Ohio State employee researches rural, first-generation students and sense of belonging

Shantay Piazza keeps her office at The Ohio State University stocked with snacks: chips, granola bars, drinks, even some candy. She does this to help people feel more comfortable, she said.

“This is my space, and I can control how I structure it. I am responsible for how people feel in here, how they’re seen and heard,” she said. “Years ago, I worked directly with students, and I started to learn about food insecurity. So why make people ask for food? Why not just have it here?” 

Making people comfortable at Ohio State has been a through line for Piazza’s 20 years at the university. Currently the senior director of marketing and communications for the College of Arts and Sciences, she recently added a new credential to her resume: a doctorate in education. She has already successfully presented her dissertation in practice and will  graduate at the 2025 spring commencement.

“I was coming out of the parking garage the other day and someone said, ‘Dr. Piazza,’” she said. “That’s me now.”

Piazza graduated from Ohio State with a bachelor’s degree in English in 2005. Since then, she has stayed at the university, and managed marketing and communications for the College of Arts and Sciences, Government Affairs, College of Veterinary Medicine, and the College of Law.

“I love this place,” she said. “Ohio State means a lot of things to a lot of people. That’s what I love about it. It’s not a uniform experience. It means something to people who love sports. It means something to people who are interested in agriculture. It means something to people who have pets and go to the veterinary hospital. My whole career has been building an understanding of what Ohio State means to people.”

For her dissertation in practice, Piazza decided to work with a group whose experience she didn’t yet understand: rural, first-generation students. The focus is appropriate, given Ohio State’s history.

“This university was originally Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College. Its roots are rural,” she said. “When I worked at the vet school, there were families who have been sending their livestock here, and only here, since 1885. That’s powerful. That’s a special legacy.”

Thirty-two of Ohio’s counties are designated as rural by the U.S. Census Bureau, meaning they have fewer than 2,000 housing units and 5,000 residents.

“Imagine what Ohio State might look like to some students from a rural community,” she said. “It’s important to note the experiences they bring to campus are varied and distinct. Our rural students know they’re coming from a different background. Still, they’re open to new things – and they want people to be open to them, too.”

One of Piazza’s earlier jobs at the university was in student recruitment.

“Some of the rural students I met would come here, have incredible experiences and graduate. But some students would leave early,” she said. “I’d see them somewhere and I’d have questions. They’d say it just didn’t work out, which is crazy to me. How can Ohio State not work? So I got curious. How could we make it work?”

Piazza spoke with these students, seeking to understand their sense of belonging and how that can be augmented. One of the things that surprised her was how many students mentioned meaningful relationships with faculty and staff.

“It was surprising to me that so much of their community wasn’t just their peers,” she said. “With that information, I now know that building this community takes all of us. My research has shown that students thrive inside and outside of the classroom when they feel valued, supported and connected to the campus community. A lot of students are shy, nervous, excited, scared and they need support from all of us. So when they’re in my office, we have snacks and we’re happy to see them.”

Making Ohio State a welcoming place for everyone matters to Piazza.

“This university has taught me the importance community and the value of seeing the world beyond your own experiences,” she said. “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."