The most compelling diversity statements offer your definitions of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging (EDIB) and demonstrate how your research, teaching, and service actualize your EDIB goals. However, beyond your motivation, universities and colleges want to know what you have accomplished in your career to this point and how you will contribute to their goal of making their institutions more inclusive and equitable. You can, of course, note how your identities and life experiences motivate your commitment to diversity. You may think that diversity statements require you to locate diversity within your own social identities. Though an increasing number of faculty search committees now ask candidates to submit diversity statements, guidance about how to compose an effective statement-indeed, even about what they are and why they can be valuable to institutions and candidates’ own professional development-remains scarce.
