When will Ohio State have its next president?

KATE SHIELDS, JOSIE STEWART, AND MEGHAN BEERY Lantern Editors

shields.323@osu.edu stewart.2117@osu.edu beery.156@osu.edu

While welcome events are prepared for freshmen, a speaker at Convocation might not be.

The university’s former president, Kristina M. Johnson, announced her resignation Nov. 29, 2022, and officially left the role in May after finishing her time at the university by delivering a speech to the spring class of 2023. Seven months later, university spokesperson Ben Johnson said it is too soon to say when the next president will be announced.

“The board is making good progress, and the search is moving forward efficiently,” Ben Johnson said in an email.

Without an appointment before the new semester, the university previously stated the president’s cabinet will continue to carry out much of the responsibility associated with the position.

“Members of [the] president’s cabinet have always had day-to-day oversight of their units,” Ben Johnson said. “During this transition period, cabinet members have reported on their work directly to the appropriate board committee.”

The cabinet “consists of senior leaders from across the university who advise the president on short-, mediumand long-term issues, priorities and initiatives,” according to their website. Under Kristina Johnson, there were 14 members in addition to herself.

“The cabinet meets regularly and works collaboratively, and will continue to do so,” Ben Johnson said. “The university’s colleges and units remain fully operational.”

Convocation for first-year students where they hear from university leaders, faculty, administrators and special guests — usually includes the university president’s first appearance of the school year. Without an appointment before that date, Ben Johnson said arrangements for such a speech are not yet prepared.

“We’re looking forward to a fantastic convocation ceremony and start to the new year,” Ben Johnson said. “Final arrangements for convocation will be made at a later date.”

In April, moderators at public forums seeking input from the Ohio State community said they believe they are at the “gathering information” point in the process and pointed attendees toward two forms asking for suggestions with the new leadership.

The forms — one for inputs and comments and a second for nominations — are open online and submissions are still being accepted for consideration,

Ben Johnson said.

Though many have questions surrounding the new president, a full explanation into Kristina Johnson’s motivation for leaving has yet to be provided by her or the university.

The Lantern successfully gained access to an agreement signed by the former president and the university 16 days before the public resignation revealing that Kristina Johnson cannot speak negatively about the university.

Additionally, the agreement prevents the board of trustees and related employees from making “derogatory or disparaging” statements against Kristina Johnson.

Under the terms of the “comprehensive release,” Kristina Johnson was to receive $278,100 and one year of her $927,000 base salary, paid in monthly installments after her final day on May 7. She also voluntarily resigned her position as a tenured professor in the College of Engineering and Department of Computer Science and Engineering by signing the release.

The document was obtained through a successful legal challenge against the university filed by Jessica Langer, The Lantern’s former editor-in-chief. This is the second time The Lantern has won a public records lawsuit against the university since 2019.

Langer requested the university provide “a copy of any contract, memorandum of understanding, non-disclosure agreement or other signed document between the university and/or the Board of Trustees and University President Kristina M. Johnson related to her resignation, cessation or separation of her employment from Ohio State University, ” according to The Court of Claims of Ohio.

Kristina Johnson was given 21 days to consider signing the agreement, as well as a seven-day revocation period, according to the document. She signed the release on Nov. 13, 2022.