Kathy Lechman

Director, Equality and Inclusion

The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

Kathy Lechman is the Director of Equity and Inclusion for the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. She earned her PhD in2015 from the College of Education and Human Ecology where her dissertation focused on examining the influence of student perception of instructor cultural intelligence, sense of belonging and intent to persist.She has a Master of Arts degree in Conflict Resolution from the McGregor School of Antioch University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the College of Wooster.Kathy has been with OSU for 16 years with prior experience at the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, the Ohio Department of Youth Services, and the Cleveland Municipal Schools.Throughout her career, she has focused on mediation, conflict resolution, personnel development, and creating and implementing strategies to address workforce diversity.

During her time in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences she developed and created numerous professional development opportunities for faculty, staff, and students.She was instrumental in the implementation of the Diversity Leadership Symposium that brought together multiple units across campus to provide quality professional development to faculty, staff, and students.Kathy isan experienced mediator, facilitator and trainer.In her role as Director of Equity and Inclusion she provides counsel to the lead faculty of the CFAES Gender Initiative and works closely with the Senior Associate Dean and the Associate Dean of Academics.