Date of Award
2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Publisher
Santa Clara : Santa Clara University, 2025
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
First Advisor
Ezinne Ofoegbu
Second Advisor
Marco Murillo
Third Advisor
Pedro Nava
Abstract
This dissertation investigated how four Jesuit higher education institutions in the United States articulate and implement Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) commitments through policy, language and administrative structures. Framed within the context of current political challenges to DEI initiatives—including recent federal reversals—this study explored the intersection of rhetoric and institutional practice at Santa Clara University, Creighton University, the College of the Holy Cross, and Saint Louis University. Focusing on publicly accessible documents, Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) was used to analyze mission, vision and values statements, DEI websites, and other selected artifacts. Findings revealed three themes: Mission, Vision, Values, and DEI Statements, with variability of text within and across all data; Diversity Language which had three sub themes of equity language, inclusion language, and Ignatian and Jesuit terminology; and DEI divisions. Across all themes there were variations of language which provided insight as to why, and how, there can be lack of, or mixed messages on, such an important issue as DEI. These findings suggest that Jesuit universities still have work to do when it comes to embodying their missions of social justice and that language of commitment must be matched by structural and measurable implementation.
Recommended Citation
Hays, Sarah Marie, "Words and Actions: A Critical Discourse Analysis of DEI Discourse and Practice at Jesuit Universities" (2025). Social Justice in Educational Leadership EdD Dissertations. 14.
https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/ed_dissertations/14
