The Future of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: A Critical Dialogue
A webinar organized by the Canadian Sociological Association's Equity Issues Subcommittee
May 11, 2026 @ 11:00 AM Eastern Time
The future of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) will depend on moving beyond surface-level commitments toward measurable, systemic change. As organizations face growing scrutiny, the focus is shifting to accountability, intersectionality, and addressing structural inequities rather than symbolic gestures. At the same time, debates around EDI are becoming more polarized, making open, critical dialogue essential for progress. Ultimately, the challenge lies in balancing diverse perspectives while maintaining a clear commitment to fairness and inclusion in rapidly changing social and political landscapes.
Moderators:
Dr. Foroogh Mohammadi, Acadia University
Dr. Jessica Braimoh, York University
Panelists:
Dr. Adia Harvey Wingfield
Professor of Sociology and Assistant Vice Provost, Washington University in St. Louis
Dr. Harvey Wingfield is the Mary Tileston Hemenway Professor of Arts & Sciences and Assistant Vice Provost at Washington University in St. Louis, where she co-directs the Office of Public Scholarship. Professor Wingfield’s research examines how racial and gender inequality persist in professional occupations and has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals including American Sociological Review, American Journal of Sociology, and Annual Review of Sociology. She is the author of several books, most recently Gray Areas: How the Way We Work Perpetuates Racism and What We Can Do to Fix It, which was listed as one of Publisher’s Weekly’s best books of 2023. Professor Wingfield is also the recipient of multiple awards, including the Richard A. Lester Award from Princeton University, the Cox-Johnson-Frazier Award from the American Sociological Association, and the C. Wright Mills Award from the Society for the Study of Social Problems. She also regularly writes for mainstream outlets such as The Atlantic, Slate, and Harvard Business Review. Professor Wingfield is the 116th President of the American Sociological Association, a fellow of the Canadian Institute for the Advancement of Research, and an elected member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences.
Dr. Sean Hillier
Associate Professor in the School of Health Policy & Management, Faculty of Health & York Research Chair in Indigenous Health Policy & One Health, York University
Dr. Hillier is a member of the Qalipu First Nation and an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Health at York University. Dr. Hillier has published extensively in high-impact journals, with research focused on the intersections of Indigenous health policy, decolonial frameworks, and public health resilience, and the social determinants of health for HIV-positive communities. His research is published in leading journals including The Lancet, BMJ Global Health, and One Health. Dr. Hillier holds the York Research Chair in Indigenous Health Policy & One Health and serves as the Interim Director of the Centre for Indigenous Knowledges & Languages. A recognized leader in research ethics and health policy, Dr. Hillier sits on the National Interagency Panel on Research Ethics. His global influence is further evidenced by his role as a commissioner on the Lancet Commission on Collective Resilience in a New Pandemic Age, contributing to international frameworks for pandemic preparedness and societal resilience. Dr. Hillier’s commitment to health equity extends into significant community and clinical leadership roles. He serves on the Board of Directors for both the AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT) and the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto.