K.R. Bean

School of Social Work, Masters of Social Work Student  

Nuri C. Dillard

School of Social Work, Associate Dean 

In 2023, a wave of anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) legislation swept across the United States, directly affecting K-12 and higher education institutions (Asmelash, 2023; Pengelly, 2023; Petri, 2023; Webb, 2023). This article investigates the implications of the anti-DEI movement for social work education, drawing on theoretical frameworks of anti-oppression and critical race theory to analyze the broader impact of these policies (Brahm, April 2023; Wong, 2023; Hannah-Jones, 2024; Education Counsel, 2024). This article will proceed in three parts. First, it will examine the rise of anti-DEI legislation, situating it within the socio-political context of growing resistance to inclusive education. Second, it will assess the implications of these legislative changes for social work education, particularly how they disrupt the teaching of key concepts. Third, it will explore potential strategies for sustaining DEI efforts in social work education despite these legal challenges.