Director of Office of Sponsored Programs and Research (OSPR) at CSU. Central State is Ohio’s only publicly funded historically black university and was designated as a land-grant institution in 2014. The University’s current enrollment is 1751 students, of whom 80% come from low-income families, and a significant portion are first-generation students. As a predominantly undergraduate institution, Central State has demonstrated a record of excellence in research. Among historically black universities without a graduate program, CSU ranked third in research activities behind only Morehouse College and Dillard University. CSU achieved this record before its designation as a land-grant institution.I have a strong background facilitating successful outcomes for underrepresented students, particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). One of my student-focused activities is my role as the project director of the “Diversifying Ohio in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics” (DO-STEM). DO-STEM is a $2.6 million, nine-year initiative, funded by the Ohio Department of Higher Education. DO-STEM provides scholarships to recruit and retain STEM students at CSU and ensure their graduation and entrance into Ohio’s workforce or graduate education. Currently, 71% of DO-STEM participants have received their degree or are still enrolled compared to 33% of CSU’s general student population.