Diversity Update • SUMMER 2008 Di V E R S I T Y up D a T E Nonprofit Org

5 Diversity Update • SUMMER 2008 Di v e r s i t y Up d a t e Nonprofit Org. continued from page 4 Office of Minority Affairs U.S. Postage 102 Bricker Hall PAID THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY The College of Nursing has created a 190 North Oval Mall Permit No. 711 Diversity Book Club designed to engage Columbus, OH 43210 Columbus, OH students, faculty, and staff in discussions about “cultural sensitivity, appreciation D i v e r s i t y of differences, and the practice of United States Is Average in Terms of Women’s health care within an increasingly U p d a t e global community.” The college’s Role in Politics, Authors Say diversity committee selects a critically SUMMER 2008 Jeff Grabmeier, Research Communications acclaimed book related to diversity and cultural competence, and then book club participants read the book at their When it comes to political equality for women, the United legislature or parliament, according to the authors. By own pace throughout the quarter, post States ranks “middle of the pack” compared to most that measure, as of 2005, the United States ranked responses to an online discussion board, other countries, according to the authors of a recent 61st of 128 countries, with 15.2 percent women in and attend a facilitated discussion at the end of the quarter. Whenever possible, Special Assistant to the President for Diversity book on women and global politics. Congress. Rwanda leads the world with 48.8 percent and Vice Provost a limited number of free books is made women in its parliament. Several countries had no The candidacy of Hillary Rodham Clinton for president available to those who join the book club. Message from Mac women at all in their legislatures. “Women are still has broken new ground in the United States, but the terribly underrepresented in the UMC 08202 nation still trails many other countries The African American Heritage Festival U.S. Congress, but there has been reached a 30-year milestone this year, in women’s political representation, toward helping low-income students and programs for the district’s more than “It would be groundbreaking and featured Aaron McGruder, creator a marked improvement from 20 students of color successfully achieve 23,000 students. Dear Friends of Ohio State, that would not be found in many simi- commission will be supported in large said Pamela Paxton, associate for the United States if Hillary of the award-winning animated comedy years ago when there was less than mathematical skills that are a prerequisite lar gatherings. I commend Archie Grif- part by a transfer of 1.7 million dollars professor of sociology and political series “The Boondocks.” A world- Clinton were elected, but it 5 percent women in Congress,” for a college preparatory mathematics In a unique partnership with Columbus s I write today I carry fresh in my fin and Nadine Holmes of the Alumni from the State, and we are grateful science at Ohio State. renowned cartoonist and political sequence in high school. The pilot City Schools, community organizations, memory the pleasure of see- Association and the leadership of the especially to State Senator Ray Miller would still be following the Hughes said. commentator, McGruder shared his A is expected to begin in the fall. “The and university departments, the Wexner ing many friends who attended the OSU African American Alumni Society for his support of this initiative. “It would be groundbreaking for the insight on the creation of the series middle-of-the road pattern,” There are conflicting signs as to faculty and staff at OSU Mansfield have Center for the Arts presented a week most recent reunion of Ohio State’s for their work for this event. We look United States if Hillary Clinton were during a community forum. Through- Paxton said. demonstrated their strong commitment of youth activism and awareness in African American alumni held at the whether Americans are ready to out the week, Ohio State students forward to the next African American We now have in place a partnership elected, but it would still be following to diversity,” said Evelyn B. Freeman, dean conjunction with the work of two visiting beginning of May. About 200 people elect a woman to the White House, participated in the ColumbusReads Alumni Reunion in 2010. for action that is unique, I believe, the middle-of-the road pattern,” and director. “We will continue efforts African American artists: Spike Lee and literacy program at area Columbus City attended the Welcome Reception and at American universities. I refer to according to Hughes and Paxton. On one hand, the and initiatives with our community Kerry James Marshall. Lee met with Paxton said. “A number of other countries have already Schools. Two campus favorites also heard Trustee and alumnus Judge At the reunion I was able to report the conjunction at Ohio State of this percentage of Americans who say they would be willing partners to achieve the diversity goals of students from Film Studies and other had female leaders.” Paxton and Melanie Hughes, a returned to the schedule, the “Poetry Algernon Marbley welcome alumni on many recent achievements of our commission, the Bell Resource Center the Mansfield campus and to serve the academic departments to discuss his body to vote for a woman as president has risen steadily, from Slam” and “Soul Time at OSU.” The week back to campus, and about 250 heard diversity efforts—notably the move to on the African American Male, and doctoral student in sociology at Ohio State, are authors wider community.” of work’s exploration of the complexities a low of 33 percent in 1937 to over 90 percent in most closed with the 21st Annual National alumna Judge Yvette McGee Brown Ohio State of the State of Ohio Com- the Kirwan Institute for the Study of of Women, Politics, and Power: A Global Perspective of contemporary life. In addition, nearly of the 1990s. But interestingly, the percentage dropped Pan-Hellenic Step Show. address the participants at a Gala mission on African American Males, Race and Ethnicity. The work already (Pine Forge Press, 2007). Ohio State alumni and friends have raised 1,000 students attended Lee’s sold-out Dinner on Saturday evening at the and the appointment as its executive done by these units and the promise sharply in 2002, once viable candidates like Hillary Clinton more than $67,000 for the Recovery public appearance with novelist and Hyatt. I enjoyed the dialogue through- director of Samuel Gresham Jr. Sam of their synergy is remarkable. And In the book, Paxton and Hughes argue that during the and others started to emerge. “A lot of people may have Outreach School District in New Orleans. The musician James McBride. The goal of the out the event and mention it here brings broad and extensive experi- they can serve as models for diversity past century, women have made inroads into every area Alumni Association established the dialogue and hands-on involvement with supported voting for a woman in the abstract, but once Ohio State Mansfield hosted a Minority because of the many alumni who told ence in urban affairs to the efforts efforts more broadly conceived. I of political decision making around the world. But they Recovery School District Victory Fund both artists was for students to explore there were real, viable candidates, they weren’t ready,” Outreach me that they read our quarterly Diver- luncheon, which brought prior to the BCS Championship Game in ways they can creatively make social of the commission. He served as look forward to reporting their future are still a long way from achieving equality with men in sity Update and are grateful for the Hughes said. campus and community members January. The fund closed with a fund- change in their communities. Students executive director of Common Cause/ achievements to all our readers. information about Ohio State included every country, and that includes the United States. together to discuss multicultural issues. raising total of $67,509.62, according to learned about the impact that the arts can Ohio for the last three years after Read the entire story at http://researchnews.osu.edu/ Sincerely, At the luncheon, Mansfield announced the Greater New Orleans Foundation. At have not only for bringing issues in their for them. Like alumni everywhere, completing a 20-year run as president One important way to measure gender equality archive/wompoli.htm. that it would create a pilot algebra camp the school district’s behest, those funds lives to the forefront but for challenging these persons care about their alma and chief executive officer of the Co- is to see the proportion of women in a country’s over the summer for eighth-graders will be transferred to the GNOF’s existing the status quo and becoming agents mater, but there was special intensity, lumbus Urban League. In this new role who have difficulty with the topic. The Recovery School District Fund. The for change. I think, in their continuing interest and he will direct programming, research camp is part of a national effort called money raised by Buckeyes will be used to personal commitment to Ohio State efforts, and policy initiatives. The Mac A. Stewart the Algebra Project, which is geared provide support services and academic 2 Diversity Update • SUMMER 2008 Diversity Update • SUMMER 2008 3 Diversity Update • SUMMER 2008 4

Faculty and Staff Recruitment started with FOD’s Finance division as a In related news, Moore has been invited students are more likely to thrive in their Academic Programming, Women’s Studies considers the ways adopted by the National Institute of which explores America’s racial and and Retention project accountant. Both Alex and Maria to write a blog for DiverseEducation.com, first year and need far less remediation. Scholarly Activity, and Research that class, race, ethnicity, sexual Mental Health’s advisory council, which socioeconomic inequities in health. “In agree that the outreach of staff and the the online version of Diverse: Issues in (The percentage of students enrolling orientation, and age shape women’s highlighted the need to strengthen social Sickness and In Wealth” was the title of Spanish-speaking community within Higher Education. in remedial English and math classes Ruth D. Peterson, Distinguished and men’s experiences. They integrate work research resources. Meezan is a the first installment of the series. The Ohio State have made the transition has declined dramatically over the last Professor of Social and Behavioral scholarship and methodology from the strong supporter of diversity initiatives episode investigated how a person’s work easier. “When we were on our way here, The College of Social and Behavioral decade.) Strong orientation and first- Sciences, presented Violent Crime Across humanities, social sciences, sciences, and has researched and published about conditions, social status, neighborhood people called us to make sure we knew Sciences will host a two-day workshop, year programs also translate into better Racially/Ethnically Distinct Communities and legal studies in order to teach gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender conditions, and lack of access to power where to stay. They took us around the July 14-16, for underrepresented student retention. at the African American and African students how to approach questions (GLBT) issues as they relate to research and resources can actually altar their city to see all of the neighborhoods graduate students on the transition Studies Community Extension Center. from multiple perspectives. practices. human biology and, similar to germs and before we made a decision about where from graduate student to faculty The team of Gilbert Johnson, Jonathan In promoting her talk, the center viruses, make them sick. to rent.” member. Workshop attendees will be Stone, Carson Peterson, and Carla wrote: “Data show that there are close Leadership/Recognition Awareness PhD candidates from the Alliance for Williams received third-place honors in connections among race, crime, and A recent film screening at the Student Recruitment and Retention Graduate Education and the Professoriate the 2008 Minority MBA Student Case place in U.S. society, with rates of crime Ohio State has been named a Frank W. Hale Jr. Black Cultural Mac Stewart, special assistant to the president for diversity and vice provost, hosted a reception honoring minority fac- (AGEP) program who are working Competition IV, presented by Key Bank Center featured Tie A Yellow ulty who published books during 2007. (l-r) Alejandro Peregrina, Tony Mendoza, Patricia Enciso, Linda Lobao, Judson in African American communities far regional winner of the 2008 Outreach L. Jeffries, W.C. Benton, Sylvester Amara Lamin. (Not shown are Rudine Sims Bishop and Raquel Diaz-Sprague). James L. Moore III, a national expert towards their doctoral degrees in in partnership with the Fisher College exceeding those for white areas. Rates Scholarship W.K. Kellogg Foundation Ribbon, which offered a rare view on black males in education, has been economics, political science, psychology, of Business, on February 28-March 2 for communities composed of other Engagement Award, which recognizes of a Korean adoptee who needs named the first director of the Todd and sociology. This workshop, consisting in Cleveland. The Case Competition race/ethnic groups tend to fall between exemplary outreach and engagement to reconcile her feelings on race, Kathleen Starkoff has been selected to risk assessment, dynamic methodologies, Anthony Bell National Resource Center of panel presentations and interactive brought together teams from 16 colleges those for blacks and whites. How can partnerships implemented by four- identity, and family. This film is become Ohio State’s chief information continuous event trees, Markov analysis, on the African American Male. Created sessions, will cover a variety of issues and universities to analyze business we understand the linkages between year public universities. Ohio State, one of the first feature films to officer, effective June 16. Starkoff’s software reliability modeling, automated by the Office of Minority Affairs in 2006, including: Challenges Underrepresented issues with diversity implications and to race/ethnicity and crime in the United cited for efforts to forge unique address the abnormally high rates expertise and experience have software testing, software safety, human it is one of the few academic centers in Faculty Face; The Academic Job Market compete for cash prizes. The event, in States? Using data from the National partnerships that have helped of suicide and depression among included serving as the group vice reliability modeling, and digital systems the United States to focus specifically 101; Tenure and Time Management; its fourth year, was held at Key Bank’s Neighborhood Crime Study (NNCS) revitalize the nearby Weinland Asian American women. It was president and chief technology officer reliability. A 1991 graduate of the on African American males. Moore will Healthy Pathways to Publication; Efficient corporate headquarters. for a sample of large urban areas across Park neighborhood, is among five billed as a film that “entices and for Limited Brands, Inc., where she Universté Libre de Bruxelles (Belgium), expand the center’s mission, which is Teaching and Service; Life as a New the United States, Dr. Peterson will universities to receive the award and The Department of Dance’s Black Dance Alliance was challenges us to look at the hard, invited to be a part of the performing arts assembly provided leadership entrepreneurial Ecole Polytechnique, with a doctorate in to understand and facilitate academic Assistant Professor; Career Planning; The Office of Undergraduate explore how the racialized structure is now a national finalist for the C. imperfect struggles that Asian American series at City Year’s 2008 Spring Break Camp in enterprise with 180,000 employees. engineering physics, Smidts has received achievement, as well as professional, and Managing Revise and Resubmits. Admissions and First Year Experience of society is critical for understanding Peter Magrath University Community Columbus. Camp City Year was held at Windsor women face on a daily basis.” Her previous experience also includes several awards, including the NASA leadership, and personal development Patrice Dickerson, director of diversity (UAFYE) has released new editions of how differential rates of crime emerge Engagement Award, which will Elementary School and focused on world cultures, serving as the senior vice president Flight Safety Award and Stellar Team in pre-collegiate, undergraduate, and for SBS, is leading this effort. the African American and Hispanic across neighborhoods of different be announced in November. The according to Melanye White Dixon (Dance). Student Gregory Williams, the author of last fall’s “Making Our Voices Heard” videos and members of the Black Dance Alliance—DeAngelo Buckeye Book Community selection, and chief technology officer of Bank Award from the Rotary National Awards postgraduate African American males. colors.” Peterson’s research focuses on Outreach Scholarship and Magrath Blanchard, Erika Harris, Aureyl Pitts, and Robyn One Corporation and as the senior for Space Achievements, both in 1998. Additionally, Moore will emphasize The freshman class of 2006 returned to is finalizing a third for international community conditions and crime, racial awards were established in 2006 by Young—performed a spiritual dance work and Life on the Color Line: The True Story of a vice president of Keycorp. She earned a She is cited in Who’s Who in the World research and evaluation related to the university last fall in record numbers. students. Each video features a faculty and ethnic inequality in patterns of the National Association of State conducted a movement session with the campers White Boy Who Discovered He Was Black, bachelor’s degree in mathematics from and American Men and Women in Science. African American males in education, the Ohio State’s overall first-year retention moderator and a panel of current crime, and the consequences of criminal Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. in grades kindergarten to third grade. In the photo spoke to first-year students as part of an above, DeAngelo Blanchard (in back of room), who climbed to 92.4 percent, up from 91.5 students asked to talk honestly about ongoing speaker series. Williams, former Kent State University and an MBA from work place, athletics, the penal system, justice policies for racially and ethnically choreographed the dance, watches as Aureyl Pitts Case Western Reserve University. In February 2007, staff from Ohio State’s and other social domains. Moore is an percent a year ago. The national average their experiences at Ohio State. The distinct communities. Bill Meezan, dean of the College of (dancer in back), Erika Harris, and Robyn Young perform dean and Carter C. Kissel Professor of Facilities, Operations, and Development associate professor of physical activity first-year retention rate is 76 percent. The African American and Hispanic versions Social Work, has been elected president for the youngsters. Law at the Moritz College of Law, is The College of Engineering hired Carol S. office visited the Engineering and Science and educational services in the College gap between minority and majority are sent to prospective minority students The Department of Women’s Studies of the Institute for the Advancement currently president of the City College In April, state and local public Smidts as a professor in the Department Expo Career Fair at the University of of Education and Human Ecology, where student retention has nearly closed: 89.3 in DVD format; the international is now offering a graduate minor. of Social Work Research and will of New York. The event was sponsored health leaders participated in a panel of Mechanical Engineering in the Texas at El Paso (UTEP) to recruit he serves as coordinator of the School percent of first-year African American version will be available on the Web Women’s Studies is an interdisciplinary begin serving a three-year term by Ohio State’s highly ranked First Year discussion, “In Sickness and In Wealth” college’s Energy Systems research focus potential new hires. It was there that Counseling Program. He also holds a and Hispanic students returned last fall only. For copies of the DVDs, e-mail field of research that focuses on gender beginning July 1, 2008. IASWR was Experience. at Ohio State. The event, which was area. Smidts’ most recent position was as they met Alejandro (Alex) Flores, who faculty appointment at the university’s for their second year, an all-time high for Kristina Emick at [email protected]. and teaches students about the ways founded in 1993 by five national part of Ohio State’s College of Public an associate professor in the Department began work as a project manager with Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race Ohio State. The strength of the freshman in which gender affects personal lives, professional organizations that Health’s celebration of National Public of Mechanical Engineering at the FOD’s Design and Construction last and Ethnicity and has a faculty affiliation class profile (once again the strongest artistic expression, social relationships, represent the social work practice Health Week, was based on a new University of Maryland at College Park. July. Alex moved here with his wife, with the Ohio Collaborative and the John in university history) is certainly a and politics, and the ways individuals and education communities, to fulfill PBS series called “Unnatural Causes,” Her research focuses on probabilistic Maria, and his two sons. In March, Maria Glenn School of Public Affairs. major factor in retention gains. Stronger think about themselves and the world. recommendations from a 1991 report (continued on back panel )