From Kenyon to OU, meet the Ohio college presidents beginning their tenure this fall

This year's freshman class won't be the only newbies on campus this fall.

A number of Ohio colleges and universities are welcoming new president this academic year. Here's a look at who will be leading some local universities, and who is still searching for the right candidate.

Kenyon College

With former Kenyon College President Sean M. Decatur now leading the American Museum of Natural History, the Gambier liberal arts college announced its new president earlier this summer.

Julie Kornfeld, current vice provost for academic programs at Columbia University, will be the 20th president of Kenyon College.

Kornfeld was appointed Columbia's vice provost in 2020, after previously serving as vice dean for education and has been an associate professor of epidemiology since 2016. Kenyon's presidential search committee said in its announcement that Kornfeld is a skilled researcher and "attuned to the ways in which a liberal arts education equips students to address the complex issues that shape civil society."

"Throughout her career, Julie has removed barriers, built bridges and forged new paths for research, study and real-world impact," the search committee said.

Kornfeld will officially assume the presidency on Oct. 1.

Ohio University

Former Ohio University President M. Duane Nellis announced he was stepping down in May 2021 and Hugh Sherman, former dean of OU's College of Business, agreed to serve as an interim president. Shortly after, he agreed to serve a two-year appointment as the university's 22nd president, OU gave itself a two-year deadline to find a new permanent leader.

After months of searching, Ohio University's Board of Trustees appointed Lori Stewart Gonzalez — former executive vice president and provost of the University of Louisville — as the university's 23rd president in March. Gonzalez, who is also OU's first female president, officially took over on July 1.

Gonzalez said in March that her priorities are threefold coming into Ohio University: student success, firm financials and taking care of its people.

"It's more important that we think about how we protect our region, that we can make sure the young people have a bright future and that we help students from all around that world have a bright future by coming here," she said.

Ohio Wesleyan University

Matthew P. vandenBerg took over as the 17th president of Ohio Wesleyan University on July 1. He succeeds Rockwell "Rock" Jones, who announced last April that he would retire at the end of the academic year, capping off 15 years at the university's helm.

vandenBerg previously served as president of Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina, where he became one of the youngest college presidents in the nation at age 40 when he began leading in February 2021.

In looking for its next president, vandenBerg said OWU was looking for someone who could help the Delaware liberal arts university grow and expand its influence and reach in a crowded marketplace.

"That work is my passion and my strength," he told The Dispatch in January.

Wilberforce

Vann R. Newkirk took over as the 23rd president of Wilberforce University, the country's oldest private historically Black university, beginning in July.

Newkirk filled the role of former Wilberforce President Elfred Anthony Pinkard, who announced his retirement last March. Newkirk previously served as interim associate vice president at Alabama A&M University, a public historically Black land-grant university in Huntsville.

His top priority as Wilberforce's new president is to engage community supporters who could aid the university's fundraising efforts, create premium academic programs and add value to the university's distinction among nationally ranked liberal arts colleges, Newkirk said.

"As an HBCU graduate, I also understand the transformative power of these institutions, and I look forward to working with the talented faculty, staff and students at Wilberforce to continue the university's legacy of excellence," Newkirk said. "Our students are young people who have dreams and aspirations when they come to us. We have to guide them to the right kind of career paths."

Who is still hiring?

Two local universities are still conducting presidential searches this year: Central State University and Ohio State University.

Former Central State University President Jack Thomas abruptly stepped down in June.

Thomas said in a message to the campus community he would stay on the faculty as a tenured professor after a sabbatical rather than seek to renew his contract, “having accomplished what I set out to do as president.” That includes boosting enrollment, launching a new strategic plan and a $75-million campus expansion to construct seven new buildings.

Following Thomas' departure, Central State, Ohio's only public historically Black university, began a presidential search using AGB Search and appointed Alex Johnson as interim president. Johnson served as president of Cuyahoga Community College from 2013 to 2022.

Former Ohio State President Kristina M. Johnson announced she would be stepping down in November 2022 at the end of the academic year. Ohio State created a presidential search committee in February and has set no timeline on when the university will select its next leader.

Ohio State is without an interim leader until its next permanent leader is announced. Executive cabinet members are currently reporting to the board of trustees.

Sheridan Hendrix is a higher education reporter for The Columbus Dispatch. Sign up for Extra Credit, her education newsletter, here.

shendrix@dispatch.com

@sheridan120

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Meet the new Ohio college presidents beginning their tenure this fall