I’m really proud of the work that we do here at Ohio State Newark. And I’m really proud of the direction in which we’re moving.
We provide communities across Ohio access to a world-class education, fulfilling this university’s land grant mission. And starting next autumn, we’ll take it even further. As we help implement the Regional Campus Commitment program, we’ll offer low-to middle-income students the opportunity to earn an Ohio State degree tuition free.
For so many people, Ohio State Newark is or will become the front door to The Ohio State University — and anyone who comes in the door has the chance to change the trajectory of their lives. Those who choose to be a part of our growing institution discover the tools they need to transform themselves and positively influence the communities they serve. As you read this year’s Progress Report, you’ll meet some compelling people who have experienced or inspired those types of transformations. I believe their stories capture the spirit of who we are here at Ohio State Newark.
You’ll read about faculty members, past and present, who have guided student success both in the classroom and in areas like research and community building. You’ll encounter current students who are experiencing the world — and ways they’d like to improve it — by utilizing our campus’s resources. You’ll hear how proud alumni are using what they learned within our walls to encourage, create and respond to change.
In essence, this year’s issue celebrates change agents. It honors their value and vision. It acknowledges our work toward nurturing the next generation. It showcases our immense pride in shaping futures and the communities that surround us.
Our impact, in fact, expands even further. We have 68 of Ohio’s 88 counties currently represented on this campus. We’re not just an incredibly proud proponent of Licking County — we’re serving the entire state. And we’re still growing, presenting possibilities for any Ohioan striving for a college degree.
I’ve experienced how such efforts change lives for the better. I was a first-generation student from a blue-collar family. There’s no way my parents would have ever thought their son would be leading a college campus someday, but my education made it possible. I had access to opportunities in a way that my forebearers couldn’t even imagine. Now, I see Ohio State Newark serve as that gateway. We help make that kind of change possible.
Matthew J. Smith, PhD
Dean/Director, The Ohio State University at Newark