Affirmative Action at the Crossroads

The Community's Conversation

In a landmark decision this June, the Supreme Court ruled that affirmative action programs in college admissions violated the Fourteenth Amendment, ending this practice in higher education.

At the same time, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at private companies are coming under fire. What’s next for affirmative action and DEI, especially for employers?

This CMC forum unpacks what the Supreme Court’s decision means for the future of equity in the U.S.

The panelists are:

Erin Butcher, Of Counsel, Bricker Graydon

Margaret Finley, Head of DEI and Corporate Affairs, Advanced Drainage Systems

Dr. Cynthia Turner, Assistant Dean and Chief Diversity Officer, Fisher College of Business, The Ohio State University

The host is Sherrice Sledge-Thomas, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access, The Columbus Chamber of Commerce

This forum was sponsored by Event Marketing Strategies and The Thanks Be To God Foundation. It was supported by the Grange Insurance Audubon Center. The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch.

The was recorded before a live audience in Columbus, Ohio on August 30, 2023.