OFIC is proud to introduce its newly appointed Board of Trustee Members, Dr. Michael Gilligan and Yvette Hunsicker. Read more about their accomplishments below.
Dr. Michael Gilligan
President Emeritus, Henry Luce Foundation (New York), Columbus, Ohio
Dr. Michael Gilligan is President Emeritus of the Henry Luce Foundation, New York. Retiring from the Luce Foundation in 2019, he returned to his native Central Ohio, where he’d grown up and worked for 20 years as a teacher and administrator in Catholic education, both K-12 and college.
Created in 1936 by Henry R. Luce, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Time Inc, the Luce Foundation today offers support for the knowledge sector: colleges and universities, museums, research libraries and think tanks. During Gilligan’s presidency, the foundation awarded more than $500 million of grants, grew its assets under management by 50%, and launched new initiatives in historic program areas: Asian studies, American art, women in STEM, public policy and international relations, theology, and leadership development.
Gilligan holds three degrees in English, BA from Duke University, and MA and PhD from University of Virginia. He has served on more than a dozen not-for-profit boards, including the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia, and Brooklyn Philharmonic, and today is senior advisor for CIC’s faculty workshops on civil discourse.
Yvette Hunsicker
Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility and the Office of Inclusion and Diversity, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Marysville, Ohio
Yvette Hunsicker is Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility and Inclusion & Diversity at American Honda Motor Co., Inc., where she leads Honda’s philanthropic and inclusion and diversity initiatives across the U.S., overseeing the Honda USA Foundation and community relations programs, and working to advance inclusion and equity both within the company and society.
Hunsicker’s career at Honda has spanned more than 30 years, including a broad range of roles and leadership positions. She joined Honda at age 19 as a welding associate in a manufacturing plant and steadily advanced through the company’s manufacturing operations while earning her bachelor’s degree in business management. These experiences have given Hunsicker a unique perspective on Honda’s diversity, equity, and inclusion.
A major focus for Hunsicker is Honda’s workforce diversity. Her leadership has resulted in several changes to HR’s hiring practices to create diverse interview panels, mentorship and sponsorship programs, Business Resource Groups (BRGs), and inclusive leadership & anti-racism training programs, and ensure equitable promotions. Hunsicker developed a metric to guide the company’s commitment to reflecting society at every level of the organization, particularly in leadership by 2030.
As part of Honda's efforts to promote equality in its workforce and society, Hunsicker also led the company’s release of its first inclusion & Diversity Report in 2022. The report outlines Honda's commitments to advancing inclusion and diversity and shares recent actions the company has taken, including key initiatives within its workforce and the communities where Honda associates live and work. Honda was also recognized by DiversityInc as one of the Top 50 Companies for Diversity based on the efforts outline in the report.
Honda has had a 30-plus year relationship with historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Under Hunsicker’s leadership, Honda has enhanced these relationships and expanded the company’s connection with institutions supporting HBCUs. In 2019, Hunsicker formed a partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) to create affordable paths for students pursuing an education in engineering, supply chain management and manufacturing-related fields. In 2022, Hunsicker was appointed TMCF’s board of directors. Hunsicker also has been instrumental in fostering Honda’s holistic approach with HBCU students and graduates, including providing co-op and employment opportunities and highlighting student achievement through programs such as the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge and the Honda Battle of the Bands.
Hunsicker also serves on the Columbus, Ohio YWCA Board of Directors, the Eagle Rock School and Professional Development Center Board of Directors, the National Diversity Council Board of Directors, the Ohio Diversity Council Board of Directors, and is a member of The Conference Board Global Diversity & Inclusion Executive Council.
OFIC connects students across 33 member campuses with Ohio’s top corporations and foundations to make the dream of completing a college education a reality through scholarships, internships, and career opportunities. Learn more at ofic.org.