When it comes to diversity, access and inclusion — both at the undergraduate and graduate level — The Ohio State University (OSU) has consistently been leading the way.
With 66,444 students and a $4.2 billion endowment, the 148-year-old institution has been intentional about creating initiatives both in the academic and student affair space that cater to minority and first-generation college students.
“The Ohio State University has a rich and long-standing history of recruiting, retaining and graduating students of color,” says Dr. James L. Moore III, vice provost for diversity and inclusion, chief diversity officer, executive director for the Todd Anthony Bell National Resource Center on the African-American Male and the EHE Distinguished Professor of Urban Education at OSU.
A leading expert on the issues that impact African-American males, Moore says that OSU’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion — formerly the Office of Minority Affairs — was founded in 1970 and is now one of the nation’s oldest and most comprehensive offices in the country.
“When you look across the higher education landscape, many of the higher education administrators and faculty of color, as well as other leaders in other sectors of society received their bachelor’s master’s, and/or doctoral degree from Ohio State University,” says Moore, who points to individuals like Dr. Leonard Moore, vice president for diversity and community engagement at University of Texas at Austin and Dr. April Massey, the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of the District of Columbia as successful alumni. “The list of alumni of color who received their degrees from OSU is endless, and I am very proud to be associated with the institution.”
As vice provost for diversity and inclusion and chief diversity officer — a post he was appointed to earlier this year, after first serving as interim — Moore says that he is charged with working to reengage with alumni of color as well as corporate and philanthropic partners to help raise the necessary funds to advance inclusive excellence.
“I believe that our beloved OSU is one of the few institutions in America that have the capability to scale its efforts to have even greater impact in the world,” says Moore. “As you know, diversity and inclusion are critical to the success of our nation’s well-being.”
