fund for Leadership, Equity, Access and Diversity

1701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 200 * Washington, D.C. 20006

202-349-9855 * 866-562-2233 * Fax: 202-355-1399 *

  www.Leadfund.org

 

[1] Grutter v. Bollinger, 539 U.S. 306 (2003)

[2] FACT SHEET: President Biden Announces Actions to Promote Educational Opportunity and Diversity in Colleges and Universities, June 29, 2023, The White House, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/06/29/fact-sheet-president-biden-announces-actions-to-promote-educational-opportunity-and-diversity-in-colleges-and-universities/

[3] Share of students enrolled in K-12 public schools in the United States in 2021, by ethnicity and state, Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/236244/enrollment-in-public-schools-by-ethnicity-and-us-state/#:~:text=In%20California%20in%202021%2C%2021,and%2055.9%20percent%20were%20Hispanic.

 

[1] Nos. 20-1199 & 21-707.  For a copy of AAAED/LEAD Fund’s Amicus Curiae Brief, go to: https://www.aaaed.org/images/aaaed/NC%20Amicus%20Brief.pdf

[2]

 

MEDIA AVAILABILITY

 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND DIVERSITY Experts are Available to Speak about the U.S. Supreme Court’s Decision on Race-Conscious Admissions  

American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity (AAAED), and the Fund for Leadership, Equity, Access and Diversity (LEAD Fund), Organizations of Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action and Diversity Professionals, Will Discuss the Court’s Decision and the Challenges Facing the Academic Community and Others Seeking to Promote Diversity and Inclusion.

   

Media Contact:  Shirley J. Wilcher, 240-893-9475 or 202-349-9855;  executive@aaaed.org 

DATE: June 27, 2023, Washington, DC

  

WHAT: Experts on Affirmative Action, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&) are available to speak about the ramifications of the U.S. Supreme Court’s upcoming decision on diversity in higher education admissions (Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions Inc v. the University of North Carolina (SFFA)).

  

WHO:  AAAED Executive Director Shirley J. Wilcher; Attorneys Carol Ashley, Esq. and Matthew Camardella, Esq., (Co-authors of AAAED Amicus Brief); Dean Sparlin, Esq., (Co-author of the AAAED brief); and Dr. Christopher Metzler, Chair, Fund for Leadership, Equity, Access and Diversity (LEAD Fund), Co-signer of the brief; and other members of AAAED and the LEAD Fund Board. Dr. Metzler established one of the first academic programs for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

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WHEN: Virtually, as available.  The LEAD Fund will host an in-person discussion and press briefing in Washington, DC, week of July 24, 2023.  Media inquiries should be directed to executive@aaaed.org, 240-893-9475 or 202-349-9855. The most updated information may be found at www.aaaed.org  or www.leadfund.org.  Social media: www.twitter.com/theaaaed or www.twitter.com/lead_fund.

Founded in 1974 as the American Association for Affirmative Action, AAAED is the longest-serving organization of Equal Opportunity Professionals.  For 49 years, the Association has stood for equal opportunity in education, employment and contracting.  The Fund for Leadership, Equity, Access and Diversity (LEAD Fund) was established to serve as a “Think and Do Tank” for EEO, diversity and inclusion, social justice and related policy issues.  For a copy of the AAAED/LEAD Fund Brief, go to: https://www.aaaed.org/images/aaaed/NC%20Amicus%20Brief.pdf

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Fund for Leadership, Equity, Access and Diversity (LEAD Fund) Welcomes its Newest Board Member, Joseph B. Hill

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LEAD Fund Adds Diversity Executive Joseph B. Hill to its board of Civil Rights Advocates, Scholars and DE&I Leaders

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For Immediate Release: March 24, 2023

Media Contact:  Shirley J. Wilcher 240-893-9475

shirleyj@leadfund.org

www.leadfund.org

 

Washington, DC - March 24, 2023.  The Fund for Leadership, Equity, Access and Diversity (LEAD Fund), announces the newest addition to its board of directors, Joseph B. Hill.  The LEAD Fund was established to provide thought leadership in promoting inclusive organizations and institutions through research and education on issues related to diversity, social responsibility, human and civil rights. The LEAD Fund is a “Think and Do” tank, which advances new knowledge and tested strategies aimed at eliminating prejudice and discrimination. The Fund is a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization.

 

“Joe Hill is a visionary Diversity Executive and change agent with a 20-year history of driving transformative diversity and inclusion solutions for global corporations,” said Dr. Christopher Metzler, Chair of the LEAD Fund’s Board of Directors.  Hill is the managing partner of JBrady5 Consulting LLC. (JB5C), a firm that specializes in business transformation delivery spanning 6 core areas: organizational strategy, assessment & succession, global D&I programs, managing brand reputation, ESG strategy, and improving community engagement for large enterprises throughout the US and globally.

 

Prior to establishing JB5C, Joseph Hill served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer for Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health System in Philadelphia, PA. In this role, he demonstrated impact and influence in driving the integration of D&I methodologies into business best practices and health equity programs. Over the last decade, his relentless leadership focus across the

Healthcare, Telecom, and Nonprofit sectors has centered on creating an authentic work environment and infusing energy into a global corporate value system that holds diversity and inclusion as a fundamental tenet.

 

Other LEAD Fund Board members include: Dr. Edna Chun, Vice President; Jennifer Tucker, Board Treasurer; Jacqueline Johnson, Board Secretary; Joan Kuriansky, and Shirley Wilcher, President and CEO.

 

A Subtle Subterfuge, an Outrage or Both?

Inside Higher Ed

February 3, 2023

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Florida College System presidents signed a statement promising not to support any effort that “compels belief” in critical race theory on their campuses. That prompted a deluge of criticism and, in some quarters, a little sympathy.  For more information, click here.

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Frustrated DEI Staff are Leaving Their Jobs 

Inside Higher Ed 

February 3, 2023

Demand for diversity, equity and inclusion specialists on campus is high—and so is turnover. Many in the field say the work can be isolating and support from top leaders is rare. 

After four years at Princeton University, Avina Ross left her job in September 2021. She was one of three DEI employees who have resigned from the institution over the past 18 months due to what they described as a lack of institutional support for their work, according to a December article in the student newspaper, The Daily Princetonian. For more information, click here 

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Diverse Issues in Higher Education

publishes Op-ED by LEAD Fund's President, Shirley J. Wilcher

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"National Opinion Polls on Affirmative Action: Inflaming an Issue that is Divisive Enough"

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Shirley J. Wilcher

Nov 17, 2022

Since the Regents of the University of California v. Bakke case of 1978, the Supreme Court has been asked on several occasions to rule on the constitutionality of using race as one factor in higher education admissions. The Court has consistently held that diversity is a compelling interest and that race – not quotas, can be one of many factors in selecting a class of students. In the Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard College and the University of North Carolina (SFFA), the Court is once again faced with the decision to respect decades of precedent or reverse the holistic admissions policy that selective colleges have used since the Court ruled in the Grutter v. Bollinger decision in 2003....Diverse Issues

 

Marilynn Schuyler, Esq., former LEAD Fund Board member and co-author of the AAAED/LEAD Fund Brief, speaks on CNN regarding affirmative action and the Harvard/UNC cases: CNN

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On December 1, 2022, AAAED hosts webinar "Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and UNC: What are the Implications for Admissions and Diversity Programs?"

LEAD Fund President and CEO Shirley J. Wilcher Moderates. Register here.

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Affirmative Action and the Supreme Court: What’s at Stake?  Diverse Issues Rebroadcasts AAAED's 48th National Conference panel on Affirmative Action.

Click here 

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American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity Urges the U.S. Supreme Court to Affirm that Diversity in Admissions is Constitutional 

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Student Body Diversity in Higher Education Is Essential to Promoting the Nation’s Future Workforces and Developing the Next Generation of Leaders 

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Washington, DC – November 1, 2022. The American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity (AAAED), a national not-for-profit association of equal opportunity, diversity and affirmative action professionals, strongly urges the U.S. Supreme Court to affirm the lower court’s decision in the case of Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions Inc v. the University of North Carolina.[1] The Association strongly urges the Court to respect forty-four years of precedent and maintain race conscious admissions in higher education as consistent with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.... Shirley Wilcher, AAAED Executive Director and President and CEO of LEAD Fund quoted. Press Release

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National Poll Shows Majority Believes Affirmative Action in Higher Education Is Essential, Must Be Protected by the Supreme Court

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mattie Goldman, goldman@civilrights.org

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WASHINGTON — The Leadership Conference Education Fund today released the results of a national survey exploring people’s opinions on affirmative action, diversity, and opportunity in higher education. The survey, commissioned by The Education Fund and conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago, found that a majority of people in America believe that diverse college and university campuses are beneficial to students, college admissions should take into account a student’s whole story, and the U.S. Supreme Court must protect affirmative action. Key findings include:

• 87% of respondents believe all students, no matter their race or background, benefit from college campuses that reflect the diversity of who we are as Americans.

• 76% of respondents believe college admissions should take into consideration the lived experiences and the whole story of a student, in addition to high school grades and test scores.

• 69% believe affirmative action helps create diverse campuses, which benefit all of us

• 64% of respondents believe affirmative action helps level the playing field and gives all students, regardless of their race or background, a fair shot at attending college.

• 54% of respondents believe it is important that the Supreme Court protects affirmative action, including 32% who believe it is very important. (more)  Press Release

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LEAD Fund joins AAAED and others on the Supreme Court amicus brief filed in support of Harvard and University of North Carolina.

 

The Fund for Leadership, Equity, Access and Diversity (LEAD Fund) was established to provide thought leadership in promoting inclusive organizations and institutions through research and education on issues related to diversity, social responsibility, human and civil rights.  On why the Fund joined the brief, Dr. Christopher Metzler, Chair of the LEAD Fund Board, stated: “The Lead Fund realizes the importance of Affirmative Action and Diversity in America. Colleges and universities benefit greatly from critical thinking among a diverse student body. Harvard's and UNC’s holistic, race-conscious admissions policies create an environment from which the world gains conscious citizens and leaders.”  For a copy of the brief,

click here

 

Ambitious Diversity Goals? Take

Care Not to Discriminate

CEO Update, Sept. 9, 2022, William Erhart

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LEAD Fund Chair Christopher Metzler states, "Let's be clear. There is no diversity law. You can accelerate it, but you cannot accelerate it by discriminating."  Dr. Metzler joined Dr. Richard Baker, past President of AAAED, and Dr. Carmen Suarez, AAAED Board Member, at a workshop given at the Annual Conference of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) in Nashville, TN.  https://ceoupdate.com/ (Membership required)

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Admissions Survey in a World of Change

Inside Higher Ed, Scott Jaschik

September 19, 2022

LEAD Fund's Shirley Wilcher quoted

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AAAED Announces Featured Keynote Speaker Dr. Christopher Metzler for its 48th National Conference 

Dr. Christopher Metzler, a Founder of Diversity Management Training, will Keynote the Organization’s 48th National Conference on October 11th

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"Dr. Christopher Metzler will be presenting on Technology-Driven DEI Programs: How Technology is Increasing their Impact.” — L. Jerry Knighton, Jr., AAAED Conference Chair

 

WASHINGTON, DC, USA, September 22, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity (AAAED), a national not-for-profit association of equal opportunity, diversity and affirmative action professionals, announced that Dr.  Christopher Metzler will lead its host of speakers at the 48th National Conference. The conference will take place October 11 – 13, 2022, and will be virtual. The conference theme is “Building an Infrastructure for Equitable and Sustainable Change.” Dr. Metzler will speak LIVE on October 11, 2022 at 1:30 pm (ET). Press Release

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