By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com
Dr. Sherita Hill Golden has exited her post as vice president and chief diversity officer for Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM), according to an email sent by Dean and CEO Theodore L. DeWeese and Executive Vice President Kevin W. Sowers on March 4. As the medical institution prepares to conduct a national search for a new, permanent diversity lead, Chief Human Resources Officer Inez Stewart will assume the role in the interim.
Golden’s departure comes after she received public criticism over her definition of “privilege” in an email sent out to the JHM community, which she later retracted.
“We are writing to share the news that after a great deal of reflection, Dr. Sherita Golden has decided to step down from her role as vice president and chief diversity officer for Johns Hopkins Medicine,” wrote DeWeese and Sowers in the email. “She has been a valuable member of the Johns Hopkins Medicine leadership team, and, like many of you, we wanted her to stay in her role, but we respect her decision.”
In a digital January newsletter, Golden defined privilege as “a set of unearned benefits given to people who are in a specific social group.” She proceeded to list White people, males, Christians, heterosexuals and able-bodied people—among others— as part of those groups.
After the email was shared beyond the JHM community, an X account titled “End Wokeness” posted a screenshot referring to it as a “hit list of people automatically guilty of privilege whether they know it or not.” The viral post sparked a number of negative comments about diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and calls for Golden to be fired.
JHM rebuked the language used in Golden’s definition, saying it ran counter to its values and commitment to serving everyone equally. The medical institution said Golden acknowledged her mistake and retracted the definition.
Students and employees of JHM expressed their disappointment over the renouncement in an open letter to DeWeese and Sowers. They contended that the pushback on the definition was a part of a broader effort to spread disinformation about the importance of DEI at colleges and universities.
Golden is not the first Black woman to resign from a prominent position in higher education in the wake of public backlash this year. In January, Claudine Gay, the first Black president of Harvard University, resigned from her position after coming under fire for her response to questions about Anti-Semitism in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
“Surely discussions about privilege can be challenging. The word is easily misinterpreted or taken to mean that people who benefit from systems of advantage are immoral or unworthy,” wrote JHM students and employees.
“However, it is important for our institution to respond to assaults on our commitment to DEI with courage and conviction. In the face of bad-faith attacks, Johns Hopkins Medicine and Johns Hopkins University must state clearly, loudly and proudly that we value diversity, equity and inclusion.”
JHM leadership did not address the controversy in their announcement of Golden’s resignation. Instead, they praised her dedication to health equity and efforts to recruit and retain diverse talent across the institution.
Golden will remain on JHM faculty as the Hugh P. McCormick Family Professor of Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Megan Sayles is a Report For America corps member.
