OSU Dean replaces Dann

Nancy Rogers

Nancy Hardin Rogers, dean of the Moritz College of Law, was appointed Wednesday as interim Ohio Attorney General.

Rogers will fill the position until Nov. 4, when voters will decide who will fill the full-time position left vacant by Marc Dann's resignation May 14.

"I believe we are taking an important step to restore orderliness and public confidence in the Office of the Attorney General," Gov. Ted Strickland said in a press release.

Rogers has served as dean of the law school since 2001 and has made several achievements while at the university, including winning 2008's Bar Medal Award from the Ohio State Bar Association and was the 2007 president of the American Association of Law Schools.

Prior to her position as dean, Rogers began teaching at OSU in 1976, focusing primarily on dispute resolution, and served as vice provost for academic administration for two years.

Dann's office underwent a sexual harassment investigation in the beginning of May which led to the firing of two of Dann's top staff members and two others.

Dann later resigned, facing possible impeachment after admitting to having an extramarital affair with a 28-year-old staff member.

Strickland said Rogers has made it "abundantly clear" that she will not run in the November election for the remaining two years of the position and will be returning to OSU once a new attorney general is elected.

Eric House can be reached at house.93@osu.edu.