The current lack of awareness and understanding about the work of diversity professionals in higher education manifests into missed opportunities for increasing knowledge, training, and practice for greater impact and may ultimately sabotage institutions' success in their commitments to diversity and inclusion. This qualitative study examines the challenges faced by diversity professionals when engaging in the work of promoting diversity and inclusion in institutions of higher education; how diversity professionals navigate these challenges; and if, and how, race and racism are addressed (or ignored) in their work. Recommendations for both future research and institutional practice are offfered.