Dr. Howard J. Shipp Jr. became the first African American counselor at OSU in 1971, and his work to improve the racial climate at the university led to the creation of the Office of Minority Programs and Services in 1985. His leadership also expanded the Office of Multicultural Affairs in 1992 as well as its mission to focus on minority retention, recruitment and outreach. Shipp retired in 2005 after 34 years of service to OSU. Ship was among the first honorees to be inducted into the OSU Diversity Hall of Fame in 2015.