The definitions in our glossary are primarily sourced from Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary and Cornell Law School’s Legal Information Institute. We have made slight modifications where needed for brevity and to better tailor the definitions to the specific needs of users of this website. For more detailed explanations of the terms, users are encouraged to review the definitions on these websites or conduct their own independent research.
About the Project
The Advancing DEI Initiative is a project of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at NYU School of Law. The initiative aims to help organizational leaders, policymakers, academics, journalists, and members of the public navigate the legal and regulatory landscape associated with workplace inclusion efforts. By providing clear and rigorous guidance, we aim to protect and strengthen inclusion work so that organizations can continue to promote equal opportunity lawfully and effectively.
Since the Supreme Court’s decision in June 2023 to end race-conscious admissions in higher education, we have observed a significant increase in lawsuits aimed at ending similar efforts to foster just and equitable workplaces. To help leaders navigate the legal landscape, our website offers tools including:
The litigation tracker, which allows users to stay informed about cases relating to workplace inclusion; and
A Resources section with articles and other commentary related to inclusion and the law.
We cater to both lawyers and non-lawyers, and strive to make our tools accessible to anyone who supports the values of diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
While the primary goal of the Advancing DEI Initiative is to provide legal insights, we also aim to foster a pro-inclusion community to address both visible and hidden injustices across all societal institutions. Despite the current legal landscape, we remain firm in our belief that inclusion efforts will endure, and we invite you to join us in our mission to ensure its advancement.
You can learn more about the law of inclusion or read about the methodology for further information about the litigation tracker. You can also read articles on the law of inclusion published by Meltzer Center personnel as well as media hits that cite the Meltzer Center.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank the following organizations for their generous support of this initiative:
Baker McKenzie
Charter Communications
Goldman Sachs
MacArthur Foundation
Microsoft
Morgan Stanley
Scotiabank
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
TJX
We also wish to thank the following NYU Law students who have contributed to the Initiative: Lucia Alvarez Galvez, Youssef Aziz, Tyra Beck, Yejin Chang, Zoe Chang, Aarya Chidambaram, Mer Fagliano, Suchait Kahlon, Zachary Kasdin, Jane Kim, Stacey Kim, Rebecca Luo, Veronica McLean, Yasmeen Metellus, Gaby Nahhas, Paulina Pages, Jasmine Perez, Priya Prasad, Lydia Schiller, Gwendolyn Strasberg Gardner, Briana Thomas, Sunil Tohan, Olivia Turk, Austin Upshaw, Shawn Young, and Kiran Zelbo.
Team
Kenji Yoshino
Kenji Yoshino is the Chief Justice Earl Warren Professor of Constitutional Law at NYU School of Law and faculty director of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. A graduate of Harvard, Oxford, and Yale, he is the author of four books, including his latest coauthored book, Say the Right Thing: How to Talk About Identity, Diversity, and Justice. He has won numerous awards for his teaching and scholarship, including the American Bar Association’s Silver Gavel Award, the Peck medal in jurisprudence, and NYU’s Distinguished Teaching Award.
David Glasgow
David Glasgow is the executive director of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, an adjunct professor at NYU School of Law, and coauthor of the book Say the Right Thing: How to Talk About Identity, Diversity, and Justice. He has a BA in philosophy and an LLB from the University of Melbourne, Australia, and a Master of Laws (LLM) from NYU School of Law. Prior to his role at the Meltzer Center, he practiced employment, labor relations, and antidiscrimination law at King & Wood Mallesons.
Ashley Berry
Ashley Berry is a legal fellow at the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at NYU School of Law. In her role, she conducts legal research, maintains a DEI litigation tracker, and creates educational resources to support the Advancing DEI Initiative. Prior to joining the Meltzer Center, she was a DEI Program Manager for a startup before spending three years as the Senior Administrative Program Coordinator at the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (CWGS) at The University of Texas at Austin. At CWGS, she organized academic programming, managed communications, and helped launch the new Department of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies. Ashley is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin (BA in Italian), New York University (MA in French Studies), and The University of Texas School of Law (JD), where she was a Rapoport Center Human Rights Scholar.