Tagged: Messages

The Ohio State University’s Office of Academic Affairs has hired longtime central Ohio superintendent John Marschhausen as the inaugural assistant vice provost for academic program pathways, pending Board of Trustees approval. 

Dear Colleagues,

As we prepare for the departure of Dean Ayanna Howard at the end of July, I’m pleased to share that I have appointed Professor Balasubramaniam Shanker as interim dean of the College of Engineering (COE), effective Aug. 1. In addition, we will launch a national search in the weeks ahead to find the college’s next exceptional dean. Details about the search advisory committee will be shared at a later date.

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Jeffrey Walline, OD, PhD, as dean of the College of Optometry, effective July 1, pending Board of Trustees approval. A distinguished professor, he currently serves as the college’s associate dean of Academic Affairs.

Dear Colleagues,

Earlier today, June 23, the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) announced Elena Irwin’s appointment as the next dean of Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, effective Sept. 21.

Dear Colleagues,

Earlier today, June 5, Spelman College in Atlanta announced that Ayanna Howard, dean of The Ohio State University College of Engineering, will become Spelman’s next president, effective Aug. 1. She will be returning to Georgia, where she began her academic career at Georgia Tech following time working at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and propelled her career as a leader in higher education and technology.

I am delighted to share that Kiely Fletcher has been selected to join Ohio State as our new vice provost for strategic enrollment management, effective June 15. She becomes the next leader of the Office of Strategic Enrollment Management following last summer’s departure of James Orr.

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to share that I am reappointing Cathann Kress as vice president for agricultural administration and dean of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). Her new term will be effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030, pending approval by the Board of Trustees.

A message from John W. Zeiger, Chair, The Ohio State University Board of Trustees.

Dear All, 

Earlier this month I shared that Dean Karla Zadnik will return to the faculty of the College of Optometry on July 1, following 12 years of transformative leadership and impact. Please join me once again in sharing our heartfelt appreciation to Dean Zadnik. She is a remarkable member of our Ohio State community, and I am looking forward to her continued contributions to her college and university.