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Understanding And Application Of Systems Thinking To Diversity Challenges At Higher Education Institutions, Odell Jones

Full-Text Theses & Dissertations

This research argues that establishing and sustaining leadership diversity within Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) is a complex-systems challenge and that those responsible for leading efforts to establish and sustain diversity, referred to as DEI leaders, should adopt a mindset of systems thinking and apply problem-solving methods and tools informed by systems thinking. Semi-structured interviews with DEI Leaders at HEIs were conducted regarding background and perceptions of their work, and how they thought about and made choices concerning diversity challenges. Interview questions were designed to gain an understanding of the degree to which these leaders think about DEI and if they …