Tabia Lee is a lifelong educator who rose to national prominence because of the trials she faced as a Faculty Director of a DEI department in the California Community College system. Dr. Lee's tenure review process was subverted by ideological zealots who disagreed with the way she encouraged people to think critically about adopting race and gender identity ideology policies and practices that worked to stridently suppress inclusive collaboration, transparent and meaningful dialogue, freedom of expression, Zionist perspectives, and viewpoint diversity.
Dr. Lee remains committed to educating people about the influence of ideology-in-practice in educational socio-ecological systems, specifically as it is embodied and enacted in teaching policies and practices so that we may cultivate the knowledge, skills, and moral courage required to navigate and heal the damage done by toxic ideologues that reify human division, racism, gender identity, sexism, and antisemitism in all American education arenas.
For her steadfast defense of classic liberal principles against toxic policies, the Columbia Academic Freedom Council is honored to present Dr. Tabia Lee with the 2025 Academic Freedom Award.
