Holbrook officially becomes Ohio State’s 13th president

COLUMBUS – Dr. Karen A. Holbrook, the 13th president of The Ohio State University whose appointment is official today, says she is committed to the university’s Academic Plan and looks forward to working with the entire campus to achieve academic excellence.

“During the transition that began with my selection, I have had the opportunity to meet a number of faculty and staff, talk about our university’s many strengths and consider how we can achieve the academic excellence that is the basis of the Academic Plan,” Holbrook says in an email to the campus today. “The Plan is impressive, and I am firmly committed to the vision, strategies and initiatives that it embodies. Together, we can become the truly world-class university that the Plan envisions.”

Holbrook says listening to the Ohio State community is vital to being an effective university president.

“I have to know what goes on at Ohio State to be of value in an external world,” Holbrook said. “I want to spend as much time as possible getting to know people, programs, and what is happening on campus, and learning who to talk to, where to get information, and just being a part of campus.”

Ohio State’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved the appointment of Holbrook, 59, at a special meeting on July 25. She was recommended by the 18-member Presidential Search Committee led by Board Chair James F. Patterson.

“We stated at the beginning of our search process that we wanted to find the best person possible to advance Ohio State’s academic excellence and to succeed in positioning the university among the world’s truly great public teaching and research institutions,” Patterson said in announcing Holbrook’s appointment in July. “In Dr. Holbrook, we have found that person and have every confidence that her experience and leadership will create the momentum necessary to fulfill the vision and aspirations outlined in our Academic Plan.”

At Georgia, Holbrook played a key role in developing Georgia’s Strategic Plan, analogous to the Academic Plan, which among other things includes a strong commitment to diversity and sets ambitious diversity goals.

Holbrook says many initiatives in Ohio State’s Academic Plan can be expanded.

“There are many good ideas in the Plan and my thought, in going through it, is that behind every one of these strategies and initiatives is probably an entirely new subset of much more we can do,” Holbrook said.

Holbrook says she looks forward to her tenure at Ohio State.

“When I decided to begin considering opportunities away from the University of Georgia, I had one objective: to find the right fit for the final goal of my academic career – to serve as university president,” Holbrook said. “I feel so fortunate to have come to this university. Ohio State is a perfect fit for me.”

Holbrook’s annual salary at Ohio State will be $325,000.