Permanent dean-director of OSU-Newark named

COLUMBUS -- Executive Vice President and Provost Barbara R. Snyder has recommended to President Karen A. Holbrook the appointment of William L. MacDonald to the permanent position as dean and director of The Ohio State University at Newark, subject to approval of Ohio State’s Board of Trustees on July 9.

MacDonald and Bonnie L. Coe, vice president and dean of faculty at Central Ohio Technical College (COTC), which is co-located with the OSU-Newark campus, have provided interim leadership of the campuses since late March, following the departure of Anne C. Federlein, former president of both institutions. Coe will continue on as leader of the COTC campus.

“Dr. MacDonald’s leadership skills and proven record as an outstanding academic administrator made him the right choice to remain at the helm at OSU-Newark, and I look forward to working with him as he assumes his permanent responsibilities,” Holbrook said.

Prior to his appointment as interim dean and director, MacDonald was academic dean and director of the honors program and has been a faculty member in sociology at the Newark campus since 1992. He holds a bachelor’s degree in interpersonal and public communication, and a master’s degree and doctorate in sociology from Bowling Green State University.

“Being asked to serve as dean and director is an incredible honor for me,” MacDonald said. “We have great faculty, staff and students, as well as tremendous community support, and I look forward to our successful future.”

Snyder said the OSU-Newark campus community strongly supported the naming of MacDonald as the permanent dean and director. Paddi Kutz, chair of the OSU-Newark board of trustees, said the board also favored MacDonald’s selection. “We are pleased with his positive leadership and look forward to continued collaboration with COTC,” she said.

Sarah Wallace, incoming chair of the COTC board, agreed, saying that MacDonald’s “understanding of the individual missions and collaborative opportunities for our institutions will be invaluable as we move forward.”

Snyder said both she and President Holbrook support Coe’s recent appointment as COTC president. “Our boards remain firmly committed to continuing our cooperative partnership and cost-sharing arrangements that have served both institutions very well. Dr. MacDonald and Dr. Coe will continue to be excellent partners for their institutions and the Newark-area community.”

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