Jason Reece to serve as vice provost for urban research and community engagement

From the Provost — November 7, 2022

Jason Reece to serve as vice provost for urban research and community engagement

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce that Jason Reece will serve as vice provost for urban research and community engagement, effective January 1. 

In his new role, Jason will collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to create a strategic vision for academic partnership with Ohio State’s local communities. He will contribute to our strategic focus area in external engagement, which seeks to forge strong, mutually beneficial connections with external communities. He will serve as a key advisor to academic leaders by using an asset-based approach to address major challenges facing local communities.

In addition, Jason will provide overall leadership for local engagement strategy development and implementation. In particular, he will focus on collaboration and partnership with central Ohio communities and entities through scholarship, education, and service. 

Jason has served Ohio State for two decades in various roles centered on community-engaged scholarship. He is a longtime affiliate of the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity and is currently providing leadership as its interim executive director. Among his many accomplishments at the Kirwan Institute, he co-developed the opportunity mapping methodology, which has been used by nonprofit, public sector, and philanthropic partners as well as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Since 2010, Jason has served on the city and regional planning faculty at the Knowlton School of Architecture. In his research, he focuses on social equity and justice in the context of city planning history, theory, and practice, with particular emphasis on planning for a built and social environment that supports multiple dimensions of health equity and inclusion. He also has taught courses on the social determinants of health in the College of Public Health.

Jason earned bachelor’s degrees in geography and in urban and regional planning from Miami University and his master’s degree and PhD in city and regional planning from Ohio State.

Please join us in congratulating Jason as he prepares to transition into this exciting new role. 

Sincerely, 

Melissa L. Gilliam
Executive Vice President and Provost 

Ryan J. Schmiesing
Senior Vice Provost for External Engagement