Ohio University is looking for a new Vice President for Student Affairs and possibly a provost. Jeremy Ludemann of member station WOUB in Athens reports.
Ohio University president Roderick McDavis announced Ryan Lombardi’s departure to Cornell University on Monday.
Lombardi has worked at OU since 2008. He was promoted from Dean of Students to VP for Student Affairs in 2013.
He will now go to the Ivy League institution in Ithaca, New York and serve as Cornell’s Vice President for Student and Campus Life.
Lombardi wants his successor to be invested in OU’s mission.
LOMBARDI: “I hope that they really look for someone who continues to have that student-centered approach that is so important to Ohio University and has been so important to my tenure—so important to President McDavis—someone who is really willing to invest themselves in the community, in the student body, in the university—it’s an incredible place.”
President McDavis applauded Lombardi’s energetic presence on campus and the relationships he forged with students and community partners.
Lombardi’s last day at the University will be on July 3rd.
Meanwhile, Ohio University Vice President and Provost Pam Benoit has been a finalist for chancellor at two research universities in the past few months.
She was the only remaining candidate for chancellor at the University of Colorado Denver, but University of Colorado President Bruce Benson said last week the school’s search for a new leader failed to find a candidate with vast support.
However, Benoit is still in contention for the chancellor’s job at Southern Illinois University Carbondale with three other finalists.
She completed on-campus interviews there between May 3rd and May 5th.
Benoit has served as executive VP and Provost at OU since 2009.
She previously served as vice provost for advanced studies at the University of Missouri.
President McDavis is confident Ohio University will continue to attract excellent administrators and be able to find suitable replacements for leaders who take leadership roles at other institutions.
MCDAVIS: “I don’t concern myself with whether our people leave or not. Because I always feel like this university will be able to attract high-quality people that will be able to come in and take their places and serve with distinction.”
