Ohio State president elected to national leadership position

COLUMBUS – The Association of American Universities (AAU) elected Ohio State University President Karen A. Holbrook to its Executive Committee at the organization's fall conference held recently at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Holbrook will serve a two-year term through 2007 on the 11-member committee, which is responsible for approving the AAU's annual work plan, budget, and governing policies.

AAU consists of 62 leading research universities in the United States and Canada, including Ohio State, which recently was ranked by the National Science Foundation among the top 10 public research universities in the country based on total research expenditures.

Nils Hasselmo, president of AAU, said Holbrook has made significant contributions to the association and is highly respected by her peers.

“AAU appreciates Karen's willingness to serve on the Executive Committee,” Hasselmo said. “In this role, she will have additional opportunities to be an advocate for the research and education conducted at our nation's leading research universities.”

AAU was originally founded in 1900 to strengthen and standardize doctoral programs in the United States. Its current mission is to provide a forum for the development and implementation of policies promoting strong programs in scholarship, academic research, and all levels of higher education.

In addition to the AAU appointment, Holbrook also serves on the Board of Directors for the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, American Council on Education, Institute for International Education and the ACT. Additionally, she serves on the Executive Committee of the Business-Higher Education Forum and is a member of the National Innovation Initiative Leadership Council for the Council on Competitiveness.