We are delighted to announce that Lisa Johnson, EdD, a 2025 graduate of the EdD in Educational and Professional Practice with a specialization in social justice leadership at Antioch University, has published her dissertation titled, Are We on the Same Page? A Look at Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at a Small Liberal Arts College.
In an era where institutions of higher education increasingly prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), Dr. Johnson’s dissertation offers a critical lens on whether these initiatives truly align with the lived experiences of students, faculty, and staff. Her research challenges the assumption that policy changes and mission statements alone are sufficient to foster meaningful, lasting change.
Using a participatory action research framework, Dr. Johnson engaged students as co-researchers in exploring the disconnect between institutional rhetoric and DEI implementation. Employing a mixed-methods approach—including surveys, interviews, and focus groups—her study revealed ongoing structural inequities, performative DEI practices, and the continued influence of White Supremacy Culture on campus.
Key findings identified barriers such as limited institutional accountability, a lack of faculty and staff diversity, exclusionary campus dynamics, and insufficient student involvement in decision-making processes. Her research emphasizes that compositional diversity is not synonymous with inclusion, and underscores the need for responsive, equity-driven practices that prioritize belonging and mattering for historically marginalized communities.
Dr. Johnson’s study offers actionable recommendations, including revising hiring and retention practices, strengthening DEI training, increasing institutional transparency, and adopting measurable, outcomes-based evaluation strategies. Her work contributes to a growing body of scholarship that calls for context-specific, action-oriented DEI strategies rooted in continuous institutional reflection and community input.
Dr. Lisa Johnson is an international educator and scholar-practitioner with more than 25 years of experience in global education, social justice leadership, and student support. She currently serves as the Coordinator of Global Education at Keene State College and previously held senior leadership roles at Smith College, including Associate Dean for International Study and Interim Director of the Lewis Global Studies Center.
Her professional journey spans teaching and administrative roles in both the U.S. and Chile, all grounded in her educational philosophy of equity, intercultural understanding, and transformative learning. Dr. Johnson views global education as a pathway to empathy, critical consciousness, and ethical leadership in a diverse and interconnected world.
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