EIU Media Relations

Pines, Ostro to headline inclusivity event at EIU April 6

(Charleston, IL) – Eastern Illinois University leaders are excited to host Dr. Darryll Pines, President of the University of Maryland—College Park, along with Ginger Ostro, Executive Director of the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) for a public discussion on inclusive excellence in higher education.  The event will take place at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 6 with a reception to follow in the Recital Hall of the Doudna Fine Arts Center, located on EIU’s campus at 600 Lincoln Avenue, Charleston.

The event, which is open to EIU students, employees, and the public, is being offered by the Public Policy Institute with the support of EIU’s Office of the President and the Office of the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, led by Dr. Jay Gatrell. The moderator will be Dr. Ed Wehrle, EIU professor of history and a graduate of the University of Maryland.

“We’re extremely excited and fortunate to welcome Dr. Pines and Ms. Ostro to EIU for a discussion on this critical topic,” said Dr. David Glassman, President of Eastern Illinois University. “Dr. Pines’ granular knowledge of inclusivity and diversity initiatives favorably complement IBHE’s strategic commitments to equity, sustainability, and growth in higher education—practices aimed at enhancing Illinois’ overall ability to thrive.”

Pines has made diversity a hallmark of his career, working to further develop a culture of inclusive excellence to improve the campus work environment for all students, faculty, and other members of the university community. Also a professor of aerospace engineering, Pines was named a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, American Society of Mechanical Engineers and Institute of Physics. He chairs the Engineering Advisory Committee for NSF’s Engineering Directorate and sits on the Board of Trustees for Underwriters Laboratory not-for-profit arm. Pines received a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. He earned M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Prior to being selected to head the IBHE, Ostro served as Deputy Executive Director at the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, director of the Office of Budget Planning at Governors State University, and Executive Director of Advance Illinois.  She also served in several roles in state government, including over six years at the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget.

“I’d also like to thank Dr. Ping Chen for his longstanding commitment to EIU and for personally arranging for Dr. Pines’ visit to campus,” added Gatrell. “I am especially pleased that we are able to host Dr. Pines this year as this lecture aligns with EIU’s Quality Initiative and the important ongoing work across campus coordinated by EIU’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.”

For more information about EIU, or to learn more about its various programs and services, visit the EIU website at www.eiu.edu, or call EIU’s public information office at (217) 581-7400.