Governing Boards/University Administration
A listing of the University’s Board of Trustee members also is available online at www.ohio.edu/trustees/members
Click on a link to be taken to the entry below.
Governing Boards
Ohio University Board of Trustees
Dave R. Scholl, Chair
Janelle Coleman, Vice Chair
Steve Casciani
Cary Cooper
N. Victor Goodman
Diane Smullen
Peggy Viehweger
Matt Evans
John P. Gainor, national trustee
David Pidwell, national trustee
Casey Christopher, alumni representative
Austin McClain ,
student trustee
Justin Kelley , student trustee
Officers of the Board
David R. Moore, Board Secretary
Deborah Shaffer, Treasurer
Faculty Representatives
Sarah Helfrich, Faculty Representative
Susan Williams, Faculty Representative
Ohio Department of Higher Education
The Ohio Department of Higher Education (formerly known as the Ohio Board of Regents) is a Cabinet-level agency for the Governor of the State of Ohio that oversees higher education for the state. The agency’s main responsibilities include authorizing and approving new degree programs, managing state-funded financial aid programs and developing and advocating policies to maximize higher education’s contributions to the state and its citizens.
The chancellor is a member of the Governor’s Cabinet, the Chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education advises the Governor on higher education policy and implements the Governor’s plan to make college more affordable for Ohioans and drive the state’s economic advancement through the public universities and colleges of Ohio, the state’s network of public universities, regional campuses, community colleges, and adult workforce and adult education centers. The Chancellor is responsible for carrying out the responsibilities of the agency, including authorizing and approving new degree programs and managing state-funded financial aid programs.
University Administration
Administrative Officers
M. Duane Nellis, Ph.D. President
Chaden Djalali, Ph.D. Executive Vice President and Provost
Deborah Shaffer, B.S. Vice President for Finance and Administration
Nico Karagosian, M.S., M.B.A. Vice President for University Advancement and President and CEO of The Ohio University Foundation
Jason Pina, Ed.D Vice President for Student Affairs
Gigi Secuban, Ph.D. Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion
Joseph Shields, Ph.D. Vice President for Research and Creative Activity; Dean, Graduate College
Eric Burchard, B.A. Director of Government Relations
John J. Biancamano, J.D. General Counsel
Jennifer Kirksey, M.A. Chief of Staff
Jim Schaus, M.A.A. Director of Athletics
Jenny Hall-Jones, Ph.D Senior Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
Christopher Ament, M.B.A. Interim Chief Information Officer
Colleges and Academic Programs
Florenz Plassmann, Ph.D. Dean, College of Arts and Sciences (assumes duties July 15, 2019)
Hugh Sherman, Ph.D. Dean, College of Business
Scott Titsworth, Ph.D. Dean, Scripps College of Communication
Renée A. Middleton, Ph.D. Dean, Patton College of Education
Mei Wei, Ph.D. Dean, Russ College of Engineering and Technology (assumes duties July 15, 2019)
Matthew Shaftel, Ph.D Dean, College of Fine Arts
Randy Leite, Ph.D. Dean, College of Health Sciences and Professions
Donal Skinner, Ph.D. Dean, Honors Tutorial College (assumes duties July 15, 2019)
Elizabeth Sayrs, Ph.D.
Dean, University College
Senior Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Student Success
Kenneth H. Johnson, D.O. Executive Dean, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Neil Romanosky, M.L.S. Dean, University Libraries (assumes duties September 1, 2019)
Mark Weinberg, Ph.D. Founding Dean, Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs
Lorna Jean Edmonds, Ph.D. Vice Provost for Global Affairs
Nicole Pennington, Ph.D. Interim Executive Dean for Regional Higher Education (assumes duties July 1, 2019)
Dean, Ohio University Southern Campus, Ironton
William J. Burke, D.O., FACOFP Dean, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dublin Campus
Isaac J. Kirstein, D.O., FACOI Dean, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Cleveland Campus
Jeremy Webster, Ph.D. Interim Dean, Ohio University Eastern Campus, St. Clairsville
James M. Smith, Ph.D. Dean, Ohio University Lancaster Campus
Dywayne Nicely, Ph.D. Interim Dean, Ohio University Chillicothe Campus
Jeremy Webster, Ph.D. Dean, Ohio University Zanesville Campus
Executive Academic Staff
Elizabeth Sayrs, Ph.D.
Dean, University College
Senior Vice Provost
for Undergraduate Education and Student Success
Bradley Cohen, Ph.D .
Senior Vice Provost for Instructional Innovation
Craig Cornell, M.Ed. Senior Vice Provost for Strategic Enrollment Management
John Day, Ph.D. Associate Provost for Academic Budget and Planning
Howard Dewald, Ph.D. Associate Provost for Faculty and Academic Planning
Loralyn Taylor, Ph.D. Interim Associate Provost for Institutional Research and Effectiveness
Laura Myers, J.D. Chief of Staff for the Executive Vice President and Provost
Kerri Griffin, J.D .
Director of University Equity and Civil Rights and Title IX Coordinator
Mac Stricklen, M.Ed. University Ombudsperson