The United States is facing demographic headwinds that threaten our nation’s future innovation capacity and economic competitiveness. State-level Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) bans ignore the impact of slowing total population growth and continued White population losses due to declining fertility, normal aging-related mortality, and premature deaths of despair among the prime working-age males. States with the most aggressive anti-DEI policies should embrace—rather than pushback on—immigration-driven demographic diversity to avoid a working-age population demographic depression and enrollment cliffs in both K-12 and higher education. And, rather than attempting to skirt state-imposed DEI bans, public university leaders must embrace datadriven decision-making regarding campus and societal demographic diversity; leverage iceberg demographics in faculty, staff, and student recruitment and retention; implement well-designed DEI policies and programs that create a strong sense of belonging for their diverse constituencies; and reimagine curriculum and instruction by adopting the courageous conversation model of student engagement, critical thinking, and learning.