Equity & Inclusion at Otterbein University
Otterbein has a long-standing commitment to equity and inclusion that dates back to our founding.
It’s true that our history includes moments and commitments that can make us proud about Otterbein’s long-standing position of inclusiveness. It’s also true throughout our history–including current day–that we can and should expect more of ourselves as individuals, as a community, and as an institution.
We believe we’re better if we learn and grow together to address the issues. The work, the need for understanding and respect — it’s never done.
Read on to learn more about Otterbein’s ongoing commitment and the people and events that help shape our shared experience and our values.
On this page:
Authentic Voices
We want to celebrate and highlight Otterbein University’s diversity throughout the years!
Otterbein student Desmond Fernandez talks about his experiences as a person of color on campus.
Student Organizations
Faculty & Staff Diversity
Otterbein is committed to extending its legacy to recruit a more diverse faculty, student body and staff; to foster a climate that doesn’t just accommodate differences but celebrates them; and to provide rich opportunities for learning from our differences.
ADVOCATE SPOTLIGHT
“One of my favorite queer theorists says that the most important question we can ask another human being is, ‘Who are you?’ Because through our ability to really hear the answer, the other person will get heard, seen, and understood.”
Dr. Suzanne Ashworth
Professor, Departments of English and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Recognized with the 2021 Ohio LGBTQ+ Leadership Award from the Ohio Diversity Council.
Equity & Inclusion News at Otterbein
Meet Otterbein’s New Director for the Office of Social Justice and Activism
News - October 13, 2023
In the short time Selethia Benn has been on campus, she has made a big impression. With her background in K-12 education, she brings a fresh perspective and energy that has been appreciated on campus. Students have made the Office of Social Justice and Activism a popular hangout and safe space, and faculty and staff have found her to be a valuable resource. Let’s Learn more about Otterbein’s new director of the Office of Social Justice and Activism, Selethia Benn.…
Diverse Perspectives Belong in Education
News - September 27, 2023
As teachers across the nation grapple with book bans, censorship, and backlash regarding Critical Race Theory (CRT), Ohio colleges and universities grapple with Senate Bill 83. SB 83, in short, overhauls public universities by creating policies for vaguely defined "intellectual diversity" and controversial concepts; banning mandatory DEI programs and training; banning affinity groups and affirmative action policies; banning public positions on vaguely defined “controversial” issues; banning striking and forms of collective bargaining; and several other provisions. The Otterbein University Education…
National Media Recognize Otterbein University for Programs and Values
News - September 18, 2023
Otterbein University has been collecting honors this fall, as it is recognized in national publications for its programs and values, including U.S. News & World Report, Colleges of Distinction, and Washington Monthly. US News & World Report Otterbein University has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report for its academic excellence, commitment to undergraduate teaching, and focus on affordability, student success outcomes, and experiential learning. In the 2024 Best Colleges rankings by U.S. News & World Report, Otterbein has…
Piece of Ukraine on Otterbein’s Campus
News - August 24, 2023
Ukrainian Independence Day is Aug. 24, and as citizens in their homeland continue to fight for independence, Ukrainians and Ukrainian Americans in central Ohio are finding community, sharing their culture, and spreading awareness of the ongoing fight for freedom. This year, the Ukrainian Cultural Association of Ohio (UCAO) cultivated a plot at the Otterbein Community Garden. UCAO Garden Leader Michael Litvinovich and UCAO member, Otterbein Associate Professor Megan Chawansky, share their reflections on communing at the garden. Michael Litvinovich UCAO…
Pride Month: Learn about the Stonewall Riots and Check out the Library’s Book List at Home
News - June 23, 2023
When did you first learn about the Stonewall Riots? When guest speaker Dwayne Steward posed this question to an audience at Otterbein at a presentation on June 16, most in attendance had not learned about the Stonewall Riots until college or even later in life — and most didn’t know very much about the historical event. The Stonewall Riots, which took place in NYC in 1969, are widely considered to be the watershed event that kicked off the activist movement…Otterbein's Equity & Inclusion Statement
In its mission to be an inclusive community dedicated to educating the whole person in the context of humane values, Otterbein University is committed to the values and practices of diversity and inclusion. The Otterbein Community considers diversity a source of innovation, creativity, and human flourishing. Diversity refers to the variety of personal experiences, values, and worldviews that arise from differences of culture and circumstance.Such differences include but are not limited to race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, age, religion, language, abilities/disabilities, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, and geographic region.
To ensure that all members of the Otterbein Community have the opportunity to participate and contribute to the community, the University is committed to inclusive practices. In an inclusive organization, each person’s resources and contributions are recognized, respected, and used in service to the organization’s goals; it is a place where people feel valued, respected, and heard, and where people are fully able to contribute.
Otterbein considers diversity as an integral part of the University’s achievement of excellence. Diversity and inclusion have the ability to broaden and deepen both the educational experience and academic environment. In a diverse campus community that promotes inclusiveness, mutual respect, and open discussion, students, faculty, and staff have the ability to learn from their similarities, differences, and personal experiences. Such conditions foster the development of understanding and recognition, in that all members benefit from the opportunity to hear alternative points of view from diverse social groups, preparing them to participate in an increasingly complex, interdependent, and pluralistic world.
The practices of diversity and inclusion provide the conditions for life-long learning, as well as the conditions for exploration and human flourishing. Educational practices that incorporate civil communication and inclusive participation can promote mutual respect and make possible the full, effective use of the talents and abilities of all to foster innovation and excellence.
Otterbein is committed to recognizing and nurturing merit, talent, and achievement by supporting diversity and equal opportunity in its education, services, and administration, as well as research and creative activity. The University particularly acknowledges the acute need to remove barriers to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of talented students, faculty, and staff from historically excluded populations who are currently underrepresented.
Incident Reporting
If you see, hear or experience an incident of bias or discrimination, complete our Bias Incident Reporting form. You can also contact the Associate Dean of Student Affairs at 614-823-1554. For more information, visit our Bias Response Information page. If you believe you may have witnessed a crime, you can report anonymously through the Silent Witness Form, or call OPD at 614-823-1222. If this is an emergency, call 911.