Outstanding Buckeyes Recognized for Impactful Focus on Diversity and Inclusion

Dr. Betty Lise Anderson is known for inspiring inclusivity, celebrating diverse perspectives and implementing initiatives that bridge gaps within our community. She leads the K-12 Engineering Outreach program and has reached more than 50,000 students in numerous local schools across the greater Columbus area. Dr. Anderson has created an enriching, dynamic learning environment where students build hands-on engineering projects and are exposed to careers in STEM. The partnership between local schools and the Ohio State College of Engineering has not only enhanced the educational experience for local students, but for the participating staff as well.

Tracey Boggs consistently demonstrates a commitment to enhancing inclusion and belonging at Ohio State while bringing Ohio State’s Shared Values to life. Tracey leads the Buckeye Diversity Summer Internship Program at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, where she provides students from a variety of backgrounds with an enriching development program and educational sessions. She also organizes career readiness sessions and helps plan lunch-and-learns with health care executives. In addition to her excellent leadership skills, she is known for her can-do attitude and strong interpersonal skills that enable her to interact effectively with all students, staff and faculty.

As a devoted member of the Columbus Free Clinic (CFC) Board of Directors, Jackiethia is a driving force in creating an inclusive environment that empowers marginalized communities. Jackiethia’s commitment to serving her community reflects her deep commitment to making a positive impact across various spheres. She is involved with the Ohio State Emergency Department at East Hospital, in which she trained more than 200 Ohio State student volunteers in culturally competent care and helped link patients to community resources. Jackiethia’s multifaceted approach and leadership position her as a key advocate for diversity and equity in health care outreach.

Laksh established Youth for STEM Equity (YSE) to promote diversity and inclusion in STEM education and enable others to contribute to advancing knowledge as a society. YSE expands academic opportunities through interactive and gamified models of learning and recently won an Ohio State President Buckeye Accelerator $50,000 grand prize to expand reach and ensure more individuals, regardless of their background, can obtain education opportunities. He also created a new STEM learning method called STEMscapes (STEM Escape Rooms), which combines gamification, active learning, interpersonal engagement, industry exposure and real-world context to create an immersive educational experience. These initiatives have removed barriers to people receiving equitable access and is a testament to Laksh’s commitment to helping others.

Dr. Beverly Moss’s teaching, scholarship and service foster a culturally and intellectually diverse environment. She teaches classes, mentors students and engages in research that focus on the inclusion of varied literacies and language in writing and communication environments. She teaches courses on the importance of connecting scholarly inquiry with real-time community action beyond the academy, particularly concerning communities that are socially marginalized. She also serves as the director of the Bread Loaf Teacher Network, a network that brings together rural and urban teachers through youth-informed collaboration and support in the profession.