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Top 3 on 2, 11/19/09

Posted on | November 18, 2009 | 1,144 views |

Why did you choose to work at Ohio State?
I joined Ohio State as a student employee. I was actually offered a position with a local company and accepted it a few short hours before I was hired by Ohio State, so I worked both jobs for a while. It didn’t take long to determine that Ohio State would be my permanent home and I’ve been here ever since.

What do you like about your job?
The greatest part of my job is the opportunity it affords me to interface with some of the greatest minds in higher education. Every day is a learning experience, and I’ve been exposed to new ideas and experiences I would have never enjoyed anywhere else.

What would you improve at Ohio State?
If there is one thing I could change, it would be to introduce a higher level of cooperation and collaboration between colleges/business units. I believe President Gee’s vision of “One University” is spot on.

If you weren’t working at Ohio State, what would you be doing?
I would probably be a ship’s captain. Or, perhaps, flying commercial airliners. Since I don’t have a captain’s or pilot’s license, I suppose I’ll stay at Ohio State.

What advice would you give a new employee?
Communicate. The key to success at this university is communication. Don’t be afraid to ask questions; you may be surprised by the answers you receive.

What is your favorite activity outside of work?
I have too many favorite activities to list; let’s just say I keep a full schedule. The real headliners would have to be camping, boating, ATVing and tinkering with antique tractors. I’m also a huge fan of my pet rabbit.

Of what honor or recognition are you most proud?
Certificates, medals, plaques: They’re all nice things to hang on the walls, but a true honor is to, every day, have the opportunity to serve the mission of a great college and a great university.

Who is your hero?
My heroes would have to be Mom and Dad.  Without their hard work and dedication, I would have never had many of the opportunities I have experienced.

What are you going to do when you retire?
My hobbies could easily take the place of a full-time job if I would let them, so I’ll probably just pick up a few more.

If you were the university president for a day, what would you do?
I would merge vacation and sick leave for staff into one category called “paid time off.” I think employees should have the choice to use earned time as they see fit.

To nominate a staff member for an upcoming issue, e-mail oncampus@osu.edu.

The Ohio Union’s grand ballroom, at 17,716 square feet, will hold up to 1,700 patrons once it’s opened to the public this spring. For now, the floors are prepped for staining and the massive chandeliers have been put in place.

Sure, top 10 lists are entirely subjective, but Time magazine thought enough of Ohio State President Gordon Gee and his push to reshape the university, and ultimately higher education, to name him one of the nation’s top college presidents and devote the main story to his vision. The featured issue hit newsstands Nov. 13 (also visit time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1937938_1937934,00.html)

Of Gee, Time wrote, “A poll a while back found that he could easily be elected governor in a state that calls itself the Cradle of Presidents. Gee, however, has something different in mind. As president of the Ohio State University and one of the most experienced university executives in the US, he is campaigning for a revolution in higher education at a time when the field is more important, and perhaps more troubled, than ever before.” Time touched on Gee’s prolific political efforts to keep higher education a state priority, his hectic scheduling to fit as much as he can into a single day and willingness to buck the status quo.

Also on the list were the presidents of New York University, the University of Michigan, Arizona State University, Tulane University, Middlebury College, the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, Miami Dade College, the University of Texas-Brownsville and the University of California-Oakland.

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