Example DEI Interview Questions

To support your learning about candidates' experiences with and aspirations for exploring aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion and the impact on their work, please review these potential interview questions.

  • At Brandeis, social justice is central to our mission. Can you talk about your experiences with social justice as it relates to your research, teaching, service or some other aspect of your work? If you have not had direct experience in this area, please tell us about your aspirations. We welcome learning about your areas of challenge, growth or success.

  • At Brandeis, we are committed to analyzing and addressing the ways in which social and economic inequalities impact our community, the larger community and our work. Can you talk about your experiences with addressing inequalities as it relates to your research, teaching, service or some other aspect of your work? If you have not had direct experience in this area, please tell us about your aspirations. We welcome learning about your areas of challenge or growth and success.

  • We endeavor to foster a just and inclusive campus culture here at Brandeis. Can you talk to us about your experiences with inclusion as it relates to your research, teaching, service or some other aspect of your work? If you have not had direct experience in this area, please tell us about your aspirations. We welcome learning about your areas of challenge or growth and success.

  • At Brandeis, we believe that diverse backgrounds and ideas are crucial to academic excellence. What have you experienced related to learning about backgrounds and ideas that are different from yours as it relates to your research, teaching, service or some other aspect of your work? If you have not had direct experience in this area, please tell us about your aspirations. We welcome learning about your areas of challenge or growth and success.

  • At Brandeis, we seek to build an academic community whose members have diverse cultures, backgrounds and life experiences. What are some of the ways you have considered or worked toward greater diversity and inclusion as it relates to your research, teaching, service or some other aspect of your work? If you have not had direct experience in this area, please tell us about your aspirations. We welcome learning about your areas of challenge or growth and success. 

  • We have launched a new core curriculum for our undergraduate students. The requirements are in the areas of the First Year Experience, Foundational Literacies, Schools of Thought, Health Wellness and Life Skills, and Global Engagement. The Global Engagement requirement is comprised of three areas, World Languages and Cultures, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the United States, and Difference and Justice in the World. Your courses may or may not be included as part of the Global Engagement requirement, but regardless, your students will likely be talking or thinking about personal, social or academic aspects of diversity, equity and inclusion in spaces where you do research, teach and engage in service. Can you talk to us about your experiences with facilitating conversations about some aspect of diversity, equity and inclusion as it relates to your research, teaching, service or some other aspect of your work? If you have not had direct experience in this area, please tell us about your aspirations. We welcome learning about your areas of challenge or growth and success.

  • There is a growing disability justice movement on campus right now, which reflects movements in higher education in general. Can you talk about your experiences with disability justice and working with students and colleagues with disabilities as it relates to your research, teaching, service or some other aspect of your work? If you have not had direct experience in this area, please tell us about your aspirations. We welcome learning about your areas of challenge or growth and success.

  • What are some strategies you’ve used to encourage students from different backgrounds to collaborate with one another inside and outside of the classroom? If you have not had direct experience in this area, please tell us about your aspirations. We welcome learning about your areas of challenge or growth and success.