Associate Provost on Coordinated Attack on Academic Freedom

In October, Johnson’s book was granted the American Association of Colleges and Universities’ Frederic W. Ness Book Award.

Valerie Johnson

Valerie Johnson has watched—and fought against—political attacks on academic freedom for years. A political scientist and associate provost of diversity, equity and inclusion at the Catholic DePaul University, Johnson understands well the political incentives for conservatives to bring universities to heel.

This year brought an avalanche of new and continuing attacks on what professors can teach, speak about and research at American colleges and universities, led by the Trump administration and exacerbated in states like Florida and Texas, where Johnson describes these changes as swift and effective.

Together with co-authors and editors Jennifer Rut