Notes from a Fellow Buckeye

Dear Colleagues,

It is my honor to again celebrate Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week, our annual recognition of your contributions to the university. Ohio State is a model 21st century land-grant institution because of your dedication and hard work.

I extend my sincere gratitude to all employees, and I invite you to participate in this year’s Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week activities that will be held July 25-31. Your commitment and contributions — especially throughout the past several years – are remarkable and worthy of celebration and much appreciation. In recognition, a variety of in-person events, virtual activities and discounts are available exclusively for you and posted on the Human Resources website.

Faculty and staff can enter for an opportunity to cheer on the Buckeyes during the annual Ohio State faculty and staff appreciation football game. You have a chance to be randomly selected to receive four complimentary tickets to the Ohio State vs. Arkansas State football game on September 10. Eligible faculty and staff are required to “opt-in” by August 10 at 11:59 p.m. for the opportunity to receive the complimentary football tickets. Tickets will be given based on a randomized selection process. Thank you, again, for all you do every day!

Wexner Medical Center

My deep and sincere gratitude goes to Mark Larmore, current CFO of the Wexner Medical Center and vice president of health sciences, who has served as interim co-leader with Dr. Andy Thomas since last fall. Mr. Larmore delayed his planned retirement at the end of 2021 to provide invaluable leadership during this transition period. He will retire on August 31 and leaves a legacy of true Buckeye excellence, including a vital role in ensuring the transformational growth we are witnessing today. He has been a model of steadiness, kindness and good humor, and we look forward to celebrating his service in the weeks to come.

Chief Operating Officer Jay Anderson will be named interim co-leader of the Wexner Medical Center alongside Dr. Thomas, chief clinical officer and senior associate vice president of health sciences.

Mr. Anderson brings tremendous experience, knowledge and spirit to everything he does. We are excited to welcome him to the role of interim co-leader. Over the past year, he led the execution of the vision, strategy and overall performance for our clinical enterprise operations and has worked to ensure alignment, collaboration and consistent implementation across the medical center.

Amidst this good news, the search for the medical center’s next executive vice president and CEO continues to progress, and we will share updates with the university community.

New Student Education Program Supports Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention

The health, safety and well-being of all students is critically important to me. For that reason, and in light of local and national increases in alcohol, tobacco and other drug misuse, all first-year and transfer undergraduate students will be required to take an educational program on alcohol and other drugs misuse prevention, mental wellness and prescription drug abuse prevention. Incoming students must complete the program in order to register for the following semester. Although this is required for first-year and transfer undergraduate students, we are making the program available to everyone.

State Tour

The past month at Ohio State has been incredibly exciting. The State Tour — our annual summer tradition to bring Ohio State throughout Ohio that was paused in 2021 because of the pandemic — was a resounding success. Our visit to the Miami Valley region showcased Ohio State to an important area of the state, reinforced vital relationships, and solidified new and existing partnerships critical to our excellence in academics, research and service. Students, Brutus, our drum major, dance team members, cheerleaders and university leaders all served as amazing ambassadors. The trip included stops at Huffman Prairie Flying Field, the Wright Brothers Institute at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Bellbrook High School just outside of Dayton, and Wilberforce University and Central State University, and a meeting with our OSU Extension staff and Clark County 4-H members at beautiful Snyder Park Gardens & Arboretum in Springfield.

New Big Ten Members

Earlier this month, we welcomed the University of Southern California and the University of California, Los Angeles into the Big Ten, solidifying the conference as the premier league in the country while also expanding Ohio State’s national reach and prominence. I hope you all share my excitement for this development that gives us a greater opportunity to network. USC and UCLA are leading research universities that will enhance the Big Ten Conference in the classroom and on the field of competition. And I know both universities share the same ideals about culture and values to which we are strongly committed.

Celebrating Success

Kudos to Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer James L. Moore III on his selection by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities as the recipient of the 2022 Michael P. Malone International Leadership Award. The award is given annually to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to international education at public land-grant institutions.

Congrats to our Fisher College of Business, which was awarded the “E” Star Award for Export Service by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. The award recognizes previous “E” awardees that have shown four years of continued support of exporters since first winning the “E” Award.

Congratulations to the staff of the Ohio State Alumni Magazine, which won bronze for design in the periodicals and magazines category this year from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. Also, the captivating Winter 2021 cover story on climate researchers Lonnie Thompson and Ellen Mosley-Thompson won gold for writing in the research, medicine and science category.

Congratulations also to Dr. Sujit Basu, professor of pathology and director of translational research and medical oncology, on his groundbreaking discovery of dopamine as a potential treatment for cancer — what a remarkable achievement! His work will undoubtedly serve as a catalyst for future advancements in cancer treatments.

As always, Go Buckeyes!

Sincerely yours,

Kristina M. Johnson, PhD
President

Wellness Resources

• Safe and Healthy Buckeyes: Mental Health and Wellness
• The Ohio State: Wellness app is available for Android and iOS devices
• Human Resources Keep Well website
• Chief Wellness Officer Health and Wellness page
• Your Plan For Health
• Ways for faculty and staff to support students