English professor will give summer commencement address

David O. Frantz, professor emeritus of English and a respected administrator, has been selected to deliver the commencement address at Ohio State’s summer quarter commencement.


Approximately 1,900 students will receive degrees at the ceremony, which begins at 1 p.m. on Sunday, August 28, at the Jerome Schottenstein Center.

Frantz joined the university in 1968 and is a noted expert on the Renaissance era. Author of Festum Voluptatis: A Study of Renaissance Erotica and of articles on Renaissance culture, Spenser, and the relationship of Italy and England in the Renaissance.

Frantz rose through departmental ranks and also held a number of administrative posts. Most notably, he served as Secretary of the Board of Trustees from 2002-11 – the first faculty member to ever hold the position. During that time, the board’s membership expanded from nine to 18, which kept Frantz busy managing the calendar and workload for members.

Frantz also served as associate (and for a year, acting) dean of the College of Humanities (1988-93). He twice chaired the University’s Athletic Council (1990 and again in 2000), and he has served on two presidential search committees and one head football coach search. He also served as the academic liaison with the Department of Athletics (2001-03).

For his work in the English Department, he was honored with the Department of English Undergraduate Professor of the Year (2002), Arts and Sciences Honors Faculty Service Award (2000) and Faculty Award for Distinguished University Service (1998), and the Alumni Distinguished Teaching Award (1975).

Frantz earned his bachelor’s degree at Princeton University, his master’s degree at the University of Michigan and his doctoral degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968. He officially retired from the university in June, 2011 after more than 40 years of service.

He plans to teach a course next spring related to the "Stand up for Shakespeare Program," and also oversee the university's special partnership with the UK’s Royal Shakespeare Company.

In addition, during the commencement ceremony, Ohio State will award the honorary Doctor of Fine Arts to Lino Tagliapietra, an Italian glass artist.

The university will also present Distinguished Service Awards to Tami Longaberger, chair of the board and CEO of The Longaberger Company and former chair of the university Board of Trustees; and William Lhota, president and CEO of the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA).