Emelyn dela Peña, the new president of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, told The Chronicle she will push for clearer, legally defensible DEI goals as colleges navigate an unsettled legal landscape. Her priorities: leadership development, research, promulgation of best practices, and advocacy to protect equity work. Dela Peña’s remarks come amid court rulings and federal guidance that have both curtailed and preserved different DEI practices: a federal judge recently invalidated a 2025 Education Department directive targeting race-conscious programs even as DOJ guidance and executive actions continue to pressure campuses. Dela Peña said she will hold institutions accountable to statements they made in 2020 while keeping practitioners updated on what remains lawful. What happened: a national DEI trade group named a new leader who is publicly defending equity work. Who’s involved: Emelyn dela Peña, NADOHE, the Education and Justice Departments. Why it matters: leadership at the sector’s main professional organization sets tactical guidance for campus diversity officers facing increased legal and political scrutiny.