Agenda we set, pursued not wanted by OSU trustees

Seizing the opportunities, preserving academic ideals, and balancing the needs of so many constituencies requires a huge team of people working collaboratively. Without mutual trust, respect, and teamwork, nothing is possible.

Since my resignation, faculty, students, staff, community members, and certainly the news media, have clamored for answers about why I chose to leave. While I think people have a right to know, I have respected the university’s request that I avoid public discussion while they search for a new president.

In fact, leading Ohio State has been the highlight of my career. I’ve been fortunate to have the privilege, and I certainly wish I could stay.

Today’s Columbus Dispatch details circumstances surrounding my resignation. I won’t affirm or dispute specifics, but I do want to address questions about my agenda and leadership.

Trustees wanted and received a change-agent

Ohio State has enormous potential, and the trustees who hired me wanted a change-agent, a president to work tirelessly to enact a sweeping agenda, despite the pandemic challenges we faced at the time. That was reaffirmed in the glowing performance appraisal I received in 2021.

Since my resignation, anonymous sources have discussed my tenure with the press.

We will never know their names or why they’ve said what they said. Meanwhile, a wide range of people have spoken publicly in support of my leadership. It’s telling that none of my critics will voice their opinions on the record.

I’ve asked for excellence from every member of the faculty, staff, and my cabinet.

Many of them understand what Ohio State can be, and they thrived as we worked together to unlock the university’s potential. Perhaps others thought the agenda too challenging or too demanding personally, but I won’t apologize for pushing us all to achieve the levels of performance our students and community deserve.

Agenda no longer in step with most trustees

I have fought for academic freedom and to protect the university’s right to decide which professors to hire. University curricula must not be subject to political forces. Ohio State professors must be allowed to pursue academic research without fear or favor, and ideas must succeed or fail based on academic merit rather than their political appeal.

In October, I realized my relentless pursuit of the agenda we’d set was no longer in step with what the majority of the trustees wanted.

Advancing Ohio State and championing its people is an incredibly complex job, but one I’ve adored.

Seizing the opportunities, preserving academic ideals, and balancing the needs of so many constituencies requires a huge team of people working collaboratively. Without mutual trust, respect, and teamwork, nothing is possible, and I’m incredibly proud of what our team accomplished. With the team working remotely from the start of my tenure, we made tough decisions that allowed in-person instruction during the pandemic, enabling tens of thousands to graduate and avoiding any known in-class transmission.

Big wins achieved

Since fiscal year 2020, our research expenditures have increased 42 percent, on track to double this decade. We focused on winning large, interdisciplinary research programs, which resulted in 10 new centers and institutes focused on research critical to shaping our society.

We helped the governor attract Intel to Ohio. We worked with Jobs Ohio to create Carmenton, a Columbus innovation district. We launched the Scarlet & Gray Advantage program to provide pathways for undergraduates to earn debt-free degrees, and we’ve already raised $135 million in scholarships. We authorized the hiring of 50 scholars who research racial inequities in education, healthcare, economics, arts, leadership, and the environment. We improved the university’s credit rating and garnered a record $740 million in philanthropic support last year, including the largest gift from an individual in university history.

I hope the progress we’ve made will continue, but it will be up to university trustees to identify the right person to continue the pursuit of excellence at Ohio State.

Kristina M. Johnson is president of Ohio State University.