FRANK W. HALE JR. RETURNS TO OHIO STATE

   COLUMBUS -- The man for whom The Ohio State University’s Black Cultural Center is named, who helped make the university a leader in graduate education for minority men and women, has returned to Ohio State. Ohio State President William E. Kirwan announced today (5/19) that he has named Frank W. Hale Jr. to a new part-time position, Distinguished University Representative and Consultant, for student recruitment, fund raising and alumni relations.

   Hale’s appointment will include liaison with Ohio’s community colleges, work with the Hale Center, and consultation to the Office of Academic Affairs in such areas as recruitment and retention of undergraduate students.

   Upon his selection as Ohio State’s president last July, Kirwan set leadership in “building a diverse community” as one of his four main institutional objectives. At his investiture in February, the president re-emphasized that priority, calling “the creation of a more inclusive society ... both a moral imperative and a work force necessity.”

   “The opportunity for such an innovator and statesman as Frank Hale to join us again,” Kirwan said, “is most fortunate for the university. His advice will be invaluable to the institution and to the many students and families who will benefit from it.”

   Hale has 41 years of experience in higher education, including 18 at Ohio State, where he previously served as professor of communications, associate dean of the Graduate School, executive assistant to the president, and vice provost for minority affairs.

   Kirwan said Hale was “the leader everyone sent me to when I was seeking to build a minority recruitment program at The University of Maryland.” Kirwan was president of Maryland before coming to Ohio State last July.

   During Hale’s tenure as vice provost, nearly $15 million in graduate fellowships were awarded to some 1,200 minority students, 80 percent of whom completed master’s or doctoral degrees. He also was instrumental in establishing a scholarship program for minority undergraduates.

   Hale first joined Ohio State in 1971 and retired in 1988. He holds emeritus appointments as a professor of communications and vice provost for minority affairs.

Contact: Malcolm Baroway, University Communications, (614) 292-6895