List of presidents of Ohio State University

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President of the
Ohio State University
AppointerBoard of Trustees
Term lengthNo term limit
Inaugural holderEdward Orton, Sr
WebsiteOffice 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 The 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 chancellor of State University of New York, will be taking over as the 21st president. She will be the first member of the LGBT community to openly serve in the position.[3]

Presidents of Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College[]

President Term Life
Edward Orton, Sr. 1873-1878 1829-1899

Presidents of The Ohio State University[]

# Name Term Life Notes
1 Edward Orton, Sr. 1878–1881 1829–1899 Orton Hall is named in his honor
2 Walter Q. Scott 1881-1883 1845–1917
3 William H. Scott 1883–1895 1840–1937 Three 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 1895–1899 1847–1909 Canfield Residence Hall is named in his honor
5 William Oxley Thompson 1899–1925 1855–1933 William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library and statue named in his honor
6 George W. Rightmire 1925–1938 1868–1952 Rightmire Hall is named in his honor
7 William McPherson (acting) 1938–1940 1864–1951 McPherson Lab is named in his honor
8 Howard L. Bevis 1940–1956 1885–1968 Bevis Hall is named in his honor
9 Novice G. Fawcett 1956–1972 1909–1998 The Fawcett Center is named in his honor.
10 Harold L. Enarson 1972–1981 1919–2006 Enarson Classroom is named in his honor
11 Edward H. Jennings 1981–1990 1937–2019 Jennings Hall is named in his honor
12 E. Gordon Gee 1990–1998 1944–
13 John Richard Sisson (acting) 1997–1998 1936– Sisson Hall is named in his honor
14 William Kirwan 1998–2002 1938– The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity is named in his honor
15 Edward H. Jennings (interim) 2002 1937–2019 Jennings Hall is named in his honor
16 Karen A. Holbrook 2002–2007 1942–
17 Joseph A. Alutto (interim) 2007 1942–
18 E. Gordon Gee 2007–2013 1944–
19 Joseph A. Alutto (interim) 2013–2014 1942–
20 Michael V. Drake 2014–2020 1951– Drake Performance and Event Center is not named in his honor [5]
21 Kristina M. Johnson 2020– 1957–

Presidents by tenure[]

Years Name Term(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 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 February 7, 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". The Ohio State University. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
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