Many Are Called but the Chosen Are Few

Abstract

This chapter will call attention to practitioners, scholars, and educators who have been engaged in DEI work before the recent attention the field has received and discuss those who arrived at the work through their personal convictions. The chapter also describes experiences of professionals who have been engaged in pre-George Floyd diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work as having a “conviction” or “call” for DEI work. This call for the work supports leaders through the highly complex DEI terrain with a commitment to achieve transformational results for institutions and organizations. The chapter explores the notion that values-driven DEI work, where principles of adaptive and servant leadership are employed, lead to sustained focus on transformative organizational social change. This chapter provides recommended practices drawn from “chosen” DEI leaders and practitioners and additional questions for future research consideration.