New leases to spur infrastructure development in Carmenton

The Ohio State University Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved the next steps in the planning and development of the Carmenton district, including new leases that are expected to propel the area’s growth.

Trustees approved several items regarding Carmenton, the university’s innovation district, including a master agreement that Ohio State will join between the university-affiliated Science and Technology Campus Corporation (SciTech) and real estate company Tishman Speyer to develop its next phase.

Ohio State’s board also reviewed a ground lease from Ohio State to SciTech, allowing SciTech to develop infrastructure to expand the district and sublease two vertical development parcels to Tishman Speyer for mixed-use development.

Carmenton will eventually add residential areas, green spaces, connector trails, restaurants and entertainment venues.

On Tuesday, members of the Athletics committee heard affirmation from Ross Bjork, senior vice president and Wolfe Foundation-Eugene Smith Endowed athletics director, that Ohio State will continue to support 36 varsity sports and all varsity sports will continue to offer scholarship opportunities, reiterating a public commitment made by President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. during his recent investiture ceremony.

Trustees on Wednesday also approved the following administrative personnel appointments:

• Margaret Young, dean and director, Lima campus
• Jason Opal, dean and director, Mansfield campus
• Jennifer Schlueter, dean and director, Marion campus
• Matthew Smith, dean and director, Newark campus
• Chris Kabourek, senior vice president, Administration and Planning 
• Ravi Bellamkonda, executive vice president and provost

The board also approved the extension of Karla Zadnik’s appointment as dean of the College of Optometry from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, and the interim appointments of Ryan Goerlitz and Bryan Pyles as co-leaders, Financial Services, at the Wexner Medical Center.

The following actions were taken during the full board meeting:

Creation of a Master of Cybersecurity and Digital Trust approved
Trustees approved a new master’s degree, with the goal to supply highly skilled individuals to the cybersecurity workforce in Ohio and the country. The program will be offered in partnership with the Institute for Cybersecurity and Digital Trust and the College of Engineering’s Professional and Distance Education Program.

FY24 Progress Report on Ohio Task Force on Affordability and Efficiency in Higher Education recommendations approved
The board approved Ohio State’s FY24 progress report on the Ohio Task Force on Affordability and Efficiency in Higher Education recommendations, which will be submitted to the chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education.

Football ticket prices and golf course dues and fees approved
Trustees approved student football ticket prices for fiscal year 2026 and golf course membership dues for calendar year 2025.

Charter trustee appointment approved 
Trustees approved the appointment of Amy Chronis as a charter trustee to the Board of Trustees.

Resolutions in Memoriam approved

• Charles “Chuck” F. Adams Jr., professor emeritus in the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, who died on July 24, 2024, at age 79.
• Barbara Ann Brahm, associate professor emeritus in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, who died on April 24, 2024.
• Harry Russell Conrad, professor emeritus in the Department of Dairy Science, who died on June 2, 2024, at age 98.
• Jo Ann Davidson, former member of the Board of Trustees, who died on Oct. 25, 2024, at age 97.
• Richard L. Dobec, professor emeritus in the Department of Horse Production and Management, who died on April 30, 2024, at age 87.
• Ronald B. “Ron” Hammond, professor emeritus in the Department of Entomology, who died on April 26, 2024, at age 73.
• Lowell R. “Skip” Nault, professor emeritus in the Department of Entomology, who died on Nov. 6, 2024, at age 84.
• Albert Herman Soloway, dean and professor emeritus in the College of Pharmacy, who died on Sept. 7, 2024, at age 99.
• Anna O. Soter, professor emerita in the College of Education and Human Ecology, who died on Oct. 14, 2024, at age 77.
• T. Davis Sydnor, professor emeritus of urban forestry in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, who died on Oct. 12, 2023.
• Paul L. Wright, associate professor emeritus in the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, who died on Aug. 17, 2024, at age 85.
• Frank J. Zidonis, faculty emeritus in the College of Education and Human Ecology, who died on June 16, 2024, at age 94.

Audited consolidated financial statements to the Auditor of State approved 
Trustees approved the submittal of the university’s draft audited consolidated financial statements to the Auditor of State.

Amendments to the Rules of the University Faculty approved
The board approved amendments to the Rules of the University Faculty regarding Dean’s List recognition and the Council of Deans.

Personnel actions approved
Trustees approved the following appointments and extensions:

• Mohamed Abdel-Rahman as professor (Irene D. Hirsch Chair in Ophthalmology) in the College of Medicine for a term running from Dec. 1, 2024, through June 30, 2028.
• Richard Bruno as professor (Carol S. Kennedy Professorship in Human Nutrition) in the College of Education and Human Ecology for a term running from Aug. 15, 2024, through Aug. 14, 2029.
• Ginny Bumgardner as professor (Olga Jonasson, MD Professorship in Surgery) in the College of Medicine for a term running from Nov. 1, 2024, through June 30, 2028.
• Cynthia Carnes as professor and senior associate vice president (ENGIE-Axium Endowed Chair) in the Office of Academic Affairs for a term running from Sept. 1, 2024, through Aug. 31, 2029.
• Anne Co as professor (Dow Professorship in Chemistry) in the College of Arts and Sciences for a term running from Aug. 15, 2024, through Aug. 14, 2029.
• Ana-Paula Correia as professor (The Ted and Lois Cyphert Distinguished Professorship in Teacher Education) in the College of Education and Human Ecology for a term running from Aug. 15, 2024, through Aug. 14, 2029.
• Matthew Corriere as professor (The Luther M. Keith Professorship in Surgery) in the College of Medicine for a term running from Nov. 1, 2024, through June 30, 2028.
• Jodi Ford as professor (Grayce M. Sills Endowed Professorship in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing) in the College of Nursing for a term running from Nov. 22, 2024, through Nov. 21, 2029.
• Sarah Hayford as professor (Robert Lazarus Professorship in Population Studies) in the College of Arts and Sciences for a term running from Sept. 1, 2024, through June 30, 2029.
• Benjamin Hoffmann as professor (Designated Professorship in French and Francophone Literature) in the College of Arts and Sciences for a term running from Sept. 1, 2024, through June 30, 2029.
• Ezekiel Johnson-Halperin as professor (ENGIE-Axium Endowed Professor) in the Office of Academic Affairs for a term running from Sept. 1, 2024, through Aug. 31, 2029.
• John Maharry as acting dean and director at the Ohio State Marion campus for a term running from running from Jan. 1, 2025, through March 16, 2025.
• Winston Thompson as associate professor (The William H. and Laceryjette V. Casto Professorship in Interprofessional Education) in the College of Education and Human Ecology for a term running from Aug. 15, 2024, through Aug. 14, 2029.

Reappointments for the following:

• Rafael Bruschweiler as professor (Ohio Research Scholar in Chemistry) in the College of Arts and Sciences for a term running from Sept. 1, 2023, through Aug. 30, 2028.
• Gregory Caldeira as Distinguished University Professor (Ann and Darrell Dreher Chair in Political Communication and Policy Thinking) in the College of Arts and Sciences for a term running from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2028.
• James Landers as associate professor-clinical (The Harold L. and Audrey P. Enarson Professorship in Public Policy) in the John Glenn College of Public Affairs for a term running from Aug. 15, 2025, through Aug. 14, 2028.
• Maria Palazzi as professor (Ohio Eminent Scholar in Art and Design Technology) in the College of Arts and Sciences for a term running from Aug. 1, 2024, through July 31, 2029.
• Carmen Winant as professor (Roy Lichtenstein Chair of Studio Art) in the College of Arts and Sciences for a term running from Aug. 15, 2024, through Aug. 14, 2028.

The extensions of appointments for the following:

• Damon Jaggars as vice provost and dean of University Libraries in the Office of Academic Affairs for a term running from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027.
• Bernadette Melnyk as professor (Helene Fuld Health Trust Endowed Professorship for Evidence-based Practice in Nursing and Healthcare) in the College of Nursing for a term running from Nov. 1, 2024, through Jan. 10, 2025.
• Rustin Moore as dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine for a term running from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027.

Degrees and certificates for autumn term 2024 approved
The board approved degrees and certificates to be conferred on Dec. 15, 2024, for students who have completed the requirements.

Professional services and construction contracts approved
The board authorized the university to enter into or increase professional service and construction contracts for the following projects:

• Airport planning services
  Professional services totaling $300,000, to be paid for with partner funds.
• College facility master plans FY25
  Professional services totaling $1 million, to be paid for with university funds.
• 1922 Club
  Professional services totaling $1.5 million, to be paid for with auxiliary funds.
• Bus testing facility
  Professional services and construction totaling $1.5 million, to be paid for with partner funds.
• Doan Hall roof replacement
  Professional services and construction totaling $14 million, to be paid for with auxiliary funds.
• Parks Hall third floor lab renovation
  Professional services and construction totaling $4.3 million, to be paid for with university funds.
• Waterman Lab Multispecies Animal Learning Center
  Professional services and construction totaling $1.5 million, to be paid for with partner funds.
• James Outpatient retail pharmacy and infusion buildout
  Professional services and construction totaling $4.2 million, to be paid for with auxiliary funds.
• Building envelope renewal FY25-26
  Professional services and construction totaling $7 million, to be paid for with state funds.
• Electrical renovations FY25-26
  Professional services and construction totaling $4.4 million, to be paid for with state funds.
• Elevator renovations F25-26
  Professional services and construction totaling $7.5 million, to be paid for with state funds.
• HVAC/control system renewal FY25-26
  Professional services and construction totaling $7.2 million, to be paid for with state funds.
• Roof renewal FY25-26
  Professional services and construction totaling $8.5 million, to be paid for with state funds.

James Outpatient advanced imaging
Professional services and construction totaling $9.4 million, to be paid for with auxiliary funds.

Waterman Lab infrastructure project
Professional services and construction totaling $6.9 million, to be paid for with university funds.

Joint use agreements approved
Trustees approved joint use agreements between Ohio State and the Mid-Ohio Food Collective for $500,000; Ohio State and the PAST Foundation for $300,000; and Ohio State and the Mercy Health-Springfield Regional Medical Center for $750,000.

University Foundation report approved
The board approved the report as of Sept. 30, 2024, which includes: the establishment of one designated professorship: the Designated Professorship in French and Francophone Literature; two endowed chairs: the Roger E. Kirk Endowed Chair in Quantitative Psychology and the Carter V. Findley Chair in Ottoman and Turkish History; one endowed fellowship: the Roger E. Kirk Endowed Fellowship in Quantitative Psychology; five scholarships as part of the Scarlet and Gray Advantage Endowed Matching Gift Program and 23 additional named endowed funds; the revision of 11 named endowed funds; and the closure of one named endowed fund.

Naming of internal spaces
Trustees approved the following namings:

• The blood draw lab (X110C) in the Outpatient Care New Albany facility, located at 6100 North Hamilton Road, as the Dr. Michael B. and Joyce Y. Hallet Lab.
• The following internal spaces in the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Center, located at 1645 Neil Ave.:
  • Generous gift from the Medical Class of 1971 in honor of George Paulson, MD (room 132)
  • Generous gift from the College of Medicine Class of 1999 in memory of Dr. John Stang (room 001)
  • Generous gift from the Medical Class of 1975 in memory of Margaret Hines, PhD (room 018)
  • Generous gift in memory of Christine Walker (room 015N)