As Ohio University waves goodbye to Kent Smith next week, students, faculty, and staff learned this morning that a familiar face will fill his shoes.
In an email addressed to the university, President Roderick McDavis announced that OU Dean of Students Ryan Lombardi will replace Smith as vice president for Student Affairs upon his completion of a doctoral degree from North Carolina State University in the 2012 Fall Semester, a requisite for the position.
In the meantime, Lombardi will act as interim vice president for student affairs beginning June 1, still taking on full responsibilities.
“I’m very excited and honored to receive the position, and I look forward to continuing our service to the students at OU in this new role,” Lombardi said.
Lombardi said one of his first priorities is appointing someone internally to his old position as dean of students until a search begins in the fall.
“It is critical students are involved in the process,” he said. “We will make an internal appointment for throughout the summer.”
Though Lombardi is finished with classes, he is writing his dissertation for a Ed.D. in higher education and administration.
He was named a finalist for the position earlier this month along with Corey King, associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students at Florida Atlantic University; and Brandi Hephner LaBanc, associate vice president for student affairs at Northern Illinois University.
“While we had three outstanding finalists for the position, Ryan clearly is the right person to assume the Student Affairs leadership role,” McDavis said in the email. “He has demonstrated that he is a person of great integrity who inspires and motivates students, administrators, and staff throughout the division.”
Smith, who announced in January that he would be leaving May 31 to become the next president of Langston University in Oklahoma, is elated that Lombardi be his replacement.
“When I found out it made my day,” Smith said. “It made me feel a lot more comfortable about leaving the university and knowing the students will continue to be served in a great way.”
Lombardi makes $129,502 as dean of students, while Smith earned $205,842 in his position as vice president.
As for replacing Smith — his close friend — Lombardi is happy for the experience.
“It will be a real treat,” he said. “We worked very closely the past four years, and he has involved me in a lot of the major decision so I have a lot to speak from.”
Lombardi’s other top priorities include getting all student office positions filled by making key leadership hires and finishing up the strategic plan process, which was on hold during the search.
af234909@ohiou.edu
