Chila Thomas, EdD., is a two-time alumnus of The Ohio State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in African American and African Studies from the College of Arts and Sciences in 2002, and a doctor of education degree in Educational Administration in 2019 from the College of Education and Human Ecology. Chila began her professional career at Ohio State while still enrolled as an undergraduate student serving as the Admissions Specialist for the School of Teaching and Learning in the College of Education and Human Ecology, formally the College of Education. In 2005, Chila transitioned to the Office of Minority Affairs, now, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion where she coordinated the Bridge Program. In 2013, Chila joined the Young Scholars Program as Assistant Director, and in 2018 she was promoted to Executive Director. Her higher education work involves supporting student populations from low socio-economic backgrounds and first-generation college students. Chila’s career profiles continuous involvement with developing and implementing large-scale programs for pre-college and undergraduate students. In 2019, Chila was invited to join a small team of professional’s to work with a $5 million grant funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Universidad ISA, where she and her colleagues are developing and implementing a pre-college preparation program (Bridge Program) in the Dominican Republic, La Herradura, Santiago. Chila’s extensive work with student access, affordability, completion, and personal development has garnered several recognitions and awards including the 2014 Office of Student Life, Staff Impact Award, the 2018 Outstanding First-Year Advocate Award, and the 2018 Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Outstanding Staff Award.