President's Office Staff

Carly Leatherwood

Carly Leatherwood serves as Chief of Staff to the President of Ohio University, a role she has held since 2022. As a senior executive leader, she oversees the operations of the Office of the President and drives alignment across the institution’s strategic priorities. Leatherwood partners closely with the President, executive leadership, and the Board of Trustees to advance enterprise-wide initiatives, steward key stakeholder relationships, and ensure operational excellence across a complex, multi-campus University.

A trusted advisor and strategist, Leatherwood brings deep expertise in communications, governance, and public affairs. Prior to her current role, she served as Associate Vice President of Communications within University Communications and Marketing, where she led enterprise media strategy and internal communications during a period of institutional transformation. Her leadership strengthened the University’s reputation, enhanced stakeholder engagement, and positioned Ohio University as a leading public institution in the region and beyond.

Leatherwood’s executive experience spans higher education, healthcare, and state government. She previously served as Marketing Director for The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and as a communications consultant for the Educational Service Center of Central Ohio. Her public service includes senior leadership roles at the Ohio Department of Insurance and the Ohio Department of Education, where she guided communications strategy and public policy engagement at the state level.

She began her career in broadcast journalism as a producer and anchor for WSYX-TV and WBNS 10TV in Columbus, Ohio, grounding her leadership approach in clarity, credibility, and strategic storytelling.

Leatherwood holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and a Master of Business Administration from Ohio University’s College of Business. In 2025, she was recognized as one of the nation’s Top 50 Women Chiefs of Staff by Women We Admire, honoring executives who translate strategy into measurable impact and lead with influence across their organizations. In 2026, she was selected as a Leadership Ohio Fellow, one of 35 individuals chosen from nearly 200 nominations statewide to participate in the prestigious civic leadership program.

Joanna Stoltzfus

Joanna Stoltzfus joined the Office of the President in July of 2019. In her role as the Presidential Assistant, she is responsible for managing the President's calendar, travel and correspondence. She first began working for Ohio University in 2006 as a procurement specialist for Culinary Services She went on to serve as an accounting specialist for the Division of Finance before joining the Division of Student Affairs, where she held multiple positions.

Joanna, who is from the Athens area, enjoys spending time with family and being outdoors.

Amy Trout

Amy Trout joined the Office of the President in January 2019 and serves as Associate Chief of Staff. She provides strategic and operational support to the President and Chief of Staff, coordinating complex initiatives, supporting executive communication, and assisting with preparation for Board of Trustees meetings and activities. Working closely with senior leaders across the university, Amy manages high-level projects and supports administrative functions that advance Ohio University’s mission and strategic priorities.

Before joining the Office of the President, Amy spent more than two decades in Division I college athletics, including North Carolina State University and Georgia Tech, with her longest tenure at Ohio University. Her experience includes event planning, systems administration, contract and vendor management, branding, and special projects.

Amy earned a Bachelor of Science in Sport Science and a Master of Science in Education and Sport Pedagogy from Ohio University. Originally from Watertown, New York, she prefers vacation destinations with minimal snowfall.