Tonya Bibbs, PhD
In a time when diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives face relentless attacks, how can social workers reclaim DEI’s transformative potential and shape a more just future?
In this urgent episode, our guest, Tonya Bibbs, a scholar and member of the Social Work Futures Lab, will comment on the future of DEI, the role of social work, and perhaps most importantly, the future of social work given our current reality.
Drawing from developmental science, Black feminist thought and participatory foresight, Bibbs reframes DEI beyond reactionary politics into a practice of “situating ourselves in all time zones of equity” — honoring history while actively building liberatory alternatives.
Tonya Bibbs, PhD, is an associate professor at Erikson Institute in Chicago who blends rigorous scholarship with deep relational care as a researcher, child development expert and trusted guide for organizations reimagining justice. Grounded in systems thinking and ancestral wisdom, she’s known for making invisible patterns visible in complex change work.
Show Notes
Cite this podcast – Sobota, P. (Host). (2025, June 17). Our Current Moment: The Future of Social Work and DEI (No. 338) [Audio podcast episode]. In inSocialWork. University at Buffalo School of Social Work.
