Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs are under attack across the country. Earlier this year, the Kentucky General Assembly passed House Bill 4, which prohibits post-secondary education institutions from using DEI programming.
Aaron Thompson is the President of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education. Despite federal and state changes to DEI, Thompson said it is important that they serve all of their students.
“All of our students from all different kinds of backgrounds, they come from all different socioeconomic classes, they come from all different ethnicities and race, and all of those folks, even the adult learners, even students with different abilities, we're going to have to figure out how to serve these students where they're at.”
He said his own story is an example of how including everyone in education is beneficial.
“As an African American from eastern Kentucky, whose father was an illiterate coal miner, and I had to work my way through school, I had to do all those things that it took to get here. Education is the great equalizer, for us not to know that we're not in a situation where we have a great understanding.”
Thompson is the first African American and first native-born Kentuckian to hold this position with the Council on Postsecondary Education.
He said his goal is to give a good education to the students of Kentucky, which he said will benefit Kentucky families and the commonwealth's economy.
Thompson said his organization will abide by the law but will continue to serve students. He is concerned about being free to be able to recruit all of the potential students available.
Hear more with Aaron Thompson on Eastern Standard Thursday at 1p/8p on WEKU.
