OHIO’s Gigi Secuban named to the national board of INSIGHT into Diversity

Ohio University Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Dr. Gigi Secuban has recently been named to the national board of INSIGHT into Diversity, the oldest and largest diversity magazine and website in higher education.

“I am proud of the work that Gigi and her team have accomplished in just three short years,” Ohio University President M. Duane Nellis said. “Their work amplifies the diverse voices on our campuses and has truly elevated OHIO’s position as a national leader in diversity, equity and inclusion. Her new role on the INSIGHT board will allow her to share knowledge and experience that will help even more institutions succeed in this area.”

Since joining Ohio University in 2018, Secuban has been working to advance and anchor diversity, equity, and inclusion on OHIO’s campuses and throughout the OHIO community. She identifies inclusive excellence, equity and anti-racism as the guiding principles that inform her team’s work in Ohio University’s Division of Diversity and Inclusion.

“I’m really honored to be asked to be on the board of an organization doing so much incredible work to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in institutions of higher education,” Secuban said. “To be on the board with so many amazing people who have countless years of experience making a difference in our field is so humbling. I also feel a great sense of responsibility as a representative for Asian American higher ed professionals, and I hope that my experiences as an immigrant will bring a new perspective to our conversations.”

Over the last three years, Secuban has worked with and partnered with OHIO students, faculty, staff, and alumni on a new inclusive excellence strategic plan that was endorsed unanimously by the Board of Trustees on April 8.

The strategic plan, which identifies four overarching strategic goals, is aimed at promoting an atmosphere of understanding for all OHIO community members, including all with diverse identities related to culture, race, religion, gender, gender identity, and expression, sexuality, ability, nationality, and other differences. Through this plan, the University strives to provide all students with the experiences necessary to successfully compete and achieve in an increasingly diverse and complex society.

“We know that Dr. Secuban’s proven DEI leadership at several well-regarded institutions of higher education will bring a tremendous amount of expertise and experience to our company and our readers across the U.S. and Canada. We are so honored to have her as a member of our editorial board,” says Lenore Pearlstein, president of Potomac Publishing, Inc. and co-publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.

INSIGHT is also the organization that issues the HEED award each year, an award presented to colleges and universities across the U.S. and Canada that showcase an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. OHIO has been a recipient of this award for the last three years.

In her time at OHIO, Secuban has implemented multiple events and initiatives that have furthered diversity and inclusion, such as the third annual Diversity Leadership Institute that will be held on April 22. The event brings together students, faculty, staff, community members and outside expertise to discover strategies to foster a sustainable anti-racist campus and community culture. She also started a pilot program in her first year called the Diversity Advocate Program through Human Resources where individuals can complete trainings designed to promote consistent, compliant searches in line with best practices in diversity, access, and inclusion in order to serve on OHIO search committees.

“I hope to bring new perspectives and ideas to INSIGHT, really promoting diversity on the national level and supporting institutions such as OHIO to elevate the conversation around these issues that ultimately support and reflect everyone’s experiences in higher education,” Secuban added.

Secuban joined Ohio University in 2018 as its first vice president for diversity and inclusion, a role that oversees the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Center, the Multicultural Center, the Office of Multicultural Student Access and Retention (OMSAR), and the Women’s Center. 

Secuban received her Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Arkansas in 2011. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and a Master of Science in health science, both from the University of Arkansas. She is a proud 28-year member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., as well as a former member of the Epsilon Epsilon Omega chapter in Central Illinois and a charter member of the Phi Alpha Omega chapter in Northwest Arkansas. Secuban was also recently selected to serve as a delegate to the sorority’s Great Lakes Regional conference later this month.