Diversity Center Leader Announces Retirement

Peggy Zone Fisher will close her office door at the Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio for the last time on August 31, which is the end of Diversity Center’s fiscal year. After 18 years of service, including being president and CEO, Zone Fisher is retiring and beginning a new chapter of her life.

Zone Fisher started packing the personal items in her office shortly after her retirement was announced in February. She has been taking down paintings and photographs that hung on the walls and carefully packing them for the move.

“I have a very powerful art collection that I have collected over the years. I have purchased some works from local artists and will relocate them to my own private office,” says Zone Fisher. “And I am taking my personal collection of books — powerful books that I want to keep with me that are related to things like diversity, equity and justice, and written by phenomenal authors. If anyone wants to borrow them at any time, of course they can.”

But in addition to artwork and books, Zone Fisher (who guided the Diversity Center into becoming an independent, nonprofit organization), takes with her an incredible legacy and memories that will not lessen in importance with age. 

The Diversity Center “works to eliminate bias, bigotry and racism.” Its programs and services were initially mainly centered in Cuyahoga County, but under Zone Fisher’s watch, have expanded to 11 Northeast Ohio counties, serving more than 7,000 students, educators and professionals each year. SHIFT Consulting, the professional services of the Diversity Center, is just one of the programs of which Zone Fisher is most proud. Another is LeadDIVERSITY, an expanded professional program diverse in age and gender that is licensed to nonprofit organizations in other states.

“Retirement is bittersweet for me. I love this organization. I am passionate about it. But it’s time for someone with fresh ideas to come in and elevate it to beyond what I have done. I am excited about that and will be available to anyone who wants to talk,” says Zone Fisher, deciding that the next chapter of her life must reflect the first letter of her first name and include purpose, passion and be part-time. And recently she added passport. “I am fortune that I don’t have to just jump into something. I’ll know what I want to do — need to do — when I see it.” 

Zone Fisher will take some time to visit her out-of-state grandchildren, 6-year-old Violet and 6-month-old Dylan. She’s also looking forward to relaxing more with her “best friend” and husband of 44 years, Lee Fisher, dean and Joseph C. Hostetler-BakerHostetler Chair in Law at Cleveland State University College of Law.

She will catch up on emails and offers to “go for coffee.” But not before she sees the completion of this year’s Walk, Rock, Roll & Run, one of the Diversity’s Center’s two signature annual fund-raising events. (The other being the Humanitarian Award Celebration on November 20.) Since 2006, the two events combined have raised more than $16 million for programs and services. This year’s Walk, Rock, Roll & Run is Saturday, May 4, on the plaza of the Great Lakes Science Center.  

“I want to go out with a big bang,” says Zone Fisher.