List of presidents of Ohio State University

Last updated

President of the
Ohio State University
Incumbent
Vacant
Appointer Board of Trustees
Term length No term limit
Inaugural holderEdward 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.

Contents

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 chancellor of State University of New York, will be taking over as the 21st president. She was the first member of the LGBT community to openly serve in the position. [3]

Presidents of Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College

PresidentTermLife
Edward Orton, Sr. 1873-18781829-1899

Presidents of Ohio State University

#NameTermLifeNotes
1 Edward Orton, Sr. 1878–18811829–1899 Orton Hall is named in his honor
2 Walter Q. Scott 1881-18831845–1917
3 William H. Scott 1883–18951840–1937Three buildings on campus are named "Scott": Scott Hall and Scott House [ citation needed ]. Scott Laboratory is not named in his honor [4]
4 James H. Canfield 1895–18991847–1909Canfield Residence Hall is named in his honor
5 William Oxley Thompson 1899–19251855–1933 William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library and statue named in his honor
6 George W. Rightmire 1925–19381868–1952Rightmire Hall is named in his honor
int William McPherson (acting)1938–19401864–1951McPherson Lab is named in his honor
7 Howard L. Bevis 1940–19561885–1968Bevis Hall is named in his honor
8 Novice G. Fawcett 1956–19721909–1998The Fawcett Center is named in his honor.
9 Harold L. Enarson 1972–19811919–2006Enarson Classroom is named in his honor
10 Edward H. Jennings 1981–19901937–2019Jennings Hall is named in his honor
11 E. Gordon Gee 1990–19981944–
int John Richard Sisson (acting)1997–19981936–Sisson Hall is named in his honor
12 William Kirwan 1998–20021938–The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity is named in his honor
int Edward H. Jennings (interim)20021937–2019Jennings Hall is named in his honor
13 Karen A. Holbrook 2002–20071942–
int Joseph A. Alutto (interim)20071942–
14 E. Gordon Gee 2007–20131944–
int Joseph A. Alutto (interim)2013–20141942–
15 Michael V. Drake 2014–20201951– Drake Performance and Event Center is not named in his honor [5]
16 Kristina M. Johnson 2020–20231957–
intPeter Mohler (acting)2023
17 Walter E. Carter Jr. 2024–1959–

Presidents by tenure

YearsNameTerm(s)
26 William Oxley Thompson 1899–1925
16 Novice G. Fawcett 1956–1972
16 Howard L. Bevis 1940–1956
14 E. Gordon Gee 1990–1998; 2007–2013
13 George W. Rightmire 1925–1938
12 William H. Scott 1883–1895
10 Edward H. Jennings 1981–1990, 2002 (interim)
9 Harold L. Enarson 1972–1981
6 Michael V. Drake 2014–2020
5 Karen A. Holbrook 2002–2007
4 James H. Canfield 1895–1899
3 William E. Kirwan 1998–2002
3 Kristina M. Johnson 2020–2023
3 Edward Orton, Sr. 1878–1881
2 Joseph A. Alutto (interim)2007; 2013–2014
2 Walter Q. Scott 1881–1883
2 William McPherson (acting)1938–1940
1 John R. Sisson (interim)1997–1998

Notes or references

  1. Berdahl, Robert M. (October 5, 1998). "Discussion of "Flagship Universities" by UC-Berkeley Chancellor Berdahl". University of California, Berkeley. Archived from the original on May 11, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  2. "Ohio State president's first week to be packed with meetings". Dispatch.com. July 1, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  3. Baird, Nathan; clevel; .com (2020-06-03). "SUNY Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson to be next Ohio State University President: Reports". cleveland. Retrieved 2020-06-03.
  4. "Peter L. and Clara M. Scott Gift Supports New Mechanical Engineering Building". Ohio State News. May 15, 2003. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  5. "History of Drake Performance Center". Ohio State University. Retrieved June 3, 2020.

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