U. Texas at Austin to Promote Ex-DEI Official to Provost’s Office

U. Texas at Austin to Promote Ex-DEI Official to Provost’s Office

The University of Texas System Board of Regents plans to promote a former campus diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) leader to a role in the vice provost’s office at the Austin campus.

As reported by Texas Scorecard, Dr. Melissa Taylor initially worked in Austin’s DEI office before the state’s ban on such policies at public universities, enacted by Senate Bill 17.

In her new role as Senior Vice Provost for Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships, she will oversee many of UT Austin’s day-to-day academic affairs.

While there is no evidence of Taylor’s former DEI position on her LinkedIn page, a 2023 Instagram post confirms Taylor’s position as “Assistant Dean for Strategy and Equity Initiatives.” In the social media post, Taylor expresses her “radical joy” over Pride Month and emphasizes there is still “work that lies ahead.”

“Pride Month is a time for reflecting on how far we’ve come, validating the hardships still experienced by too many of us and reenergizing ourselves for the work that lies ahead,” stated Taylor.

“Pride Month is about visibility and celebration and self-acceptance and, my personal favorite, radical joy.”

An investigation by CriticalRace.org found that the job title switch and eventual promotion of Dr. Taylor followed the University System’s guidance policy regarding Texas Senate Bill 17.

According to the University of Texas System’s “SB17 Working Guidance,” Senate Bill 17, effective January 1, 2024, prohibits all “DEI offices” as well as the “duties of a DEI office.” However, in an apparent workaround, the guidance policy states that employees who lose their jobs as a result may be moved to other positions.

“Employees whose responsibilities or positions are eliminated through implementation of SB 17 may, if appropriate under the circumstances, be reassigned to a different position at the institution or invited to apply for a different position,” reads the guidance policy.

This apparent effort to circumvent state law by way of faculty reappointments can be seen at other public universities where state legislation has sought to restrict DEI policies.

As reported by Houston Public Media, the University of Houston responded to Senate Bill 17 by moving five employees to new positions, yet their focus on DEI would remain the same. Vice Chancellor Donna Cornell reiterated that DEI efforts would continue despite state law.

“People can continue to do what they need to do and teach what they teach, even when it involves diversity, equity and inclusion,” stated Cornell.

After anti-DEI legislation was enacted in Florida, an official at the University of South Florida was revealed, through a hidden recording, to be continuing to promote DEI. After the DEI office was rebranded under the guise of “culture enrichment,” the former USF faculty member reportedly boasted that he had not changed his mission.

“Even though I eliminated my title, I didn’t eliminate my job,” said the faculty member.

“That didn’t change anything that I was doing already.”

As the University of Texas System elevates officials with progressive leanings to senior leadership roles, it remains to be seen whether DEI policies will become more deeply embedded across the university system.

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