According to a CNBC Survey, since the death of George Floyd in May of 2020, 88% of companies have made DEI their number one priority. The job search engine, Indeed, cited a jump in DEI positions of 123% in the three months following the death of George Floyd. And Google has reported DEI as one of its a top search abbreviations for the past three years.  With these very extensive responses and marked commitments to DEI, the notion that DEI is being adequately addressed is assumed.  This talk will take a deeper dive into what DEI initiatives are and what they are designed to accomplish. The talk will attempt to address the following learning objectives:

• define current and recent trends in DEI in research and associated precipitating influences
• dispel myths and address barriers to DEI initiatives leading to concrete gains
• transfer the overwhelming energy on identifying problems to generating solutions