Moji Olaniyan, executive director of the Office for Minority Educational Affairs (OMEA), has announced she will be leaving Cornell June 30 to work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School, where she will help create and develop an academic enhancement program. She previously was UW-Madison's deputy associate dean and assistant dean in academic affairs.

Olaniyan has provided leadership in fostering OMEA's mission to facilitate the recruitment, enrollment, transition to Cornell, retention and timely graduation of eligible students from low-income families and first-generation college students, as well as underrepresented and targeted student groups, said Vice Provost Barbara Knuth.

"Since joining the Cornell community in 2008, Moji has contributed significantly to the organization by addressing staffing shortfalls, clarifying budget and programmatic priorities, enhancing connections between diversity staff across campus and increasing connections between OMEA and faculty," Knuth said. Olaniyan has also contributed to the improved delivery and administration of New York state's Educational Opportunity Program and Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program at Cornell, she said.

Olaniyan's work has positioned the university to strengthen and enhance its focus on supporting academic excellence, Knuth said, and addressing a key priority in the new strategic plan: making significant progress toward a more diverse student body. In the coming weeks, plans will be developed to recruit Olaniyan's successor.