Kennesaw State Uses Georgia Taxpayers as Useful Idiots for ‘Inclusive Excellence’

In the summer of 2023, the University System of Georgia (USG), led by Chancellor Sonny Perdue, announced a new directive: all institutions must remove “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) statements from hiring documents. During an August meeting at Kennesaw State University’s (KSU) Coles College of Business, Dean Robin Cheramie relayed this change, sparking a moment of awkward honesty from a female management professor: “Does this mean we can’t say we’re targeting women?” I couldn’t help but laugh out loud—she had just vocalized the unspoken truth. While the dean, a proponent of DEI, appeared visually uncomfortable, it was clear that many in academia are more interested in pushing political agendas than in genuine inclusion.

Instead of embracing this directive, some university presidents embarked on a rebranding spree, hoping to dodge taxpayer scrutiny. KSU is a prime example. In December 2023, KSU President Kathy Schwaig announced the formation of the Division of Organizational Effectiveness, Leadership Development, and Inclusive Excellence, helmed by Sonia Toson, who previously served as KSU’s Chief Diversity Officer. Sure, the name sounds different, but make no mistake—this is the same old DEI under a shiny new banner.

While Toson was the Interim Chief Diversity Officer in 2021, faculty, staff, and students were invited to a six-week “Check Your Privilege” workshop offered under her leadership. The only two resources to be used for instruction were concerning “white privilege” and antiracism materials. I personally canceled these programs when they crossed my desk by simply speaking up and calling out the absurdity of the DEI workers’ agenda. Thus, President Schwaig’s decision to place Toson in charge of “leadership development” at KSU is baffling.

What’s truly troubling isn’t just the rebranding of DEI at KSU; it’s the deliberate obfuscation of the very ideologues who have long pushed divisive and politically charged agendas. Toson, who has seen her title change multiple times since her tenure at the Coles College of Business, is now in charge of essentially the same DEI work. This shell game isn’t just misleading—it’s an affront to Georgia taxpayers, who are unknowingly footing the bill for these initiatives.

Let’s not overlook the curious case of Toson’s inflated title, either. In what can only be described as academic puffery, President Schwaig repeatedly referred to her as “Dr.” in a single email, despite Toson holding a JD—a law degree that doesn’t typically merit the title of “doctor,” which is normally reserved for PhDs and MDs. This misrepresentation is not just a slip; it reflects a broader pattern of dishonesty. To add to the absurdity, Toson is listed as an “Associate Professor of Law” at KSU, a university without a law school. If that isn’t enough to raise eyebrows, I don’t know what is. After all, we’ve all heard it: if you see something, say something. And that’s precisely the service I provide to all Georgians. After all, I am an academic who seeks the truth and speaks it without needing the approval of college bureaucrats.

Now, let’s return to the matter at hand. When I sent the internal email below to uncover the identities of the employees in Toson’s new division, I was met with resistance—can you believe it? I was informed that I would have to file an Open Records Request for that information. Taxpayers are footing the bill for this work, yet KSU is actively hiding who’s behind it. After filing my request, I received a table showing that over 90 percent of the hidden employees are women. So much for gender “inclusive excellence!” Meanwhile, I—like many other faculty members—am required to have my name and photo splashed across the university website. What are they trying to hide?

Screenshot of the Initial Email Request for Information

This isn’t just a KSU issue. Across the nation, universities are rebranding their DEI staff, even in states where legislators have explicitly banned DEI from public institutions. A relevant example comes from Speech First’s report, “No Graduation Without Indoctrination: The DEI Course Mandate,” which found that several universities in Florida continue to impose DEI mandates in their curricula despite anti-DEI laws. Education reformers should be cautious about celebrating victories that merely target DEI bureaucracies; those same ideologues often reappear under new titles throughout the system.

I encourage tenured faculty in the state of Georgia to come forth and speak out! I have been investigated twice by KSU and its diversicrats and equity-czarinas, and it has caused me much stress and anxiety. However, I will not turn my back on Georgia taxpayers who are funding the political agenda of the left. I look forward to giving overpaid and value-destroying administrations the public spotlight they so desperately deserve.

Let’s see if Chancellor Sonny Perdue and the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia can provide proper leadership through concrete and meaningful actions. A policy change, written words on paper, does absolutely nothing; college administrators need to be replaced and their leftist, woe-is-me echo chamber destroyed.

The time for rebranding is over—it’s time for accountability.

Photo of Kennesaw State University on Flickr