We hope that you all had a wonderful spring break and are returning to campus recharged and renewed. We welcome the warmer weather and longer days that the spring equinox will bring. And as we enter this new season, we hope that you embrace new possibilities for growth and opportunities to engage in social justice work. In our March newsletter we share updates, insights, and stories about the work we are doing across campus, in the prison facilities, and in the community.
We are thrilled to share that OPEEP was selected by the Office of Outreach and Engagement as a top three 2025 Program of Excellence in Engaged Scholarship. We are deeply appreciative of this recognition and see it as a testament to our dedication to and our impact on campus and in the community. It is also a celebration of our hardworking staff and instructors and our amazing students!
We continue to profile our many wonderful OPEEP instructors in the newsletter. This month, we are happy you introduce you to Dr. Sierra Austin-King, who is teaching WGSS 1110: Gender, Sex, and Power to the degree cohort at the Ohio Reformatory for Women (ORW) this spring. Through this foundational class in the major, Dr. Austin-King is teaching students not only to think critically about gender, but also about interlocking and systemic oppression, justice, and how our society operates.
Be sure to read about LAM Collective’s presentation at the National Council of Teachers of English Assembly for Research Annual Conference. This was LAM’s second opportunity to participate in a national academic conference and the panelists did a remarkable job discussing how Black feminist literacies have shaped their educational journeys.
Later this month Loretta Ross, who will be on campus for a public lecture, will meet with LAM Collective to discuss her new book, Calling In: How to Start Making Change with Those You’d Rather Cancel. Over the past 18 months, LAM has had the opportunity to meet with an array of outstanding scholars and activists, and we are beyond thrilled to add Loretta Ross to the list. We look forward to Ross helping us deepen our understanding of community and movement building – a much-needed discussion in these challenging times.
Enrollment for OPEEP Autumn 2025 classes is well underway! We will be offering classes at Southeastern Correctional Institution (SCI) in Lancaster, Richland Correctional Institution (RiCI) in Mansfield, and ORW in Marysville. Enrollment in OPEEP classes is only by permission of the instructor and completing an application is the first step. Submit your application for an OPEEP class today.
With the recent dismantling of ODI at Ohio State and diversity, equity, and inclusion work at institutions of higher learning throughout the country, OPEEP’s work is more important than ever. We remain steadfast in our efforts to democratize and decolonize higher education in Ohio and ensure that justice impacted individuals can access quality higher education. We hope that you will join us in this work. As always, you can follow us on Instagram at @opeep_osu, share information about our classes in your networks, and consider donating to our Campus Campaign.
We look forward to a productive and rewarding rest of the academic year. Thank you.
Dr. Mary Thomas and Dr. Tiyi Morris
