Many universities in the twenty-first century claim "diversity" as a
core value, but fall short in transforming institutional practices. The
disparity between what universities claim as a value and what they
accomplish in reality creates a labyrinth of barriers, challenges, and
extra burdens that junior faculty of color must negotiate, often at
great personal and professional risk. This volume addresses these
obstacles, first by foregrounding essays written by junior faculty of
color and second by pairing each essay with commentary by senior
university administrators. These two university constituencies play
crucial roles in diversifying the academy, but rarely have an
opportunity to candidly engage in dialogue. This volume harnesses the
untapped collective knowledge in these constituencies, revealing how
diversity claims, when poorly conceived and under-actualized, impact the
university as an intellectual work environment and as a social filter
for innovative ideas.