After 12 years at Wright State, Julia Acosta, director of the Office of Latinx, Asian, and Native American Affairs (LANA), resigned from the university Friday.
Acosta declined to share her specific reasons for leaving.
However, she said she felt inhibited from pursuing her goals for LANA and called on Wright State to correct internal issues.
“My vision and mission for the office does not align with where I think we’re at,” Acosta said. “I think that maybe because of the trouble that Wright State is in, it will be difficult to serve underserved students to the level that Wright State can.”
LANA supports and provides resources to Latinx, Asian, and Native American students at Wright State. The office is working to establish Asian and Hispanic Greek Life organizations on campus – an initiative led by Acosta.
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Before representing minority students on campus, Acosta worked at Wright State as a student worker, then as a coordinator with the College of Education Leadership Studies Department. During her three years as LANA director, Acosta said she was inspired by colleagues, community members, and students she met through the office.
“We have some fantastic raiders,” Acosta said. “Wright State is a great place to be. It allows for so many opportunities and groups to come together. It’s just … basic stability would be a good thing.”
Following her departure, Acosta said WSU’s multicultural centers needs more collaboration, authentic leadership and student-driven initiatives.
Acosta said she also hopes for improved representation in the future.
“We have had probably five bosses in the time I have been here. It has just been difficult to find a vision and mission that aligns with the work we are doing,” Acosta said. “If race, cultural diversity, microaggressions, civic justice (and) civic duty are important at this university, then you would see its importance. We would have conversations. But I don’t see that. I don’t see that from my angle.”
Starting May 1, Acosta will serve as senior civil rights investigator with the City of Dayton.
Acosta said her new position aligns with one of the core principles of the work: “That we should all have a spot at the table. Having a spot at the table doesn’t negate someone else’s spot at the table. We make a bigger table.”
