Well Done Is Better than Well Said Benjamin Franklin as a DEIA Model for Higher Education

Abstract

Heralding Benjamin Franklin as a model for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) can be viewed as peculiar as it sounds. Without question, Franklin's personal and professional histories as a past slaveholder, alleged womanizer, and bully are problematic. Yet, the messiness of Franklin's life with all of its inherent complications and his transformation into a champion for the oppressed makes him a ripe subject for ongoing study. Moreover, Franklin's life example can help us formulate a roadmap for how we too can evolve and transform in our thinking, allyship, and approaches to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.