Two Ohio State University DEI leaders exit their roles. Here's what we know

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Two Ohio State professionals whose work focused on diversity and inclusion at the university are no longer in those roles.

On Jan. 9, OSU's then-Interim Provost Karla Zadnik wrote in an email to a number of colleagues across the university that Wendy Smooth, senior vice provost of inclusive excellence, would return to a faculty role at the end of the month. A second leader in the field retired from the university last month, but said the timing wasn't political.

Smooth joined Ohio State's Office of Academic Affairs since the inclusive excellence role's inception in August 2022. According to the university's website, Inclusive Excellence falls under the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and "offers consultations and services, with a focus on inclusive and equitable climate, culture, and belonging." That includes providing resources, DEI education, analytics and reporting, according to the website.

In 2018, Smooth was promoted as the first associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion in OSU's College of Arts and Sciences, a newly reconstituted position within the college. Smooth said in an interview with the OSU student newspaper The Lantern at the time that the question that guided her work increasing diversity within the college was, “How do we include more people at the table?”

Zadnik said one of Smooth's focus areas was increasing student and faculty pathways in STEM disciplines.

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Smooth will return to the faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences, where she is a professor in the Department of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, with courtesy appointments in the Department of Political Science and the John Glenn College of Public Affairs.

When reached for comment, Smooth confirmed she was no longer in the leadership role and referred further questions to the university's spokespeople. In response, the university sent The Dispatch the internal email announcing Smooth's departure.

Multiple universities across the country and federal agencies have started to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and programming.

In January, the U.S. Department of Education officials began work to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion measures and staff following President Donald Trump's executive order rolling back such provisions across the federal workforce, as previously reported by USA Today.

The agency put employees charged with leading DEI initiatives on paid administrative leave, canceled millions of dollars in contracts related to DEI trainings and services, and planned to remove more than 200 webpages officials said housed DEI resources for schools and colleges.

Ohio Senate Bill 1, a controversial higher education bill currently working its way through the Statehouse, would prohibit diversity, equity and inclusion in recruiting, training or offering new scholarships. There is a limited exception for research grants that require DEI.

As part of the changes with Inclusive Excellence, Zadnik said the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity will report through the Office of Academic Affairs, as they did prior to 2022.

"Ohio State maintains a strong commitment to ensuring all students, faculty and staff can fully participate in the life of our campuses, protecting diversity of thought and freedom of expression, and fostering a welcoming environment for all," Zadnik said in the university email. "The work that you do is critical to maintaining our progress, and you have my deepest gratitude."

Yolanda Zepeda, Ohio State's Interim Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion, retired Friday.

Zepeda began her career at Ohio State in 2002 in the Graduate School and joined the Office of Diversity and Inclusion in 2010. Much of her work focused on student access and engagement, as well as promoting inclusive practices in faculty recruitment and hiring.

Zepeda specifically oversaw student success programs for Latino students, students in STEM and parenting students. She directed the campus magazine, ¿Que Pasa, Ohio State?, which highlights Latino scholarship and engagement. Zepeda also helped secure federal funding that allowed the university to provide childcare and other resources to parenting students.

Ohio State Provost Ravi Bellamkonda said in an email announcing Zepeda's retirement that he will provide direct leadership to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion during this transition.

Zepeda told The Dispatch Friday that her retirement was "not a decision make in the context of what is happening right now."

Zepeda, who had worked in an interim capacity since August 2022, had planned to retire this year to join her husband, who has been retired for 16 years. She said it was her intention to retire once a new provost joined Ohio State.

"I am sad because the optics for anyone on the outside is a protest of the moment," Zepeda said. "I am confident leaving this work in very steady hands, and I have confidence in the provost, the president and the team."

Sheridan Hendrix is a higher education reporter for The Columbus Dispatch. Sign up for Extra Credit, her education newsletter, here.

shendrix@dispatch.com

@sheridan120