Our Vision

We value the sense of community in our college. An important aspect of our community is its diversity, represented by the myriad ways in which we differ — our intellectual and disciplinary frames, racial and ethnic backgrounds, gender identities and identifications, sexual orientations, socioeconomic backgrounds, disabilities, ages, faiths, cultural and social contexts, learning styles, talents and challenges. The richness of our community is, indeed, enhanced by our diversity.

We anticipate that we will become an increasingly more diverse community. Demographics reveal that the globalization of the economy and society will continue to increase the diversity in our state and nation. Off-campus workplaces and communities will also grow more diverse. Fostering diversity will enhance student learning and pragmatically enable our students to be more competitive and successful in the job market. Employers seek graduates who understand diversity and who are able to work as part of a diverse team. Through our research, outreach and education, our students will, indeed, become an integral part of these diverse communities. In alignment with President Drake’s 2020 Vision, we are invested in making the College of Arts and Sciences a model of inclusive excellence. 

The College of Arts and Sciences is committed to:

• Creating a welcoming college climate that fosters inclusivity for all faculty, staff and students through our interactions, scholarship and learning
• Growing the diversity of our undergraduate and graduate student populations through recruitment and retention
• Increasing the diversity of our faculty and staff through recruitment and retention
• Incorporating diversity and inclusion into all organizational aspects of the college

Meet the new dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Wendy Smooth, associate professor in the Department of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, has been appointed to the new position of Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. In this vital role, she will work closely with college leadership, administrative staff, and academic departments and schools to develop, promote, coordinate and advise on diversity and inclusion initiatives across the college. She will act as a thought partner and accountability advocate to ensure that diversity and inclusion objectives are articulated and implemented in our ongoing work and planning.

Wendy Smooth’s research and teaching focus on women’s experiences in political institutions and on the impact of public policies on women’s lives. She leads Ohio State’s participation in the Collaborative to Advance Equity through Research, a national initiative created by the Obama administration’s White House Council on Women and Girls to close the gaps in research on women and girls of color.