 "Photo: <i>Shino Omura</i>")
 "Photo: <i>Shino Omura</i>")
| Students welcome back E. Gordon Gee at Marketplace on Neil Avenue Saturday. |
"I am returning to a place I consider my home," Gee said.
The Board of Trustees made an official decision Thursday with a unanimous vote to appoint Gee as university president.
Gee previously served as OSU president from 1990 until late 1997. The rare double appearance at the university's top position is matched only by Edward Jennings, who returned in 2002 for a three-month stint as interim president.
Gee, who will officially take office in the fall, will be under contract for seven years. He will start with an annual base salary of $775,000 and will receive $225,000 in deferred compensation after five years. Gee will also be eligible for additional compensation that has yet to be negotiated. At Vanderbilt, where Gee has been chancellor since 2000, he was the top-paid college president in the country making more than $1 million annually. Former OSU President Karen A. Holbrook received more than $600,000 annually in total compensation.
Gee said money was not a factor in his decision making. He said he wanted to return to public education after spending 10 years at private institutions.
"I woke up every morning and said 'Why am I here?'" Gee said.
Gee, who credits his own success to public education, said he wanted to return to the public institutions that educate the majority of the country.
"They are the front door to the American Dream," he said.
Gee turned down initial offers for OSU's presidency.
"I turned down the job because I felt that I had a duty and responsibility at Vanderbilt," he said.
But after a trip back to OSU's campus, he said he decided he wanted to return.
Gee noted that he has changed as a leader and the university itself has changed since he left in 1997.
His reputation with students, however, precedes him.
"I'm excited that he's back," said Brian Estabrook, a senior in history.
Estabrook said he felt a growing rift between the faculty and student body. He said he believes the growing distance will be addressed under the new leadership.
"It is important that faculty and students work together," he said.
Student trustee Debra Van Camp said she supports Gee's vision to make OSU a leader in higher education accessibility.
"His passion for taking us there is demonstrated by leaving a private university," she said.
Gee said he will work to build a relationship with the student body.
"I love students," he said. "You'll be tired of hearing from me after a while." Gee said that one of his favorite activities is attending student parties.
"We can make a large university seem very small by the actions we take," he said.
Friday morning Gee met with student leaders on campus.
He walked into Marketplace with the goal of meeting everyone. Slowly, he made his way around the crowded room greeting students.
Undergraduate Student Government President Kate Christobek said Gee was already excited to work on student issues.
"He immediately listened to who we are and what our positions were," she said.
Council of Graduate Students President David Boley said he was impressed with the new president.
"He's just like everyone told me he was," he said.
Boley said it is still important to maintain a professional relationship with the administration to effectively communicate graduate student concerns. He said he looks forward to building new relationships with the president's cabinet and vice presidents.
As Gee left and made his way back across campus, he left no O-H unanswered. He met everyone who crossed his path including Columbus residents and children.
Later that morning Gee met again with the Board of Trustees. He said he was inspired by his meeting with students.
"I take that as an opportunity to energize myself," he said.
Alaina Busch can be reached at busch.61@osu.edu.
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