Executive Vice President and Provost Edward J. Ray has been appointed the new president of Oregon State University. The Oregon State Board of Higher Education announced late yesterday that Ray will take the helm of the 19,000-student institution in Corvallis, Ore., effective September 1. Ray succeeds Timothy White, who has been serving as interim president since the departure of Paul Risser, who left in January to become chancellor of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education. White will return to his position as provost and executive vice president of Oregon State.
“I am very excited about being named president of Oregon State University,” Ray said. “Oregon State is a land-grant university. It is a culture that I understand, with a mission that I care about passionately. Oregon State University is facing serious financial challenges and is trying to plan strategically to continue to move the institution forward to better serve the people of Oregon. These are tasks that I have been well schooled in at Ohio State University. And, I look forward to working with colleagues at Oregon State University to help them be successful.”
Ray has been a member of the economics faculty at Ohio State since 1970, and is currently professor of economics and executive vice president and provost. He served as chair of the department from 1976 to 1992, and received the University Distinguished Chairperson Award in 1989. He served as an associate provost from May 1992 until May 1993, senior vice provost and chief information officer from 1993-1998, and acting and then interim senior vice president and provost from December 1997 to December 1998.
“I think it will take a while for me to realize how significant it is to leave Ohio State,” Ray said. “It has been such an important and valued part of my life. There are so many wonderful colleagues and friends here at Ohio State and so many special experiences that my family and I have shared with others at Ohio State. It is difficult imagining being anywhere else. But, I will do my very best at Oregon State University and hope I can make the Buckeyes proud of what I do at Oregon State. It feels like graduation!”
Ray received his B.A. degree in mathematics from Queens College (CUNY) in 1966, and his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in economics from Stanford University in 1969 and 1971, respectively. Ray and his wife Beth have three children and two grandchildren.
“Ohio State is losing an outstanding leader,” said President Holbrook. “Ed has served this institution so well in many capacities, and especially as provost. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with him, but knew it was only a matter of time before he was recruited to become a president. He has vast experience and is extremely well-qualified. Oregon State is getting an excellent leader and he and Beth will contribute to the community in many meaningful ways. The ‘other OSU’ is very fortunate.”
Read the press release from the Oregon University System at http://www.ous.edu/news/press/060503.htm. Oregon State University’s web site is at http://oregonstate.edu/.