University of Washington professor blasts mandatory DEI statement for new hires, warns many qualified candidates could leave

A University of Washington professor has criticised the institution’s mandatory diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) statement for new faculty, warning it could discourage highly qualified candidates from applying. Stuart Reges, a non-tenured teaching professor at UW’s Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering, said he would not have been hired under the current DEI requirements despite his academic achievements. The controversy centres on a job posting for an associate professor of school psychology. Applicants were required to submit a one-page diversity statement describing their identity, positionality, experience, and commitment to DEI, in alignment with the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Framework. Professor highligh