Call for Submissions
WPA: Writing Program Administration
“WPAing in a Time of Backlash: Stories and Strategies” Symposium
Like most of you, we have faced attacks on DEI at our institutions. Among other things, we have witnessed:
- the removal of references to “diversity,” “equity,” and “inclusion” in official or public-facing texts
- the dismantling of units and committees dedicated to advancing DEI
- the suspension of graduation requirements in categories such as domestic and global diversity
- the directive to justify or eliminate occurrences of DEI-related words—including not only “diversity,” “equity,” and “inclusion,” but also “culture,” “cultural,” “intercultural,” “racial,” “minority,” “justice/social justice,” “LGBTQ,” and “Women’s Rights.”
- Visits on or near campus by ICE agents
Institutional responses to the current federal administration’s mandates regarding DEI have varied, but many of us, particularly at institutions that serve historically marginalized populations, have experienced similar things and are actively seeking strategies to protect and advance the work we have done to make our writing programs inclusive, accessible, and anti-racist.
Time is of the essence, so we plan to include a special symposium on “WPAing in a Time of Backlash: Stories and Strategies” in our fall 2025 issue. To this end, we seek brief (+/- 1000-word) pieces that provide suggestions and share strategies that WPAs might use to resist and persist in this moment. While this time frame will not allow for our usual peer-review process, submissions will be reviewed by the editorial team and selected contributors will be asked to revise and submit for publication in WPA: Writing Program Administration 49.1 (fall 2025).
Submissions should be emailed to wpaeditors by Monday, June 9, 2025. We welcome questions and queries at that email address as well.
Tracy Ann Morse, Patti Poblete, and Wendy Sharer, Editors
WPA: Writing Program Administration
Dr. Wendy B. Sharer (she/her/hers)
Professor of English
2201 Bate Building
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC 27858
252-328-6698
sharerw
ECU Indigenous Land Acknowledgement: We acknowledge the Tuscarora people, who are the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and live, and recognize their continuing connection to the land, water, and air that Greenville consumes. We pay respect to eight recognized tribes; Coharie, Eastern Band of Cherokee, Haliwa-Saponi, Lumbee, Meherrin, Occaneechi Band of Saponi, Sappony, and Waccamaw-Siouan, all Nations, and their elders past, present, and emerging.