This list of presidents of Ohio University includes all who have served as president of Ohio University. The university has known twenty-three leaders serve; and except for Super, Crook, McDavis, Nellis, Sherman, and Stewart Gonzalez, all presidents of the university have buildings named after them, most notably Alden Library, Baker University Center, and Ping Recreation Center; the remaining buildings are residence halls and operations buildings.
Presidents Order Portrait Name Years Occupation Namesake 1 1809–1822 Presbyterian minister Lindley Hall 2 1822–1824 Presbyterian minister and mathematician Irvine Hall 3 Robert G. Wilson 1824–1839 Presbyterian minister Wilson Hall 4 1839–1843 Philosopher and educator McGuffey Hall 5 1848–1852 Mathematician Ryors Hall 6 Solomon Howard 1852–1872 Methodist minister Howard Park (aka North Green; formerly Howard Hall) 7 1872–1883 Methodist minister and philosopher Scott Quad (demolished) 8 Charles William Super 1884–18961899–1901 Greek professor 9 Isaac Crook 1896–1898 Methodist minister and educator 10 Alston Ellis 1901–1920* Public educator Ellis Hall 11 Elmer Burritt Bryan 1921–1934* Public educator Bryan Hall 12 Herman Gerlach James 1935–1943 Lawyer James Hall 13 1943–1945 Philosopher Gamertsfelder Hall 14 John Calhoun Baker 1945–1961 Business professor Baker University Center 15 1962–1969 Business professor Alden Library 16 Claude R. Sowle 1969–1974 Lawyer Sowle Hall 17 Harry B.Crewson 1974–1975 Economist Crewson House 18 Charles J. Ping 1975–1994 Presbyterian divine and philosopher Ping Recreation Center 19 Robert Glidden 1994–2004 Music professor Glidden Hall 20 2004–2017 Higher education professor McDavis Hall (forthcoming) 21 2017–2021 Geographer 22 Hugh Sherman 2021–2023 Business professor 23 Lori Stewart Gonzalez 2023–present Language pathologist
* Edwin Watts Chubb was acting president for one year in 1920 when President Ellis died and again in 1934 when President Bryan died. Chubb Hall is named for him.
Further reading John C. Baker: An Oral History. Athens: Ohio University Libraries, 1995. The Decade of the University: Ohio University and the Alden Years. Meno Lovenstein. Athens, Ohio: Lawhead Press, 1971. A philosophic account of the university in the 1960s Presidents, Kings, Astronauts, and Ball Players: Fascinating People I Have Known. Vernon R. Alden. Vantage Press, 2009. Speaking for Myself: The Personal Reflections of Vernon R. Alden, University President, Corporate Director, International Entrepreneur. Vernon R. Alden. Athens: Ohio University Libraries, 1997. Vernon R. Alden: An Oral History. Athens: Ohio University Libraries, 1999.
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