11-19-98

RAY OUTLINES OAA CHANGES TO FOCUS RESOURCES ON ‘THE PRIMACY OF 
THE ACADEMIC MISSION’

	COLUMBUS -- Edward J. Ray today (11/19) announced a 
reorganization of the Office of Academic Affairs designed to 
“maintain Ohio State’s momentum and elevate even higher the 
primacy of the academic mission of the university.”

	“Ohio State has ambitious goals,” said Ray, currently 
interim senior vice president and provost, “and President Kirwan 
has announced a reorganization of responsibilities to achieve 
those goals.  In concert with those changes, I am announcing 
changes and additions in responsibilities within the Office of 
Academic Affairs to keep us focused on improving the quality of 
our academic programs, enhancing the student experience inside 
and outside the classroom, providing leadership in promoting 
diversity in higher education while establishing a genuine sense 
of community, and creating outreach and engagement programs with 
the communities we serve that are relevant for the 21st century, 
consistent with our land-grant traditions, and compatible with 
the goal of becoming one of the top 10 public universities in the 
country.”

	Ray announced his plans a week after being nominated by 
President Kirwan to become executive vice president and provost, 
an appointment which will be presented to the Board of Trustees 
on Dec. 4.  Ray has served as interim senior vice president and 
provost since September and as senior vice provost and chief 
information officer prior to that.  He is a member of the faculty 
in the Department of Economics.

	Kirwan’s reorganization puts greater responsibility for 
achieving the university’s goals on the Office of Academic 
Affairs, and the actions Ray announced today will align the OAA 
structure with its new and existing duties.

	L. Alayne Parson will assume the position of senior vice 
provost for academic administration.  In this role, she will 
serve as the chief deputy to Ray and will perform substantial 
coordination and liaison work with the Office of the Vice 
President for Agricultural Administration, the Office of the Vice 
President for Health Sciences, and the Office of the Vice 
President for Research.  She will also be responsible for the 
implementation and oversight of the Selective Investment/Academic 
Enrichment Program and other central initiatives. 

	Parson, who has served as vice provost for academic program 
coordination and initiatives, received her B.A. from Radcliffe 
College, and her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of 
Illinois.  She holds a faculty appointment in the Department of 
Mathematics.  Parson’s appointment is effective immediately.

	Nancy M. Rudd will assume new duties as vice provost for 
academic policy and human resources and will perform substantial 
coordinating and liaison work with the Office of Human Resources, 
which, under Kirwan’s reorganization, will report to the 
executive vice president and provost.  Associate Vice President 
for Human Resources Larry Lewellen will work closely with Rudd.

	Rudd, who has served as vice provost for academic policy and 
personnel since 1992, holds a faculty appointment in the 
Department of Consumer and Textile Sciences.  From 1987 to 1992 
she held a half-time appointment as secretary to the University 
Senate.  She has served on numerous university, professional and 
national committees.  She received her B.S. from Michigan State 
University, her M.S. from the University of Illinois, and her 
Ph.D. from the University of Illinois in family and consumption 
economics.  Rudd’s appointment is effective immediately.

	Martha M. Garland will assume the expanded position of vice 
provost and dean of undergraduate studies.  In this role, Garland 
will work closely with Mac Stewart, who has assumed the newly 
appointed position of associate provost for undergraduate studies 
and dean of University College, working as a team in 
collaboration with the Office of Student Affairs and the degree-
granting colleges to improve advising and freshmen orientation 
programs this year.  Stewart presently serves as dean of 
University College.

	Garland has served as vice provost for undergraduate studies 
since 1997 and holds a faculty appointment in the Department of 
History.  She has served on numerous university committees and 
was co-chair of the 46-member Committee on the Undergraduate 
Experience which investigated and made recommendations on all 
aspects of undergraduate life.  She received her B.A. from Tulane 
University and the University of London.  She holds an M.A. from 
Ohio State and a Ph.D. in modern British history from Ohio State. 
Garland’s change in duties is effective immediately and the title 
change will be effective upon approval of the Board of Trustees.

	W. Randy Smith will assume the new position of vice provost 
for curriculum and institutional relations.  This position 
combines elements of two current positions: the vice provost for 
academic program coordination and initiatives and the associate 
provost for outcomes and assessment.  The latter position will be 
eliminated. 

	Smith, who has served in the associate provost position 
since January 1998 and was the Provost’s Faculty Fellow from 
1994-97, holds a faculty appointment in the Department of 
Geography.  He received his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees from 
York University, Toronto, Canada, with a specialization in urban 
analysis.  He has served on numerous university and statewide 
committees, and recently chaired the self-study committee for 
universitywide reaccreditation.  He is the recipient of the 
Distinguished University Teaching Award (1990) and was one of the 
first recipients of the Distinguished University Service Award 
(1997).  Smith’s appointment is effective immediately.

	A new position of vice provost for budgets and planning will 
be created to assist the provost in fulfilling his added duties 
under Kirwan’s reorganization of chief budget officer for the 
university.  An internal search will commence following trustee 
approval of the position.

	A national search to fill a new position of chief 
information officer will also begin following trustee approval of 
the new position.  The CIO, who will report to the executive vice 
president and provost, will have oversight responsibility for all 
aspects of management and coordination of information technology 
at the university.  James F. Davis, who currently serves as 
associate provost and director of University Technology Services, 
will serve as interim CIO.  The associate provost position will 
be eliminated.

	A national search for a permanent vice president for 
research will begin immediately with the goal of completing the 
process by Autumn 1999.  William A. Baeslack III will continue to 
serve as interim vice president until the search is completed.

	Dave Ferguson will assume the new position of director of 
communications for Academic Affairs and will be responsible for 
academic communications and marketing.  Ferguson currently serves 
as executive assistant to the senior vice president and provost, 
a position which will be eliminated.  He received a B.A. from 
Seton Hall University and an M.S. in Journalism from Columbia 
University.  His appointment is effective immediately.

	“President Kirwan is clear in his desire to put the finest 
possible academic experience at the top of the university’s 
priorities -- for faculty and students,” Ray said.  “The 
reorganization of the central administration is focusing our 
resources and energies in ways that will help us achieve our 
common vision under Dr. Kirwan’s leadership.”

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Contact: Dave Ferguson, (614) 292-6743