The Legal Intelligencer: Can (D)iversity Truly Exist Without Shifting the Focus to (I)nclusion?

In an article published in The Legal Intelligencer on October 20, 2023, labor and employment partner Melissa Atkins, analyzes the case of Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, Case Nos. 20-1199, 21-707 (June 29, 2023) and the concept of DE&I. In the article, titled “Can (D)iversity Truly Exist Without Shifting the Focus to (I)nclusion?” Melissa discusses the importance of the inclusion component as the driving force in the organizations’ DE&I initiatives. She also shares her experience as a diverse attorney:

“As a diverse attorney practicing law in a nondiverse career, I have realized that even when an organization possesses a diverse employee population, a robust DE&I policy or initiatives, it will likely face challenges in achieving sustainable performance outcomes without fostering an inclusive environment because their diverse workforce will be short-lived.”