A nearly five-month search for the new executive director of campus recreation has now come to a close. An Ohio native will be returning home.
Out of the four finalists previously interviewed for the position, Ohio University Division of Student Affairs announced Mark Ferguson as the new director Wednesday afternoon.
“Last week I received the news,” Ferguson said. “I was very excited meeting with staff and students. I knew (the job) was what I wanted and where I wanted to be.”
Ferguson has more than 11 years of experience in campus recreation, having served most recently as the director of campus recreation at Clemson University in South Carolina where he also received his master’s degree in student affairs and education counseling in 2005.
Ferguson earned his undergraduate degree from Brown University in 2002.
Ferguson is no stranger to Ohio, having grown up in Parma, a suburb of Cleveland, and said he was eager to return to Ohio.
Ferguson will make $93,500, said Katie Quaranta, OU spokeswoman, in an email.
Before Doug Franklin retired as campus recreation director, he made $102,217.
Ferguson’s duties as the new executive director will be to maintain campus recreation operations such as Ping Recreation Center, Aquatic Center, and intramural and club sports.
He will also be expected to manage a budget of $6 million, according to a previous Post article.
Tasha Westfall, the interim assistant director for Ping, said in a previous Post article that one of the biggest challenges ahead for the new director would be to advance the department despite its aging equipment; however, Ferguson said he is willing to take on the challenge.
“I look to bring leadership to the campus recreation department and build on the solid foundation that already exists,” Ferguson said. “I think campus recreation has a great potential to be a leader for student affairs and overall being a positive influence.”
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