Ohio University President Duane Nellis wasted no time in exercising his executive abilities during his first day in office, naming David Descutner as interim executive vice president and provost, effective July 1.
Once in office, Descutner will fill the role left vacant by Pam Benoit, who recently accepted a position as senior vice president and provost at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Beginning in February, Descutner served as the university’s interim president, following the departure of former President Roderick McDavis, who stepped down in March 2016 to take a position as the managing principal of AGB Search, based in Washington, D.C.
The appointment, as described in a university-wide email, will allow Descutner the chance “to advance the University’s academic mission” while continuing to assist Nellis as he settles into the presidency.
“David Descutner has provided invaluable service to Ohio University for nearly four decades, most recently in his role as interim president,” Nellis said in the email. “He has been a tremendous asset to me, personally, as I embarked upon the beginning of my tenure as OHIO’s 21st president. It only makes sense to continue working closely with David as I continue to transition into my new role.”
Prior to his appointment as interim president, Descutner served as a special adviser of Faculty & Academic Planning at OU’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. Although facilitating in the presidential transition was the main function of his presidency, Descutner’s time in office was not without turbulence.
Following the arrest of 70 demonstrators in Baker University Center during a Feb. 1 protest, Descutner released a university-wide email supporting students’ right to
Criminal trespassing charges against the demonstrators were later thrown out after OU Police Chief Andrew Powers changed his stance on the matter, requesting that the city prosecutor
In March, Descutner initiated the dismissal process for Andrew Escobedo, an OU English professor who was found to have sexually harassed and inappropriately touched several female students since 2003. Escobedo’s hearing will take place in September, according to a recent Post report.
Having temporarily retired in 2015, Descutner previously served OU as the dean of University College, executive vice provost for undergraduate education and professor of communication studies — a position he stepped into in 1979. He also served two terms as a member of OU Faculty Senate and directed a number of programs within the School of Communication Studies. From 2012 to 2014, he worked as interim vice provost for Diversity and Inclusion.
“I have been rewarded by a tremendous career at Ohio University, and I am so grateful for the trust and confidence in my abilities Dr. Nellis has shown in naming me now as interim provost,” Descutner said in the email. “I look forward to continuing to work closely with President Nellis as he integrates into his new role and to working with faculty as we continue in our efforts to remain the nation's best transformative learning community.”
Since his retirement, Descutner was named interim chair of the Department of Social Medicine within HCOM and currently serves as the special assistant for Faculty Affairs and Academic Planning
Benoit’s
With Descutner in position as executive vice president and provost, the university will conduct a nationwide search “in the next couple of months” to find a permanent replacement.
