As the second Trump Administration takes aim at federal diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and a bill targeting DEI in higher education moves through the Ohio statehouse, two of Ohio State University’s DEI leaders have left their positions.
On Jan. 9, OSU's then-interim executive vice president and provost Karla Zadnik sent an email to dozens of colleagues saying Wendy Smooth would leave her role as senior vice provost of inclusive excellence.
Smooth had held the position since it was created in 2022. She oversaw the university’s Office of Diversity, the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity, and the Office of Institutional Equity.
The senior vice provost of inclusive excellence position was eliminated as of Jan. 31. Smooth is now back in her faculty role in the Department of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies. The Office of Diversity and the Kirwan Institute report to the Office of Academic Affairs, as they did before 2022.
“Ohio State maintains a strong commitment to ensuring all students, faculty and staff can fully participate in the life of our campuses, protecting the diversity of thought and freedom of expression, and fostering a welcoming environment for all,” Zadnik wrote in the email.
An OSU spokesman declined to say why the position was eliminated, but emphasized that it was created under a previous provost.
Wednesday afternoon, University President Walter "Ted" Carter Jr. sent an email to faculty and staff noting that the school is "monitoring policy developments at all levels of government." The university launched a website to monitor legislation.
"We are continuing our ongoing evaluation of our university's work in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and are forming working groups to review Ohio State jobs and duties related to DEI and to examine our DEI programming, initiatives and projects," Carter wrote. "Our goal is to ensure that we have a full picture of the university's work in this area and can be positioned to make changes if state or federal law requires."
Carter also noted that "diversity of background and ideas is at the very heart" of OSU's mission.
Meanwhile, another university DEI leader, Yolanda Zepeda, retired on Friday. Zepeda was OSU's interim vice provost for diversity and inclusion. She was with OSU for more than 20 years and served in DEI roles for the past 15 years.
A Feb. 5 email from current OSU Executive Vice President and Provost Ravi Bellamkonda announcing Zepeda’s departure said Zepeda was focused on student access and engagement.
“In just one example of her lasting influence, Yolanda was instrumental in securing federal funding that has enabled the university to provide childcare and other resources to parenting students as they pursue their Ohio State education,” that email stated.
Zepeda told the Columbus Dispatch that her retirement was "not a decision made in the context of what is happening right now."
Bellamkonda is currently leading the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
