Harry Wyatt, an architect and adminstrator who has spearheaded millions of dollars in new campus construction, has left Ohio University.
Wyatt took a job at Virginia Commonwealth University as the associate vice president for Facilities Management. OU made his departure public last week.
"Harry's influence as the architectural conscience for the university will be felt for some time," said Joseph Lalley, senior associate vice president of Information Technology and Adminstrative Services, in a university news release.
His leaving OU removes an instrumental figure in planning the physical future of OU's campus and The Ridges.
Wyatt's employment at VCU is effective July 1 and OU will soon begin a national search to replace him. In the meantime, Richard Shultz, currently OU's chief architect, will fill Wyatt's position.
Wyatt assumed his role as OU's associate vice president for Facilities in 2008 and since then, has been instrumental in crafting the university's Capital Improvement Plan. Lalley specifically cited Wyatt's contributions to the fiscal year 2015 to fiscal year 2020 capital plan, "work that we are starting to undertake now and the product of which will last for years to come."
Earlier this year, Wyatt moved to a new position: associate vice president of architecture, design and construction. "Mr. Wyatt was moved into his current role in order to provide focused attention, resources and leadership over the largest Capital Improvement Plan in Ohio University history at $966 million for FY2015-2020," wrote Stephanie Filson, OU's director of external communications, in an email.
The Ridges Master Planning Committee, which Wyatt has chaired since its creation last summer, will now be co-chaired by two other OU adminstrators.
That committee, along with its subcommittees and The Ridges Advisory Commitee, is tasked with creating a plan for The Ridges' future. The plan is due in spring 2015.
Joseph Shields, vice president for research and creative activity and dean of the Graduate College, and Shawna Bolin, director of university planning and space management, will now lead the committee.
Lalley will be the city of Athens' point of contact, according to the news release.
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