Donnie Perkins chosen to lead College of Engineering’s diversity and inclusion initiatives

With more than 20 years of healthcare and higher education leadership and experience, Donnie Perkins has been named chief diversity and inclusion officer by The Ohio State University College of Engineering. He will begin his new role on January 5.

“In Donnie Perkins, we have a national leader who will build on the past achievements of Mary Juhas and Lisa Abrams,” said College of Engineering Dean David B. Williams. “His charge is quite simple: create the best diversity and inclusion operation and raise our profile regionally and nationally.

“In a world that requires diverse and creative solutions, diversity of engineers is a necessity.”

Perkins most recently served as vice president for diversity and inclusion at University Hospitals of Cleveland, where he collaborated with key stakeholders to develop and implement a three-year system strategic plan. His leadership resulted in DiversityInc ranking University Hospitals as the top hospital system in the nation for diversity and inclusion the past two years. Prior to joining the leadership team at University Hospitals, Perkins served as dean and director of the Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity at Northeastern University in Boston.

“I am honored and excited to join the leadership team, students, faculty, professionals and staff in the College of Engineering as we work to advance academic and inclusive excellence, diversity and equity for everyone,” said Perkins.

“Enhancing academic and diversity outcomes for African American, Latino, Native American and women students and faculty requires ‘intentionality,’ a shared understanding of the need and benefits of diversity and inclusion. Making progress also demands engaged leadership and partnership at all levels, a proactive vision, culture change, increased internal and external collaboration, and a unified commitment to positive results.”