Frantz to be recommended as secretary to Board of Trustees

COLUMBUS – The Personnel Committee of The Ohio State University Board of Trustees is recommending the appointment of David O. Frantz, a professor of English and the academic liaison with the Department of Athletics, as secretary of the board. Trustees will vote on the appointment at their next meeting Dec. 6.

Frantz will work as the liaison between the Board of Trustees and the President’s Office and assist with the board’s role in university governance. Among other responsibilities, he will monitor work of the board’s committees, oversee the planning agenda and represent the board to various constituencies.

In announcing the recommendation, Board Chair James F. Patterson said Frantz’s extensive experience serving Ohio State as a professor and an administrator makes him the ideal candidate for the position.

“David’s experiences in the university’s academic and administrative sectors have prepared him well for this position. I'm very confident of his abilities,” Patterson said.

The board’s administrative and organizational activities will continue to be handled by the team led by Maureen Sharkey, who will be promoted to associate secretary of the board. She will continue to be assisted by Lucy Gandert, administrative associate, and Suzanne Blake, office associate.

Frantz began his Ohio State career in 1968 as an assistant professor of English. Since then, he has served as acting dean for the College of Humanities and associate dean for Faculty Affairs and Research in the college.

Frantz has served on numerous university committees, including the search committees for Presidents Karen A. Holbrook and William E. Kirwan, as well as football Coach Jim Tressel. For the College of Humanities, he served as chair of the Budget and Priorities Committee and the Faculty Salary Appeals Advisory Committee. He was also an honors adviser for the Department of English and served on the University Honors Advisory Committee.

Frantz said it is an honor to be recommended for the role.

“I believe my experience will allow me to bring a broad perspective to the position,” he said. “It is a wonderful opportunity for me to serve the entire university community.”

He said he is looking forward to working with Patterson and Holbrook on a regular basis.

“A key part of this position is to work with the board and the university administration,” he said. “I am very excited to play such a role in the governance of the university.”

In addition to his new responsibilities, Frantz will keep his status as a tenured full professor in the Department of English and will continue to teach one course per year. He is an expert on the Renaissance era.

At Ohio State, Frantz has received numerous honors and awards, including the 2002 Department of English Undergraduate Professor of the Year, the Arts and Sciences Honors Faculty Service Award, the Faculty Award for Distinguished University Service and the Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching. He also was elected to Phi Beta Kappa at Princeton University.

Frantz earned his Ph.D. in English from the University of Pennsylvania. He also earned a bachelor of arts degree with honors in English from Princeton University and a master’s degree from the University of Michigan.

If approved, Frantz’s annual salary as board secretary will be $140,000.