Melanie Jones Gast, Ph.D.
@gastmelanie.bsky.social
Sociology professor University of Louisville Sociologist of race/ethnicity & racism; education; intersectionality; college counseling; qualitative method-views are mine https://louisville.edu/sociology/faculty-staff-students/faculty-new/melanie-j-gast-ph-d
Pinned
APA PsycNet
psycnet.apa.org
As DEIB initiatives are being cut, our new Journal of Diversity in Higher Education article shows the multiple levels of exclusion, discrimination, lack of support, etc felt by faculty of color & women faculty in a HWI & the importance of campus-wide DEIB psycnet.apa.org/record/2025-...
Reposted by Melanie Jones Gast, Ph.D.
More people have died this year in immigration detention than any other year in decades.
The best way to prevent abuse and deaths in ICE custody is for Congress to stop funding the ICE detention machine.
The best way to prevent abuse and deaths in ICE custody is for Congress to stop funding the ICE detention machine.
ICE is hiring dozens of health workers as lawsuits, deaths in custody mount
Nearly as many migrants have died in detention so far this year than over the four years of the Biden administration.
www.politico.com
October 22, 2025 at 1:09 PM
More people have died this year in immigration detention than any other year in decades.
The best way to prevent abuse and deaths in ICE custody is for Congress to stop funding the ICE detention machine.
The best way to prevent abuse and deaths in ICE custody is for Congress to stop funding the ICE detention machine.
Reposted by Melanie Jones Gast, Ph.D.
W/ @genevievelakier.bsky.social, the @aaup.org today released a letter to the Offices of the General Counsel at US colleges & universities. We detail why the Compact violates the Constitution & urge that no one signs it.
www.aaup.org/sites/defaul...
www.aaup.org/sites/defaul...
www.aaup.org
October 20, 2025 at 4:04 PM
W/ @genevievelakier.bsky.social, the @aaup.org today released a letter to the Offices of the General Counsel at US colleges & universities. We detail why the Compact violates the Constitution & urge that no one signs it.
www.aaup.org/sites/defaul...
www.aaup.org/sites/defaul...
Reposted by Melanie Jones Gast, Ph.D.
BREAKING: A court ordered the Department of Defense to stop censoring educational materials discussing race and gender in schools on military bases.
Books removed from the schools must be returned to the shelves immediately.
Books removed from the schools must be returned to the shelves immediately.
October 20, 2025 at 7:35 PM
BREAKING: A court ordered the Department of Defense to stop censoring educational materials discussing race and gender in schools on military bases.
Books removed from the schools must be returned to the shelves immediately.
Books removed from the schools must be returned to the shelves immediately.
Reposted by Melanie Jones Gast, Ph.D.
The kids are not alright.
Longitudinal research shows that rates of mental health distress among LGBTQ+ youth have increased since 2023, that they're less able to access mental health care, and that nearly 1/4 have been threatened with conversion therapy.
www.latimes.com/science/stor...
Longitudinal research shows that rates of mental health distress among LGBTQ+ youth have increased since 2023, that they're less able to access mental health care, and that nearly 1/4 have been threatened with conversion therapy.
www.latimes.com/science/stor...
LGBTQ+ youth's mental health struggles are getting worse, according to a new survey
A new survey from the Trevor Project found that between 2023 and 2025, LGBTQ+ youth reported an increase in anxiety, depression and suicide ideation.
www.latimes.com
October 20, 2025 at 12:12 PM
The kids are not alright.
Longitudinal research shows that rates of mental health distress among LGBTQ+ youth have increased since 2023, that they're less able to access mental health care, and that nearly 1/4 have been threatened with conversion therapy.
www.latimes.com/science/stor...
Longitudinal research shows that rates of mental health distress among LGBTQ+ youth have increased since 2023, that they're less able to access mental health care, and that nearly 1/4 have been threatened with conversion therapy.
www.latimes.com/science/stor...
Reposted by Melanie Jones Gast, Ph.D.
‼️DOJ Investigation at George Mason an attack on Academic Freedom‼️
“If the DOJ can investigate faculty governance bodies for citing a university’s own strategic plan…then no campus is safe. Today it’s Mason. Tomorrow it could be yours.”
—Todd Wolfson, AAUP President
www.aaup.org/news/aaup-pr...
“If the DOJ can investigate faculty governance bodies for citing a university’s own strategic plan…then no campus is safe. Today it’s Mason. Tomorrow it could be yours.”
—Todd Wolfson, AAUP President
www.aaup.org/news/aaup-pr...
AAUP President: DOJ investigation at George Mason an attack on Academic Freedom
On July 25, the US Department of Justice Civil Rights Division sent a letter launching an investigation into the George Mason University Faculty Senate—because faculty members dared to show support fo...
www.aaup.org
July 29, 2025 at 6:02 PM
‼️DOJ Investigation at George Mason an attack on Academic Freedom‼️
“If the DOJ can investigate faculty governance bodies for citing a university’s own strategic plan…then no campus is safe. Today it’s Mason. Tomorrow it could be yours.”
—Todd Wolfson, AAUP President
www.aaup.org/news/aaup-pr...
“If the DOJ can investigate faculty governance bodies for citing a university’s own strategic plan…then no campus is safe. Today it’s Mason. Tomorrow it could be yours.”
—Todd Wolfson, AAUP President
www.aaup.org/news/aaup-pr...
Intensive mothering expectations & the anti-immigrant climate exacerbate intersecting burdens faced by Latina mothers- check out “”Giving Back”: Filipina and Latina Mothers’ Intersecting Burdens in Schools and Community-Based Organizations” at @asanews.bsky.social @sociusjournal.bsky.social
🧡 Gratitude, but at what cost?
New #Socius study by Drs. @gastmelanie.bsky.social, Ovink & Amoatey shows how #undocumented Latina mothers face intersecting burdens of #immigration, #motherhood & #deservingness — feeling pressure to “give back” in schools & CBOs.
Read: doi.org/10.1177/2378...
New #Socius study by Drs. @gastmelanie.bsky.social, Ovink & Amoatey shows how #undocumented Latina mothers face intersecting burdens of #immigration, #motherhood & #deservingness — feeling pressure to “give back” in schools & CBOs.
Read: doi.org/10.1177/2378...
May 13, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Intensive mothering expectations & the anti-immigrant climate exacerbate intersecting burdens faced by Latina mothers- check out “”Giving Back”: Filipina and Latina Mothers’ Intersecting Burdens in Schools and Community-Based Organizations” at @asanews.bsky.social @sociusjournal.bsky.social
Immigrant mothers face multiple, intersecting challenges, exacerbated more now by the current anti-immigrant climate - check out
Our article ““Giving Back”: Filipina and Latina Mothers’ Intersecting Burdens in Schools and Community-Based Organizations” at Socius doi.org/10.1177/2378...
Our article ““Giving Back”: Filipina and Latina Mothers’ Intersecting Burdens in Schools and Community-Based Organizations” at Socius doi.org/10.1177/2378...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
doi.org
May 8, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Immigrant mothers face multiple, intersecting challenges, exacerbated more now by the current anti-immigrant climate - check out
Our article ““Giving Back”: Filipina and Latina Mothers’ Intersecting Burdens in Schools and Community-Based Organizations” at Socius doi.org/10.1177/2378...
Our article ““Giving Back”: Filipina and Latina Mothers’ Intersecting Burdens in Schools and Community-Based Organizations” at Socius doi.org/10.1177/2378...
Reposted by Melanie Jones Gast, Ph.D.
Want to brush up on your skills about fighting back against repression and political interference in #highered? Join an online session for the April 17 #DayofActionforHigherEd. Register: www.dayofactionforhighered.org/events
April 14, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Want to brush up on your skills about fighting back against repression and political interference in #highered? Join an online session for the April 17 #DayofActionforHigherEd. Register: www.dayofactionforhighered.org/events
Kentuckians! Please sign & share this UCW Kentucky letter of solidarity with international students & workers!
Please sign and share this UCW Kentucky open letter of solidarity with international students and workers at Kentucky universities: actionnetwork.org/forms/united...
United Campus Workers of Kentucky stand in solidarity with the international workers of Kentucky
Dear UCW-KY members, In an April 4th letter to the University of Kentucky campus community, President Eli Capilouto revealed that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had revoked the F-1 St...
actionnetwork.org
April 11, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Kentuckians! Please sign & share this UCW Kentucky letter of solidarity with international students & workers!
Death to higher Ed funeral today in KY. But “we must also organize, agitate, educate and fight back against those who would use all the power of government in attempts to force… exclusion on all our universities, classrooms and curriculum” kentuckylantern.com/2025/03/27/k...
KY bills ending DEI in public colleges, stirring uncertainty about tenure's future become law • Kentucky Lantern
With a veto-proof supermajority, Republican lawmakers in Kentucky overturn Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear’s vetoes on two notable higher education bills.
kentuckylantern.com
March 28, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Death to higher Ed funeral today in KY. But “we must also organize, agitate, educate and fight back against those who would use all the power of government in attempts to force… exclusion on all our universities, classrooms and curriculum” kentuckylantern.com/2025/03/27/k...
As DEIB initiatives are being cut, our new Journal of Diversity in Higher Education article shows the multiple levels of exclusion, discrimination, lack of support, etc felt by faculty of color & women faculty in a HWI & the importance of campus-wide DEIB psycnet.apa.org/record/2025-...
APA PsycNet
psycnet.apa.org
March 26, 2025 at 12:49 PM
As DEIB initiatives are being cut, our new Journal of Diversity in Higher Education article shows the multiple levels of exclusion, discrimination, lack of support, etc felt by faculty of color & women faculty in a HWI & the importance of campus-wide DEIB psycnet.apa.org/record/2025-...
Kentuckians! Sign & share this petition by Sunday night, urging Governor Beshear to VETO House Bill 424 (anti-tenure bill)
actionnetwork.org/forms/petiti...
actionnetwork.org/forms/petiti...
March 21, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Kentuckians! Sign & share this petition by Sunday night, urging Governor Beshear to VETO House Bill 424 (anti-tenure bill)
actionnetwork.org/forms/petiti...
actionnetwork.org/forms/petiti...
Reposted by Melanie Jones Gast, Ph.D.
actionnetwork.org/forms/petiti...
@joedunman.bsky.social @murphycartoons.bsky.social @dancanon.bsky.social
@joedunman.bsky.social @murphycartoons.bsky.social @dancanon.bsky.social
Petition for Governor Beshear to VETO House Bill 424
Dear Governor Beshear, We, the undersigned faculty members at Kentucky’s public universities, along with the administrators, staff, students, and community supporters who have signed this letter in s...
actionnetwork.org
March 21, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Reposted by Melanie Jones Gast, Ph.D.
these folks are unreconstructed segregationists and it isn’t even speculative or a difficult argument at this point
“An Army webpage from 2008 that lauded the 60th anniversary of President Harry Truman’s 1948 integration order has disappeared. It was available as recently as last year, web archives show” talkingpointsmemo.com/news/pentago...
Pentagon Removes Webpages Celebrating Racial Integration of the Armed Forces
Several webpages that celebrated the armed forces’ history of racial integration have...
talkingpointsmemo.com
March 20, 2025 at 9:46 PM
these folks are unreconstructed segregationists and it isn’t even speculative or a difficult argument at this point
Reposted by Melanie Jones Gast, Ph.D.
Saying it’s ‘about hate,’ Beshear vetoes ban on DEI in Kentucky public higher education kentuckylantern.com/2025/03/20/s...
Saying it's 'about hate,' Beshear vetoes ban on DEI in Kentucky public higher education • Kentucky Lantern
Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear issues expected veto of a Republican-backed bn on diversity, equity and inclusion in Kentucky’s public colleges.
kentuckylantern.com
March 20, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Saying it’s ‘about hate,’ Beshear vetoes ban on DEI in Kentucky public higher education kentuckylantern.com/2025/03/20/s...
Reposted by Melanie Jones Gast, Ph.D.
Kentucky lawmakers vote to ban DEI spending at public colleges www.highereddive.com/news/kentuck...
Kentucky lawmakers vote to ban DEI spending at public colleges
Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear is unlikely to sign the bill, but Republican lawmakers hold a veto-proof supermajority in the Legislature.
www.highereddive.com
March 14, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Kentucky lawmakers vote to ban DEI spending at public colleges www.highereddive.com/news/kentuck...
Reposted by Melanie Jones Gast, Ph.D.
🧵 IN SHOCKING MOVE, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY FIRES UNION PRESIDENT ONE DAY BEFORE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN, IN FURTHER CRACKDOWN ON FREE SPEECH
March 14, 2025 at 12:17 AM
🧵 IN SHOCKING MOVE, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY FIRES UNION PRESIDENT ONE DAY BEFORE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN, IN FURTHER CRACKDOWN ON FREE SPEECH
Kentucky lawmakers move forward with passing HB4, a GOP anti-DEI bill in higher ed. GOP Sen. Douglas, the first Black Republican in Kentucky Senate, supported HB4 saying that slavery ended in 1805. www.lpm.org/news/2025-03...
Kentucky lawmakers debate systemic racism in crucial vote to ban DEI in public colleges
A bill to ban diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at public colleges and universities passed out of the Senate Wednesday. It’s likely to head to the governor’s desk once the House concurs.
www.lpm.org
March 13, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Kentucky lawmakers move forward with passing HB4, a GOP anti-DEI bill in higher ed. GOP Sen. Douglas, the first Black Republican in Kentucky Senate, supported HB4 saying that slavery ended in 1805. www.lpm.org/news/2025-03...
Reposted by Melanie Jones Gast, Ph.D.
From JCKFTC via IG:
House Bill 4, the college anti-DEI bill in KY, had its first reading in the Senate today. This dangerous bill must be stopped! Email the entire Senate Education Committee ASAP (qrco.de/KY-EdJustice) and leave a phone message for them: 800-372-7181
House Bill 4, the college anti-DEI bill in KY, had its first reading in the Senate today. This dangerous bill must be stopped! Email the entire Senate Education Committee ASAP (qrco.de/KY-EdJustice) and leave a phone message for them: 800-372-7181
March 7, 2025 at 3:05 AM
From JCKFTC via IG:
House Bill 4, the college anti-DEI bill in KY, had its first reading in the Senate today. This dangerous bill must be stopped! Email the entire Senate Education Committee ASAP (qrco.de/KY-EdJustice) and leave a phone message for them: 800-372-7181
House Bill 4, the college anti-DEI bill in KY, had its first reading in the Senate today. This dangerous bill must be stopped! Email the entire Senate Education Committee ASAP (qrco.de/KY-EdJustice) and leave a phone message for them: 800-372-7181
Reposted by Melanie Jones Gast, Ph.D.
I got laid off today, with the rest of 18F.
18F was an elite federal software shop. We made gov't websites work better, more efficiently for the American people. We saved taxpayers from getting screwed over by contractors. And were fired for it.
We made this website to tell our story:
18f.org
18F was an elite federal software shop. We made gov't websites work better, more efficiently for the American people. We saved taxpayers from getting screwed over by contractors. And were fired for it.
We made this website to tell our story:
18f.org
We're not done yet | 18F
18f.org
March 1, 2025 at 10:38 PM
I got laid off today, with the rest of 18F.
18F was an elite federal software shop. We made gov't websites work better, more efficiently for the American people. We saved taxpayers from getting screwed over by contractors. And were fired for it.
We made this website to tell our story:
18f.org
18F was an elite federal software shop. We made gov't websites work better, more efficiently for the American people. We saved taxpayers from getting screwed over by contractors. And were fired for it.
We made this website to tell our story:
18f.org
Here we discuss broader implications of KY bills (anti-tenure) HB424 & anti-DEI HB4 for academic freedom, innovation, university support systems, learning, & vulnerable students/employees in access, inclusion, success. More states have similar bills, so read/share: www.kentucky.com/opinion/op-e...
Legislative bills on tenure and DEI threaten Kentucky higher education | Opinion
OpEd: HB 4 and HB 424 will push students, athletes, researchers, faculty, and higher-education leaders, along with scientists, nurses, doctors, counselors, teachers, and more to leave Kentucky.
www.kentucky.com
February 28, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Here we discuss broader implications of KY bills (anti-tenure) HB424 & anti-DEI HB4 for academic freedom, innovation, university support systems, learning, & vulnerable students/employees in access, inclusion, success. More states have similar bills, so read/share: www.kentucky.com/opinion/op-e...
Reposted by Melanie Jones Gast, Ph.D.
Chair’s Notes from Emory Admin:
“Emphasized that the use of race in anything is problematic, with failure to comply with Executive Orders risking the loss of federal funding”
Guess they are putting a bunch of Black and Brown professors on sabbatical in the Fall.
Or, fire us. EEO office is closed.
“Emphasized that the use of race in anything is problematic, with failure to comply with Executive Orders risking the loss of federal funding”
Guess they are putting a bunch of Black and Brown professors on sabbatical in the Fall.
Or, fire us. EEO office is closed.
February 25, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Chair’s Notes from Emory Admin:
“Emphasized that the use of race in anything is problematic, with failure to comply with Executive Orders risking the loss of federal funding”
Guess they are putting a bunch of Black and Brown professors on sabbatical in the Fall.
Or, fire us. EEO office is closed.
“Emphasized that the use of race in anything is problematic, with failure to comply with Executive Orders risking the loss of federal funding”
Guess they are putting a bunch of Black and Brown professors on sabbatical in the Fall.
Or, fire us. EEO office is closed.
Reposted by Melanie Jones Gast, Ph.D.
"Savannah Dowell, a junior who is majoring in history and gender studies, said, 'Everything that I’ve studied is being attacked. It’s very, very hostile and not a great environment to be a student in.” wapo.st/41hFfol
Opinion | Trump and state Republicans are giving liberal residents the blues
Democratic areas of red states face a double whammy of policies from Trump and state legislatures.
wapo.st
February 25, 2025 at 1:06 PM
"Savannah Dowell, a junior who is majoring in history and gender studies, said, 'Everything that I’ve studied is being attacked. It’s very, very hostile and not a great environment to be a student in.” wapo.st/41hFfol
Reposted by Melanie Jones Gast, Ph.D.
For the first time, I'm hearing that DOGE cut Dept of Ed Teacher & School Leader Incentive Program grants, which fund performance-based pay to recruit, reward, & retain teachers & leaders in high-needs schools.
Check out abstracts of grants cut
⬇️
1
Check out abstracts of grants cut
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1
Trump administration cancels federal teacher training, retention grants in NC
Tens of millions of dollars in federal grants for teacher training and retention have been canceled in North Carolina, including a $12 million program in Wake County.
www.wral.com
February 24, 2025 at 1:48 PM
For the first time, I'm hearing that DOGE cut Dept of Ed Teacher & School Leader Incentive Program grants, which fund performance-based pay to recruit, reward, & retain teachers & leaders in high-needs schools.
Check out abstracts of grants cut
⬇️
1
Check out abstracts of grants cut
⬇️
1