Dean Howard appoints chief of staff

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Derrick L. Tillman-Kelly, PhD, has been named chief of staff in The Ohio State University College of Engineering to serve as principal advisor to Dean Ayanna Howard.

Derrick Tillman-Kelly

An experienced higher education researcher, administrator, and project manager, Tillman-Kelly most recently served as director of the Fellows Program and Network Engagement for the University Innovation Alliance (UIA). In this role, he worked with member universities to support institutional transformation with the goal of eliminating race/ethnicity, first-generation status, and socioeconomic status as predictors of student success and completion. Ohio State is one of 11 UIA member institutions, and President Kristina M. Johnson serves on its board.

Prior to being named director of the UIA Fellows Program, Tillman-Kelly served in multiple roles at Ohio State, including as the inaugural UIA Fellow and special assistant to the director of the Center for Higher Education Enterprise. He also is co-principal investigator and research lead of the Louis Stokes Midwest Regional Center of Excellence for Broadening Participation in STEM, which is funded by the National Science Foundation.

A highly visible role, the chief of staff will help shape the strategic direction of the college by exploring, identifying, and evaluating comprehensive information and data to provide guidance, advice and assistance on a range of issues. This position serves as a member of Dean Howard’s executive committee and the senior staff leadership team.

“I am thrilled to have Dr. Tillman-Kelly join the team,” said Howard. “We are in the midst of creating a new strategic plan to catapult a transformation, so the addition of his skills, creativity and experience in higher education will be integral to the college executing that plan and achieving our ambitious goals.”

Tillman-Kelly earned his PhD in educational policy and leadership with a specialization in higher education and student affairs from Ohio State. He also earned a master’s degree in higher education and student affairs from Indiana University and a bachelor’s degree from Illinois Wesleyan University.

“I am excited to join the College of Engineering under Dean Howard to support the articulation and implementation of a more diverse and inclusive vision for the college and its role in building a more equitable society,” said Tillman-Kelly.

He begins his new role with the College of Engineering on October 11.

Category: College