Education heavyweight E. Gordon Gee is making a homecoming to Ohio State University, signing on for a one-year foray into the world of academic advising, as announced earlier. The former two-term president of Ohio State, alongside stints at Vanderbilt, Brown, the University of Colorado, and West Virginia University, is no stranger to the ins and outs of university leadership.
Gee is stepping into this advisory role during a break from his long tenure at West Virginia University, having just wrapped an eleven-year presidency. In a move that speaks to his dedication to higher education as well as to Ohio State in its endeavor, he said, “Ohio State has played an extraordinary role in my life as have the people of Ohio, and to be able to serve the university in an advisory capacity is a great privilege,” in a statement obtained by OSU news. He'll be reporting directly to Executive Vice President and Provost Ravi V. Bellamkonda, who's clearly pleased with this decision, welcoming Gee's return and the insights he's bound to bring to the table.
The plan for Gee's tenure includes residencies at the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, the Moritz College of Law, and the Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture, and Society, where he will interact with faculty and engage with students – sharing wisdom, participating in classroom discussions, and spearheading public engagements, and given his prolific career and extensive bibliography on the subject of public higher education, his experience in this realm is, unquestionably, unmatched.
Ohio State University is aiming high with initiatives targeting student success, faculty support, and impactful academic programs and having Gee onboard is a strategic coup; President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. echoed this sentiment, stating “We have an exciting vision for Ohio State to define the future of higher education, and we can only benefit from having experienced leadership voices around the table,” according to OSU news. Gee's collaboration is envisioned to be a substantial part of driving Ohio State forward in fulfilling its land-grant mission.
Throughout his career Gee has not only presided over universities but also contributed to broader educational governance, his current roles include serving on the Board of Trustees of the National 4-H Council and the National Executive Board of Scouting America and is additionally part of the Center for Economic Development (CED) Task Force on Building a More Civil and Just Society and an inaugural member of the Education Advisory Board (EAB) Presidents Advisory Council. This engagement at Ohio State is but the latest chapter in a storied career characterized by service to academic institutions and their wider communities.
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