The Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) has selected Tricia Zelaya-Leon as the inaugural senior director of The Ohio State University’s newly created Career Center of Excellence, effective Jan. 5, 2026. As senior director, Zelaya-Leon will be at the forefront of preparing students for successful and meaningful careers, working with Ohio State students to secure internships and ensure graduates are sought-after leaders in a rapidly evolving global workforce.
The Career Center of Excellence is a university-wide initiative housed within OAA. Its mission is to enhance and coordinate the university’s career services infrastructure to better prepare undergraduate students for post-graduate success.
Zelaya-Leon brings more than 15 years of experience advancing student success and preparing graduates for fulfilling careers. She has served as assistant dean for the Center for Career and Professional Success in the College of Arts and Sciences since 2023, leading initiatives in student career development, experiential learning and employer engagement in the university's largest college.
She previously served as director of the Center for Career and Professional Development at Kalamazoo College. In addition, she is an active scholar and participant in the National Association of Colleges and Employers and is known for her collaborative leadership style and for building strong partnerships with employers and campus partners that support positive career outcomes for students.
Zelaya-Leon earned her PhD in higher education and student affairs from Ohio State, and she holds an MA in higher education and a BS in Spanish education from Ohio University.