4/9/99
Attention editors: A photo of John Bantle is available for downloading from the Web at http://www.ohio.edu/news/pix/Bantle.JPG
ATHENS, Ohio -- John "Jack" Bantle, associate dean for research in the College of Arts and Sciences at Oklahoma State University, has been named vice president for research at Ohio University. He will begin his position Sept. 1.
Bantle's responsibilities will include providing leadership for advancing and promoting the university's mission in a broad range of research activities. He also will develop and manage externally sponsored research and technology commercialization.
"I am very excited," Bantle said. "I see a lot of desire among faculty to improve the research mission, and the staff and faculty are very friendly, and that allows people to work together. I'm also pleased with the rate of growth in research at Ohio University, and I'm looking forward to working with faculty and improving their programs and research centers on campus."
Ohio University, designated a "Research University II" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in 1994, has a research budget of more than $39 million.
Bantle replaces Carol Blum, interim vice president for research and graduate studies. Blum has served as interim since August 1997. She will return to her duties as associate vice president for research in September.
President Robert Glidden said he is pleased with Bantle's decision to come to Ohio University.
"Jack Bantle was the clear choice of the search committee and faculty for this position," Glidden said. "He brings to Ohio University a very strong record as a researcher himself and a great deal of experience in dealing with the research efforts of a wide range of disciplines. He understands and is committed to technology transfer, which is and will continue to be an emphasis at Ohio University, and he is knowledgeable about and experienced with the various Washington agencies that support research. We look forward to aggressive and effective leadership from Dr. Bantle for our increasing research initiatives."
Since 1991, Bantle has served as associate dean for research in the College of Arts and Sciences at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla. He also is a regents professor in the university's Department of Zoology. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees in biology at Eastern Michigan University, his Ph.D. in zoology and developmental biology at Ohio State University and was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Colorado Medical School.
His research interests include cytotoxicology and environmental and developmental toxicology as well as regulation and expression of the animal genome and use of recombinant DNA technology in vaccine production. His research expenditures since 1990 total nearly $2 million.
Provost Sharon Brehm said she is impressed with Bantle's background in research and is glad he supports research activity at the undergraduate level.
"I'm delighted that Dr. Bantle will be joining Ohio University," she said. "The academic deans and I are eager to work with him to help enhance the university's research endeavors. I'm particularly pleased that Dr. Bantle strongly believes in the importance of undergraduate research as a way to integrate both the teaching and research missions of the university."
