Student Success Champion Profile - Chila Thomas, Ed.D.
This year, Chila Thomas, Ed.D., Executive Director of the Young Scholars Program (YSP), is excited to celebrate the 35th anniversary of YSP as well as her fifth year as Executive Director. With a long and outstanding career at OSU, she has received several recognitions and awards including the 2021 Presidential Staff Award.
YSP sits within the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and operates in the nine largest urban public school districts in Ohio. Every year, it serves about 1,000 students across the state, including about 700 students in grades 8-12 and 350 undergraduate students. Dr. Thomas explains that YSP supports the university’s Land Grant mission by identifying talented first-generation and low or moderately low-income families and students, and supporting them starting in middle school with college readiness, access, and preparedness, all the way through to college completion. One unique aspect of the program is that it aims to fundamentally change the trajectory of not only the student’s life, but also their larger family and community. With that goal in mind, Dr. Thomas is always grateful to hear from past students about their successes and how they contribute to their communities. From social workers working in their home school districts, to local business owners and artists, to current OSU staff, she has many examples of the great work being done by the program’s graduates. Alumni are also invited to continue to engage with the program by serving as mentors or assisting with events.
Dr. Thomas’ story of her journey into her current role is one of uplifting support from those around her. First with being tapped to be the Assistant Director of YSP, and then being nominated as Executive Director, Dr. Thomas was recognized for her hard work and dedication to supporting students. She has paid forward this support by cultivating relationships and partnerships with people across the institution and within the communities that YSP serves. She believes her role as the executive director is to remove barriers and support her staff to do their best work. Dr. Thomas is proud of the growth of the program and the positive culture she has helped cultivate among staff and students. As time goes on, her goal is to expand the number of students per cohort and train and support other programs who are interested in the work.
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions.”
Her advice to students is to utilize the “experience guides” that come into their lives. Students are the ultimate decision-makers in their lives and educational journey, but seeking out guides who can provide support and knowledge is immensely helpful. Dr. Thomas advises, “Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to use those experience guides, because we’re here on campus because of the students.”
In her personal life, Dr. Thomas is grateful to share in the success with her husband who serves as the Assistant Director of the Bell National Resource Center on the African American Male, her oldest son who will be graduating in Spring 2024 with a major in sport industry and a minor in public policy, and her future buckeye, a sophomore at a local Columbus high school.
Photo 1: Chila Thomas and select program staff and alumni during the 2023 Homecoming weekend in the Memory Walk to celebrate YSP's 35 Year Anniversary.
Photo 2: Chila Thomas (center) and scholars left to right: Elyza Dixon, John Fuller, Breanna Shepphard, and Najha Maye.