President Roderick McDavis’ report to the Ohio University Board of Trustees today highlighted points of interest at the university and updated the board on executive searches.
The search for a new director of government relations is over, McDavis said. Eric Burchard was named the new director May 1. He previously served as OU’s interim director for state relations.
Bryan Benchoff was named vice president for university advancement, which will make him responsible for the university’s $450 million fundraising campaign. He held a similar role at his previous job, where he was the president and CEO of the University of South Dakota Foundation. He will begin at OU July 15, McDavis said.
McDavis also recognized eight outgoing administrators for their time at OU: Dan Evans, executive dean of regional higher education; Benjamin Ogles, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Greg Shepherd, dean of the Scripps College of Communication; and Rathindra Bose, vice president of research and dean of the Graduate College.
“The talent these four gentleman possess is outstanding, and I want to personally thank them for their service to Ohio University,” McDavis said.
McDavis also highlighted a particular area of the university and shared his “points of pride” with the trustees.
He highlighted the Bobcat Student Orientation program and had various orientation employees on hand to speak about their time with the program.
The $105 million gift the Osteopathic Heritage Foundations gave OU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, the School of Media Arts and Studies and the recently renovated Walter International Education Center were all highlighted in the “points of pride.”
“We held the grand opening of the Walter International Education Center. … This is clearly one of our points of pride,” McDavis said.
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