List of presidents of Ohio State University explained

Post:President
Body:the
Ohio State University
Insigniasize:115px
Incumbent:Walter E. Carter Jr.
Appointer:Board of Trustees
Termlength:No term limit
Inaugural:Edward Orton, Sr
Website:Office of the President

This list of presidents of Ohio State University includes all who have served as university presidents of Ohio State University since its founding in 1870. Ohio State University is a public research university in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1870, as a land-grant university and ninth university in Ohio with the Morrill Act of 1862,[1] the university was originally known as the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College. In 1878, in light of its expanded focus, the college permanently changed its name to Ohio State University.

History

The first president of Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College is Edward Orton, Sr. who served from 1873 to 1881. During Orton's term, the university became Ohio State University, in 1878. Karen A. Holbrook took office in 2002 and was the first female president. E. Gordon Gee is the only president who served two terms after from serving from 1990 to 1998 and returning in 2007-2013. Michael V. Drake, former chancellor of the University of California, Irvine, assumed the role of university president on June 30, 2014.[2] Drake also serves as the first African American president of the university. On June 3, 2020, it was announced that Kristina M. Johnson, the former chancellor of State University of New York, would be taking over as the 21st president. She was the first member of the LGBT community to openly serve in the position.[3] After serving approximately two and a half years of her five year contract, Johnson resigned at the request of the university's board of trustees.[4]

Presidents of Ohio State University

Image Name Term Life Notes
11878–1881 1829–1899 Orton Hall is named in his honor
21881–1883 1845–1917
31883–1895 1840–1937Three buildings on campus are named "Scott", including Scott Hall. Scott Laboratory and Scott House are not named in his honor. [5] [6]
41895–1899 1847–1909Canfield Residence Hall is named in his honor
51899–1925 1855–1933 William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library and statue named in his honor
61925–1938 1868–1952 Rightmire Hall is named in his honor
William McPherson (acting) 1938–1940 1864–1951McPherson Lab is named in his honor
71940–1956 1885–1968 Bevis Hall is named in his honor
81956–1972 1909–1998 The Fawcett Center is named in his honor.
91972–1981 1919–2006 Enarson Classroom is named in his honor
101981–19901937–2019 Jennings Hall is named in his honor
111990–1998 1944–
John Richard Sisson (acting) 1997–1998 1936– Sisson Hall is named in his honor
121998–2002 1938– The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity is named in his honor
Edward H. Jennings (interim) 2002 1937–2019 Jennings Hall is named in his honor
132002–2007 1942–
Joseph A. Alutto (interim) 2007 1942–
142007–20131944–
Joseph A. Alutto (interim) 2013–20141942–
152014–2020 1951– Drake Performance and Event Center is not named in his honor [7]
16Kristina M. Johnson2020–20231957–
Peter Mohler (acting)20231973–
17Walter E. Carter Jr.2024–1959–

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Berdahl . Robert M. . Discussion of "Flagship Universities" by UC-Berkeley Chancellor Berdahl . University of California, Berkeley . October 5, 1998 . October 1, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110511120058/http://cio.chance.berkeley.edu/chancellor/sp/flagship.htm . May 11, 2011 .
  2. Web site: Ohio State president’s first week to be packed with meetings . Dispatch.com . July 1, 2014 . July 6, 2014.
  3. Web site: Baird. Nathan. clevel. .com. 2020-06-03. SUNY Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson to be next Ohio State University President: Reports. 2020-06-03. cleveland. en.
  4. Web site: Ohio State President Kristina Johnson confirms she's made 'difficult decision' to resign . 2024-04-23 . The Columbus Dispatch . en-US.
  5. Web site: Peter L. and Clara M. Scott Gift Supports New Mechanical Engineering Building . Ohio State News . May 15, 2003. June 3, 2020.
  6. Web site: 2001-11-12 . Hall names reflect honor of past students . 2024-04-23 . The Lantern . en-US.
  7. Web site: History of Drake Performance Center. Ohio State University . June 3, 2020.