New Ohio State University trustee appointed by Taft

COLUMBUS – Walden W. O’Dell of NORTH CANTON has been appointed by Gov. Bob Taft to The Ohio State University Board of Trustees for a nine-year term ending 2012. He replaces James F. Patterson of Chesterland, whose term expired May 13.

O’Dell is chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of Diebold, Inc., the leading global provider of integrated financial self-service delivery systems and services.
Diebold, with headquarters in Canton, employs more than 13,000 associates with representation in more than 88 countries worldwide.

O’Dell says it is an honor to be appointed as a trustee by Gov. Taft.

“The education levels achieved by the citizens of Ohio are very important,” O’Dell said. “Because The Ohio State University is the premier institution in the state, it needs to set a pace for excellence in higher education. We want to be one of the top 10 public institutions in the country, and I look forward to assisting President Karen Holbrook with her vision for achieving this goal.

“Many lives in the State of Ohio are touched by The Ohio State University. The students attending college now will be the leaders of the future, so it’s important to maintain the highest standards in education,” he said.

Prior to joining Diebold, O’Dell held a series of high-level positions during a 33-year career at Emerson, running operations on five continents, including the manufacturing, distribution and sales of a variety of electronic equipment and service businesses. He was president of the Liebert Corporation, a subsidiary of Emerson, in Columbus, where he led the transformation of the company from a $400 million domestic hardware producer to a $1.1 billion global leader in network computers and telecom support equipment and services.

O’Dell is a member of the board of directors of the Columbus Association of Performing Arts and the Canton Cultural Center for the Arts, a member of the board of the United Way of Central Stark County, a member of the Stark County Development Board, a member of the board of trustees of the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges, a member of the Ohio Business Roundtable and is a national trustee for Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

An active supporter of The Ohio State University, he is a member of The Ohio State University Advocates and is a lifetime associate alumnus of Ohio State. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from St. Louis University as well as a master’s degree in business administration from Stanford University.

Governor Taft also appointed Emily M. Quick of REYNOLDSBURG as the new student representative to the Board of Trustees for a term ending May 13, 2005. She replaces Joseph Shultz of DeGraff as one of the two non-voting student trustees. A business administration and marketing major, Quick is majoring in business administration and marketing. She is a National Collegiate Scholar and a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta freshman honorary society and the Ohio State Marching Band.