Regional Higher Education Study Committee
A Message from the President
"Last May, I formed the Regional Higher Education Study Committee to review and evaluate our regional campus higher education model. My charge was to ensure a sustainable future for educational access and excellence across our region. Led by co-chairs Dr. Nicole Pennington, Dean of the Southern Campus, and Dr. Brad Cohen, Senior Vice Provost for Instructional Innovation, this study committee benchmarked our regional higher education system, researched and identified other national models, analyzed internal trend cycles, and developed principles and recommendation for achieving an engaged, inclusive academic and resource model for the whole of our University. The study committee’s work underscores the value of regional higher education to southeastern Ohio and our campus communities.
On November 1, the study committee delivered to me its final report (PDF), which reflects substantial research, analysis, and engagement with faculty, students, staff, and community leaders affiliated with each of our campuses, including Athens, and University leadership across Ohio University.
The principles and recommendations put forth unanimously by the study committee provide a pathway for OHIO to redesign and realign our University system to bolster access and increase our ability to deliver a quality education across all our locations. To be sure, the committee concludes that in order for us to thrive across the umbrella of Ohio University, we must reimagine our institution as one Ohio University."- M. Duane Nellis
President, Ohio University
Committee Membership
Committee Co-Chairs
Nicole Pennington
Dean, Ohio University Southern
Brad Cohen
Senior Vice Provost for Instructional Innovation
Athens Campus Members
John Day
Associate Provost/Associate Dean (College of Business)
Jason Pina
Vice President for Student Affairs
Randy Leite
Dean, College of Health Sciences and Professions
Deborah Henderson
Director, School of Nursing
Jerry Miller
Associate Director for Undergraduate Studies
Elizabeth Bennett
Office of Institutional Research
Laurie Hatch
Associate Dean for Students, Instruction & Curriculum
Todd Myers
Professor, Chair, Engineering Technology & Management
Lisa Harrison
Associate Professor, Middle Childhood Education
Regional Campus Members
Bill Willan
Executive Dean for Regional Higher Education
Darren Baker
Lecturer of Fine Arts (Chillicothe)
Sarah Mahan-Hayes
Associate Prof. of Communication (Eastern)
Mark Nevin
Associate Professor of History (Lancaster)
Jeremy Webster
Dean (Zanesville)
Rosanna Howard
Director of Operations and Budget