North Columbus News

Shantay Piazza, the senior director of marketing and communications for the College of Arts and Sciences at The Ohio State University, emphasizes creating a welcoming environment in her office by stocking it with snacks like chips, granola bars, and candy. "This is my space, and I can control how I structure it," Piazza remarked, aiming for visitors to feel seen and heard without needing to ask for necessities like food.

Piazza has worked at Ohio State for two decades, handling marketing and communications roles across several colleges, including Arts and Sciences, Government Affairs, Veterinary Medicine, and Law. She now holds a doctorate in education, having recently completed her dissertation focused on rural, first-generation students, a group whose experience she sought to better understand.

"This university was originally Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College. Its roots are rural," Piazza noted. She emphasized the unique legacy and perspectives these students bring to campus.

Piazza's past experiences in student recruitment revealed a mixture of successful and unsuccessful adaptations to university life among rural students. Investigating these outcomes led her to understand the critical role of building meaningful relationships with faculty and staff in fostering a sense of belonging.

"It was surprising to me that so much of their community wasn’t just their peers," Piazza stated. Her research highlights the importance of feeling valued, supported, and connected to thrive in an academic setting.

Reflecting on Ohio State's community, Piazza shared, "This university has taught me the importance of community and the value of seeing the world beyond your own experiences. Ohio State brings us together as faculty, staff, and students, and it’s the ways we support and value one another that make it truly special for everyone."