OSU president leaving for Maryland post

COLUMBUS – Ohio State University President William E. Kirwan is leaving Ohio State to become chancellor of the University System of Maryland.

Kirwan became president of Ohio State in July 1998 after serving for 34 years in various capacities, including president, at the University of Maryland. He will begin his new duties on August 1.

Kirwan said the new position is one he neither sought nor encouraged, but that the proximity of family in Maryland was the overriding element in what he described as an “agonizing” choice.

“The decision has caused me great anguish,” Kirwan continued, “because I feel enormously proud and privileged to serve as president of this university.

“Until this offer came last week, it had been my expectation to remain at Ohio State for at least another year or two.”

Since Kirwan’s arrival at Ohio State, he focused on transforming the university into an institution known for academic quality. Measures of academic achievement – ACT scores, students in the top 10 percent of their class and numbers of class valedictorians – increased significantly over the last four years.

In addition, total research and development expenditures grew from $236 million in 1998 to $377 million in 2001. Of that, awards from federal agencies for Ohio State research grew to $198 million in 2001, up from $135 million in 1998.