Friday, April 29, 2022

29 April 2022

Dear OSU Colleagues,

Last July, I announced that Dr. Roberta Marinelli, dean of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, had accepted a one-year appointment to serve as director of the National Science Foundation’s Office of Polar Programs (OPP). Dr. Marinelli’s appointment with OPP has been extended through February 2023, and she has announced that she has decided to step down as dean, effective immediately, and return to OSU in a tenured professor position in March of next year.

In her time as dean, Roberta undertook a full and multifaceted review of the college and then led a strategic planning effort that established a strong framework for future hires and the promotion of student interest in CEOAS’ academic programs. Working closely with the OSU Foundation, she oversaw a dramatic increase in philanthropic investment in CEOAS, securing two new endowed chairs and numerous scholarships to support undergraduate and graduate research and training. Roberta worked tirelessly and passionately to celebrate faculty excellence, submitting four successful nominations of CEOAS faculty as University Distinguished Professors. Under her leadership, CEOAS’s research excellence has grown substantially, as evidenced by several national center-level awards and large infrastructure projects that affirm OSU’s preeminence as a research-intensive university. These stellar accomplishments came while navigating the catastrophic impacts and long recovery from a fire in Burt Hall, as well as the major challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Roberta has been a thoughtful and influential voice on the Provost’s Council of Deans; a ready contributor to multiple university-level initiatives; and an advocate for bold, strategic thinking and academic excellence at OSU. I’ve valued her collaborative leadership style and her commitment to OSU’s diversity, equity, and inclusion goals. It has been a pleasure working with her to advance the success of both CEOAS and OSU.

I am pleased to relay that Dr. Tuba Özkan-Haller has agreed to transition from acting to interim dean, effective immediately. As acting dean, she’s led the college with vision and a steady hand, and she’s been instrumental in advancing the Collaborative Innovation Complex project, among other university initiatives. She will serve in the interim role for the duration of a national search and until a permanent dean begins their appointment.

Dean of Forestry Tom DeLuca will chair the search advisory committee. I will share more about the search process and timeline in the coming weeks. Nominations for the dean position are welcome at any time and may be emailed to Gigi Bruce, chief assistant to the provost.

Please join me in thanking Roberta for her excellent service as dean and thanking Tuba for her leadership during this transition.

Edward Feser

Provost and Executive Vice President