Distinguished University Professors honored by Ohio State Board of Trustees

Distinguished University Professors honored by Ohio State Board of Trustees

Board members also laud President Bellamkonda for his early tenure's successes

The Ohio State University Board of Trustees named six professors to receive the university's highest faculty honor.

Trustees on Thursday honored each scholar as a Distinguished University Professor. The permanent honorific title is awarded annually to tenure-track professors who have been at Ohio State for at least five years and have demonstrated truly exceptional records in teaching, research, scholarly or creative work, and service. Distinguished University Professors become members of the President's and Provost's Advisory Committee and are awarded a $30,000 one-time grant to support their academic work. The university has awarded just 78 faculty since the creation of the honor in 1987.

The recipients are:

• Gail E. Besner, H. William Clatworthy Jr. Professor of Surgery, College of Medicine
• Shan-Lu Liu, professor, College of Veterinary Medicine
• Alan Luo, professor, Donald D. Glower Chair in Engineering, College of Engineering
• Giorgio Rizzoni, professor, Ford Motor Company Chair in ElectroMechanical Systems, College of Engineering
• Brent Sohngen, Distinguished Professor of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences
• Claudia Turro, Dr. Melvin L. Morris Endowed Professorship in Inorganic Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences

"Academic excellence is only possible because of our people," President Ravi V. Bellamkonda told trustees on Thursday. "World-class research, exceptional scholarship, dedicated service - we have lots of reasons to be incredibly grateful for and proud of our distinguished faculty."

Trustees also reviewed the tenure of Bellamkonda, praising his progress on goals including academic excellence, integrating AI into undergraduates' academic experience, and driving transformative research and innovation. Bellamkonda was named the 18th president of Ohio State in March.

"You do a great job articulating a really compelling vision for the kind of university that we can be and ought to be," Board Chair Jeff M. S. Kaplan said. "The urgency, enthusiasm and action that you bring to this role, we believe, are exactly what we need."

The board agreed to a 3% adjustment to Bellamkonda's base salary as part of the university's Annual Merit Compensation Process, and an annual performance award for achieving agreed-upon goals of $420,000, or 30% of his base salary.

Trustees approved the president's fiscal year 2027 goals, focused on inspiring, innovating and empowering people across Ohio and beyond, and building upon the themes of the Education for Citizenship 2035 strategic plan.

The goals are:

• Academic excellence, which includes enhancing Ohio State's signature undergraduate experience, advancing life-changing research, cultivating dynamic people and leaders, and bolstering strong colleges and programs.
• Healthcare excellence, in which Ohio State will help to reshape and transform healthcare by providing world-class care for every person, pursuing relentless innovation to improve lives, and being the best place to work and learn.
• Athletic excellence, a space in which the university is positioned to define the future of college sports.

The following actions were taken during the full board meeting:

Establishment of academic programs approved
The board approved the establishment of the Bachelor of Science major in biotech science and the Bachelor of Arts major in civics, law and leadership. The major in biotech science addresses a growing workforce need within Ohio's rapidly expanding biotechnology and life sciences sector, and the civics, law and leadership major offered by the Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture, and Society advances Ohio State's land-grant mission by preparing students to participate thoughtfully and lead effectively in civic life through the study of history, constitutionalism, law and leadership.

Revision of program curricula approved
Trustees approved revisions to the classics major, comparative studies major, natural resource management major and the environmental policy and decision-making major.

Honorary degree approved
The board approved the awarding of the honorary degrees for the following:

• Douglas Laycock, Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
• Dianne McIntyre, Doctor of Arts, honoris causa

Resolutions in Memoriam

• Edward "Ned" J. Behrman, who died on March 7. He was professor emeritus in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences.

• R. Bruce Curry, professor emeritus in the Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

• James R. "Jim" Helt, who died on June 15. He was an associate professor emeritus in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

• Floyd L. Herum, who died on Jan. 12. He was professor emeritus in the Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

• Michael Jon Kindred, professor emeritus in the Moritz College of Law and former associate dean.

• Cheryl Lee Krueger, former member of the Board of Trustees, who died on June 13.

• Robert Frederic Lawson, professor emeritus in the College of Education and Human Ecology, who died on Aug. 9, 2025.

• Sheila J. Marion, associate professor emerita in the Department of Dance in the College of Arts and Sciences, who died on June 22.

• Thomas Edgar Noyes, assistant professor emeritus within the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, who died on April 6.

• John D. Ong, former member of the Board of Trustees, who died on June 4.

• Russell "Russ" M. Pitzer, professor emeritus in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences, who died on May 25.

• Richard P. Swenson, professor emeritus in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences, who died on Feb. 20.

Personnel actions approved
Trustees approved the following appointments and reappointments:

Appointments

• Karin Allenspach has been appointed professor (The Endowed Chair in Comparative and Translational Oncology and Biomedical Research) in the College of Veterinary Medicine for a term running from Sept. 1, 2026, through July 31, 2031.
• Natarajan Balasubramanian has been appointed professor (The Robert and Anne Hoyt Fund) at Fisher College of Business for a term running from Sept. 1, 2026, through Aug. 31, 2031.
• Susie Breitenstein has been appointed professor (Centennial Endowed Professor of Nursing) in the College of Nursing for a term running from Aug. 20, 2026, through Aug. 19, 2031.
• Kristi Cheramie has been appointed professor (The Hubert Schmidt Chair in Landscape Architecture) in the College of Engineering for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Edward Dodson has been appointed professor-clinical (The William H. Saunders M.D. Professorship in Otolaryngology) in the College of Medicine for a term running from August 15, 2026, through June 30, 2030.
• Kiely Fletcher has been appointed vice provost for strategic enrollment management in the Office of Academic Affairs effective June 15, 2026.
• Frank Jacobus has been appointed professor and director (Walter H. Kidd Designated Professorship KSA) in the College of Engineering for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Osama Khalil has been appointed associate professor (Dr. Charles Saltzer Professorship in Mathematics) in the College of Arts and Sciences for a term running from Aug. 16, 2027, through Aug. 16, 2032.
• Kami Maddocks has been appointed professor-clinical (Natalie M. Knutsen Professorship) in the College of Medicine for a term running from Sept. 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030.
• Antoinette Marsh has been appointed professor (Endowed Chair in Comparative and Translational Parasitic and Infectious Diseases) in the College of Veterinary Medicine for a term running from Sept. 1, 2026, through July 31, 2031.
• Dustin Mixon has been appointed associate professor (Russell C. Shaw and Lynn B. Shaw Endowed Professorship in Mathematics) in the College of Arts and Sciences for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Nathan Mowery has been appointed professor-clinical (Margaret Bowers Hardymon Professorship in Surgery) in the College of Medicine for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030.
• Michael Neblo has been appointed 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, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Kathy Northern has been appointed associate professor (Joanne Wharton Murphy/Class of 1965 and 1973 Professorship in Law) in the Moritz College of Law for a term running from Aug. 15, 2026, through Aug. 14, 2031.
• Efthimi Parasidis has been appointed professor (The Robert J. Lynn Chair in Law) in the Moritz College of Law for a term running from Aug. 15, 2026, through Aug. 14, 2031.
• Robin Queen has been appointed professor and chair (Bertha Lamme Professorship) in the College of Engineering for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Jeffrey J. Walline has been appointed dean of the College of Optometry from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Balasubramaniam Shanker has been appointed interim dean of the College of Engineering from Aug. 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

Reappointments

• Elizabeth Cooke has been reappointed professor-clinical (Frank C. Woodside III Clinical Professorship of Trial Advocacy) in the Moritz College of Law for a term running from Aug. 15, 2026, through Aug. 14, 2031.
• Monica Cox has been reappointed professor (Distinguished Professor of Engineering) in the College of Engineering for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Laura Dugan has been reappointed professor (Ralph Mershon Designated Professorship of Human Security) in the College of Arts and Sciences for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Cesar Cuauhtemoc Garcia Hernandez has been reappointed professor (Gregory H. Williams Chair in Civil Rights and Civil Liberties) in the Moritz College of Law for a term running from Aug. 15, 2026, through Aug. 14, 2031.
• Andrew Glassman has been reappointed professor and chair (Frank J. Kloenne Chair in Orthopedic Surgery) in the College of Medicine for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028.
• John Horack has been reappointed professor and vice president (Neil A. Armstrong Chair in Aerospace Policy) in the College of Engineering for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Igor Jouline has been reappointed professor (Rod Sharp Professorship in Microbiology) in the College of Arts and Sciences for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Ahmet Kahraman has been reappointed professor (Howard D. Winbigler Designated Professorship) in the College of Engineering for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Sanjay Krishna has been reappointed professor (George R. Smith Chair in Engineering) in the College of Engineering for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Dhabaleswar Kumar has been reappointed professor (Distinguished Professor of Engineering) in the College of Engineering for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Tasha Lewis has been reappointed associate professor-clinical (Nina Mae Mattus Professorship) in the College of Education and Human Ecology for a term running from Aug. 15, 2026, through Aug. 14, 2031.
• Jamie Lipp has been reappointed associate professor-clinical (Mary Fried Endowed Clinical Professorship) in the College of Education and Human Ecology for a term running from Aug. 15, 2026, through Aug. 14, 2031.
• Rama Mallampalli has been reappointed professor and chair (S. Robert Davis Chair of Medicine) in the College of Medicine for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030.
• Matthew Mayhew has been reappointed professor (William Ray and Marie Adamson Flesher Endowed Professor in Educational Administration) in the College of Education and Human Ecology for a term running from Aug. 15, 2026, through Aug. 14, 2031.
• David McComb has been reappointed professor (Ohio Research Scholar in Materials) in the College of Engineering for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Marta Nowak has been reappointed assistant professor (Christos Yessios Endowed Professorship) in the College of Engineering for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• John Nusstein has been reappointed professor (Dr. William J. Meyers Endowed Chair in Endodontics) in the College of Dentistry for a term running from Aug. 15, 2026, through Aug. 14, 2030.
• Phillip Popovich has been reappointed professor and chair (Ray W. Poppleton Research Designated Chair) in the College of Medicine for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030.
• Dongbin Xiu has been reappointed professor (Ohio Eminent Scholar in Scientific Computation) in the College of Arts and Sciences for a term running from Aug. 15, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Ahmed Yousef has been reappointed professor (Virginia Hutchison Bazler and Frank E. Bazler Chair in Food Science) in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Xiaodong Zhang has been reappointed professor (Robert M. Critchfield Professorship in Engineering) in the College of Engineering for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.

Trustees also approved a market compensation adjustment for Jake Wozniak, treasurer, vice president of financial services and innovation and deputy chief financial officer.

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

East Hospital endoscopy expansion and catheter lab
Professional services totaling $3.6 million, to be paid for with auxiliary funds.

Hughes Hall renovation
Professional services totaling $5.2 million, to be paid for with university funds, state funds and partner funds.

Wexner Medical Center community facilities
Professional services totaling $20 million, to be paid for with auxiliary funds.

Ramseyer Hall renovation
Professional services totaling $3.1 million, to be paid for with university funds and state funds.

Research Center deferred maintenance, phase 1
Professional services totaling $4 million, to be paid for with university funds.

Airport capital improvements
Professional services and construction contracts totaling $1.3 million, to be paid for with university funds and partner funds.

Baker Hall portable air conditioning and electrical upgrades
Professional services and construction contracts totaling $4.7 million, to be paid for with auxiliary funds.

Blankenship Hall upgrades
Professional services and construction contracts totaling $1.5 million, to be paid for with university funds and partner funds.

Fawcett Center renovations
Professional services and construction contracts totaling $6.5 million, to be paid for with auxiliary funds.

Howlett Hall deferred maintenance
Professional services and construction contracts totaling $11 million, to be paid for with university funds and grant funds.

Knowlton Hall roof replacement
Professional services and construction contracts totaling $5.6 million, to be paid for with university funds.

North Towers renovations
Professional services and construction contracts totaling $145 million, to be paid for with university debt.

Outpatient Care East clinic renovations and relocations
Professional services and construction contracts totaling $14.2 million, to be paid for with auxiliary funds.

Tunnel rehabilitation, phase 1
Construction contracts totaling $6.1 million, to be paid for with university debt, university funds, state funds and partner funds.

University Hospital pavilion air handling units review/repair
Construction contracts totaling $37.8 million, to be paid for with auxiliary funds.

Fiscal year 2027 capital investment plan approved
Trustees approved the university capital investment plan for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027.

Joint use agreements approved
The board approved entering into joint use agreements between Ohio State and the following entities following funds appropriated in the state capital bill:

• Edison Welding Institute (EWI)
• Junior Achievement of Central Ohio
• Lifecare Alliance
• Rev1 Ventures

Settlement agreement and amendments to the concession agreement with Ohio State Energy Partners approved
Trustees approved a settlement agreement and amendments to the long-term lease and concession agreement for the Ohio State utility system.

Amendments to the bylaws of the Board of Trustees and Wexner Medical Center board approved
Trustees approved amendments to the bylaws of the Ohio State Board of Trustees and the bylaws of the Wexner Medical Center Board.

Board of Trustees committee appointments approved
Trustees approved the ratification of committee appointments for fiscal year 2027 as follows:

Academic Excellence

• Reginald A. Wilkinson, chair
• Bradley R. Kastan, vice chair
• Elizabeth P. Kessler
• M. Katherine Holcombe
• Elizabeth A. Harsh
• Juan Jose Perez
• Patrick J. Tiberi
• Annabelle B. Feibel
• Phillip Popovich (faculty member)
• Eric Bielefeld (faculty member)
• Jeff M.S. Kaplan (ex officio)

Engagement & External Relations

• Patrick J. Tiberi, chair
• Elizabeth A. Harsh, vice chair
• Elizabeth P. Kessler
• M. Katherine Holcombe
• Pierre Bigby
• Bradley R. Kastan
• Kara J. Trott
• Annabelle B. Feibel
• Jeff M.S. Kaplan (ex officio)

Finance, Audit & Investment

• Gary R. Heminger, chair
• Pierre Bigby, vice chair
• Tomislav B. Mitevski
• Juan Jose Perez
• George A. Skestos
• Kara J. Trott
• Patrick J. Tiberi
• Patrick C. Arp
• Amy Chronis
• Kent M. Stahl
• Jeff M.S. Kaplan (ex officio)

Governance & Institutional Accountability

• Jeff M.S. Kaplan, co-chair
• Elizabeth P. Kessler, co-chair
• Gary R. Heminger
• Reginald A. Wilkinson
• Tomislav B. Mitevsk
• Juan Jose Perez
• Kara J. Trott
• Patrick J. Tiberi

Master Planning & Facilities

• Tomislav B. Mitevski, chair
• Suzanne R. Kiggin, vice chair
• M. Katherine Holcombe
• Elizabeth A. Harsh
• Reginald A. Wilkinson
• Pierre Bigby
• Bradley R. Kastan
• Annabelle B. Feibel
• Robert H. Schottenstein
• Keith Myers
• Jeff M.S. Kaplan (ex officio)

Talent & Compensation

• Juan Jose Perez, chair
• George A. Skestos, vice chair
• Elizabeth P. Kessler
• Gary R. Heminger
• Reginald A. Wilkinson
• Suzanne R. Kiggin
• Patrick C. Arp
• Jeff M.S. Kaplan (ex officio)

Wexner Medical Center

• Robert H. Schottenstein, chair
• Kara J. Trott, vice chair
• Gary R. Heminger
• Suzanne R. Kiggin
• Tomislav B. Mitevski
• George A. Skestos
• Patrick C. Arp
• Leslie H. Wexner, chair emeritus
• Stephen D. Steinour
• Cindy Hilsheimer
• Amy Chronis
• Hiroyuki Fujita
• Jeff M.S. Kaplan (ex officio, voting)
• Ravi V. Bellamkonda (ex officio, voting)
• Trevor Brown (ex officio, voting)
• Michael Papadakis (ex officio, voting)
• John J. Warner (ex officio, voting)

Finance Committee, Wexner Medical Center

• Stephen D. Steinour, chair
• Tomislav B. Mitevski
• Juan Jose Perez
• Pierre Bigby
• George A. Skestos
• Amy Chronis
• John J. Warner
• Michael Papadakis

Quality & Professional Affairs Committee, Wexner Medical Center

• Kara J. Trott, chair
• George A. Skestos, vice chair
• Suzanne R. Kiggin
• Trevor Brown
• Michael Papadakis
• John J. Warner
• Eric Bourekas
• Stacy A. Brethauer
• David E. Cohn
• Scott A. Holliday
• Daniel Like
• Kami J. Maddocks
• Traci Mignery
• Elizabeth Seely
• Corrin Steinhauer
• W. Kimryn Rathmell
• Andrew M. Thomas
• Crystal Tubbs
• Nicole Williams

Foundation Board Representative

• Pierre Bigby

Alumni Board Representative

• Bradley R. Kastan

Fiscal year 2027 Clinical Quality Management, Patient Safety, and Patient Experience Plan approved
Trustees approved the annual review of the Clinical Quality Management, Patient Safety, and Patient Experience Plan for fiscal year 2027 for the university hospitals.

Fiscal year 2027 Quality, Safety and Experience Council Plan approved
Trustees approved the annual review of the Quality, Safety and Experience Council Plan for fiscal year 2027 for the Ohio State Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.

Plan for patient care services approved
The board approved the annual review of the plan for patient care services for university hospitals.

Scopes of care approved
Trustees approved the annual review of the scope of patient care services the Ohio State Ambulatory Surgery Center - Outpatient Care New Albany, Dublin Ambulatory Surgery Center, Powell Ambulatory Surgery Center, and Extended Recovery Unit for Outpatient Care Dublin and New Albany clinical departments.

Direct patient care services contracts and patient impact service contracts evaluation approved
The board approved the annual review of the direct patient care service contracts and patient impact service contracts for the university hospitals.

Contracted services evaluation approved
Trustees approved the annual review of the contracted services for the Ohio State Ambulatory Surgery Center - Outpatient Care New Albany and Dublin Ambulatory Surgery Center.

Emergency General Surgery Program verification approved
Trustees approved the submission for verification of the Emergency General Surgery Program for university hospitals.

Ohio State Energy Partners utility system capital improvements plan for fiscal year 2027 approved
The board approved the fiscal year 2027 capital improvements plan for Ohio State Energy Partners.

University Foundation Report approved
The board approved, as of July 31, 2026, the establishment of two endowed chairs as part of the Provost's Endowed Chair Matching Program: the James Mitchell Endowed Chair, the Barbara and Al Siemer Chair in Functional Medicine; one endowed professorship: the Jim and Christina Grote Professorship in Integrative Health Education; one endowed professorship fund: the Dr. Martha S. Pitzer Professorship Fund in Nursing; one fellowship: the Morell Family Fellowship; one scholarship as part of the Scarlet and Gray Advantage Endowed Matching Gift Program; 23 additional named endowed funds; and the revision of 26 named endowed funds.

Naming of spaces
Trustees approved the following namings:

• The Oklo Nuclear Reactor Laboratory in the College of Engineering
• The Christine Coultrip Dwarf Conifer Collection in Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens
• The CVS Health Innovation Hub in the Riffe Building
• The east-west portion of Carmack Road in the Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory to Hess Road.
• The following internal spaces in the Engineering Research and Education Laboratories:
  • Ayanna Howard Innovation Space (room 2241)
  • Google Foundations Lab (room 1250)
  • Air Transport Services Group Charitable Foundation Office (room 2203)

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