Ohio State appoints new dean and director at Ohio State Marion

We are pleased to share that Dr. Jennifer Schlueter has been selected to serve as the next dean and director of The Ohio State University at Marion. An accomplished academic administrator, teacher, performance maker, and producer, Dr. Schlueter is the vice provost of academic affairs at The New School in New York City, where she also holds a faculty appointment in the university’s School of Drama. She will begin her term at Ohio State Marion on March 17, 2025, pending Board of Trustees approval.

In her current role, Dr. Schlueter is responsible for creating and managing institution-wide processes in academic strategy, policy, and operations. Prior to joining The New School, Dr. Schlueter held leadership roles at Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD), serving as the college’s inaugural dean of graduate studies before becoming associate provost and dean of academics.

In joining Ohio State, Dr. Schlueter will return to familiar ground. Before joining CCAD, she was on the Ohio State faculty for nine years in the Department of Theatre (currently the Department of Theatre, Film, and Media Arts). She served her department as director of undergraduate studies and associate chair, and she also took on university-level service as a faculty fellow of curriculum development at the Graduate School and as project director of the Global Arts & Humanities Discovery Theme. In addition, she founded and produced the Lab Series, a student-driven, department-nurtured performance research laboratory.

Dr. Schlueter’s creative endeavors have received accolades from prominent publications, including Backstage Magazine and the Chicago Tribune. In addition, she has directed full productions and staged readings, written several journal articles and book chapters, and was commissioned by BBC Radio 4.

Dr. Schlueter earned her PhD in theatre performance, history, and theory, and her master’s degree in theatre from Ohio State. Her Bachelor of Arts is in theatre from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri.

We are grateful to Greg Rose for his longstanding leadership and exceptional dedication to the faculty, staff, and students at the Marion campus and to the members of the search advisory committee, chaired by Noelle Arnold, senior associate dean in the College of Education and Human Ecology, for their commitment to finding our next exceptional leader.  

From January 1 until Dr. Schlueter’s arrival, Dr. John Maharry, assistant dean of academic opportunities and professor of mathematics on the Marion campus, will serve as acting dean and director, pending approval of the Board of Trustees.

Truly, this is an exciting time for Ohio State Marion and each of our regional campuses. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Jennifer Schlueter back to Ohio State.

Sincerely,

Karla Zadnik 
Interim Executive Vice President and Provost
Glenn A. Fry Professor in Optometry and Physiological Optics
 
Ryan J. Schmiesing
Senior Vice Provost for External Engagement