An ambivalent eulogy for diversity: Reading Ahmed’s On Being Included in decisively illiberal times
Join this event to hear Tyson Lewis and Christina Donaldson discuss Sara Ahmed's book in the context of the second Trump presidency.
An ambivalent eulogy for diversity: Reading Ahmed’s On Being Included in decisively illiberal times
22 Oct 2025, 17:30 – 19:15
Sara Ahmed’s On Being Included: Racism and Diversity in Institutional Life (2012) is a deeply insightful reflection on the complex relationship between diversity and universities. At best, institutions take diversity seriously, making structural changes. At worst, these attempts are transformed into their opposite, masking deeper, more prevalent forms of exclusion.
This event develops Ahmed’s original analysis and develops it in two significant ways. First, the speakers address it in terms of “institutional phenomenology”. Second, drawing on a distinction she makes in Queer Phenomenology between orientation toward and around a phenomenon, the speakers map out four responses to the current crisis.
This event will be particularly useful to students, researchers and policy makers interested in inclusion and diversity in educational institutions.
Please note this is an online event. To book your place, please email Yuxin Su: stnvysu@ucl.ac.uk.
PESGB seminar series
This event is part of the Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain (PESGB) seminar series. PESGB is a learned society that promotes the study, teaching and application of philosophy of education. Its London Branch hosts seminars every Wednesday in conjunction with the Centre for Philosophy of Education. These seminars are led by national and international scholars in the field, covering a wide range of issues of educational and philosophical concern.
All are welcome to attend.
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Tony Slade for UCL Media Services.
Tyson Lewis
Professor of Art Education
College of Visual Arts and Design, University of North Texas
Tyson Lewis is Professor of Art Education in the College of Visual Arts and Design, University of North Texas. His work on critical phenomenology, critical theory, posthumanism, and antifascist education has appeared in leading journals in the critical humanities.
Christina Donaldson
Assistant Professor
University of North Texas
Christina Donaldson is Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of North Texas. Drawing from critical phenomenology and queer and feminist theories, her research critiques neoliberal resilience discourse while advocating creative practices.
Further information
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