Raul Fernandez, a senior lecturer at Boston University’s Wheelock College of Education and Human Development, resigned from the University’s Learn More Series April 15 in response to changes in BU’s diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

The Learn More Series, organized by BU Diversity & Inclusion, focuses on different themes annually. Fernandez said this year’s theme, “The Future of Higher Education,” aligned closely with his expertise.

Fernandez said he was invited to serve as a reviewer for the program, which provides funding to selected applicants who propose events or initiatives that align with the year’s theme.

“I was very excited to be a part of it,” Fernandez said. “At the same time, however, it felt wrong to continue to devote my time and labor to a project that seems, at this point, inconsistent with the moves that the University has been making around diversity and inclusion.”

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights issued a “Dear Colleague” letter Feb. 14 instructing universities to end DEI-related programs by Feb. 28. 

Fernandez said BU made changes Feb. 28, including pausing or canceling several DEI initiatives. Among them, he said, were the Emerging Scholars Program, the Designing Antiracist Curricula Fellowship and the Inclusion Catalyst Grants.

Fernandez said the Emerging Scholars Program in particular, was one of his proudest contributions throughout his 20 years at BU. 

“It’s a phenomenal program designed to bring … early career scholars from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds to present their work at Boston University,” Fernandez said. “That’s the kind of program that the University has decided can’t exist anymore.” 

After noticing these changes, Fernandez said he attended the University’s Provost Faculty forum March 5 to ask for clarity. He said administrators told him “there are no changes” to DEI programs, which he “knew not to be true.” 

Following the meeting, Fernandez said he requested a detailed list of program changes from Victoria Sahani, associate provost for community and inclusion, but never received a list. 

“There is still, to this point, been no official communication,” Fernandez said. “I’ve been waiting for now two months to get an answer to a very simple question and the answer is known by the administration.”

Fernandez said this lack of transparency from administration is “unprecedented.”

“I haven’t seen this kind of lack of transparency and dissembling around policy ever in my time at BU,” Fernandez said. “Frustrating isn’t even the word. It doesn’t fully capture how I feel about our institution right now.” 

Provost Gloria Waters and Chief of Staff to the Provost Judith Sandonato both directed their request for comment to BU Spokesperson Colin Riley, who referred to a FAQ page related to federal guidance on DEI and highlighted the “Living Our Values” initiative launched October 2024 by President Melissa Gilliam. 

This initiative emphasized BU’s “rich history in free speech, diversity, and dialogue across differences,” Riley wrote.

Fernandez said he received a “generous outpouring of support” online following his resignation and hopes his actions encourage others to speak out.

“My hope is that, as I’ve been inspired by others, that other people are maybe inspired by this act … and take their own small actions,” Fernandez said.

Instead of changing DEI programs, Fernandez said BU should not have taken the Trump administration’s instructions at face value. 

“It is a preposterous letter, and anyone who takes that seriously was certainly, in my view, not serious about diversity, equity or inclusion,” he said. “[The administration is] spending maybe too much time looking at the risk coming from Washington, D.C. and should be looking at the risk right at home.”

Looking ahead, Fernandez said he remains unsure about how the University will proceed.  

“We don’t know what’s going to happen next and what changes the University might announce moving forward,” he said. “If this continues, it’s going to be really difficult for folks to believe that BU is a place that does value diversity and equity and inclusion.”