COLUMBUS -- Jo Ann Davidson, speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, will give The Ohio State University's autumn commencement address on Dec. 8. Approximately 1,400 graduates will receive degrees during the ceremony, which begins at 9:30 a.m. in St. John Arena, 410 Woody Hayes Drive.

Currently serving her 10th term in the House representing the state's 24th District, Davidson holds the distinction of being the first woman to serve as speaker in Ohio. She has led the House to pass several major pieces of legislation in the areas of welfare reform, electric utility deregulation, criminal justice, education, economic development, campaign finance reform and government reorganization.

Davidson chairs the House Rules and Reference Committee, and serves on the Legislative Service Commission, the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board, and the Ohio Bicentennial Commission. She also serves on the boards of trustees of the University of Findlay and Franklin University.

She began her public service career in 1967 as a member of the Reynoldsburg City Council, where she served for 10 years. Before 1994, Davidson worked for the Ohio Chamber of Commerce as vice president for special programs. She was inducted in the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame in 1991 and holds honorary degrees in law from Ohio University and Capital University and in Government Leadership from the University of Findlay.

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