 "Photo: Matthew Hashiguchi")
Barbara Snyder, Ohio State's executive vice president and provost, has accepted an offer to become the first female president of Case Western Reserve University, in the midst of a search to replace President Karen Holbrook.
"It has been a privilege for me to spend 19 years at Ohio State as a faculty member, in various administrative role(s) and finally as executive vice president and provost," Snyder said in a statement. "I will always feel that I am a part of the Ohio State community."
She will continue normal duties at OSU until July 1.
Holbrook said she will work with OSU's Board of Trustees in appointing an interim executive vice president and provost, leading up to her retirement this summer. Then, "it will be up to the new president to decide who he or she wants to fill that role," Holbrook said.
She said Snyder's departure will be a great loss for OSU but Case Western will receive a great asset in July.
"Barbara understands the full workings of the university and she will take all those talents with her to Case," Holbrook said.
Case's interim president, Dr. Gregory Eastwood, will step down from the position and return to his role as a Case trustee when Snyder comes to the university in July. He has been interim president since June.
The Board of Trustees at Case Western conducted a nationwide search for a president before it unanimously selected Snyder.
"The search committee was extraordinarily pleased to present the candidacy of Barbara Snyder to the Board of Trustees. Ms. Snyder is an accomplished academician and an outstanding administrator who has served Ohio State with distinguished leadership, enthusiasm and creativity," said Frank Linsalata, Case Western's chairman of the Board of Trustees, in a press release. "The committee and the board believe her wide-ranging academic and administrative experience provides her with the skills necessary for a long and successful presidency with the university."
As executive vice president and provost, Snyder presides over OSU's Office of Academic Affairs.
OSU's annual research expenditures rose from $496 million to $652 million with Snyder as a top administrator. She also addressed faculty concerns regarding employment issues.
Holbrook pointed to Snyder's Targeted Investment in Excellence Program as one of her greatest accomplishments at the university.
The program helps to lure and retain tools necessary for "first-rate teaching, first-rate research and wonderful opportunities for students and faculty alike," Holbrook said in a telephone interview.
Snyder said her time at OSU has prepared her to accept the responsibility of being president of a prestigious university. She cited GEC reform, increased benefits for graduate associates and the adoption of paid parental leave for faculty and staff as some of her greatest achievements at OSU, but shared credit with her colleagues at the university for the success.
"Ohio State's size and complexity have provided me a broad range of challenges and opportunities," Snyder said.
Snyder started her higher education teaching career as a professor of law at Case Western in 1983. She worked there until 1988 when she came to OSU and took a job with the Michael E. Moritz College of Law. Snyder has held several positions within the school during her time with the university.
"I am very fortunate to be able to serve in leadership roles at two universities that I love," Snyder said. "It is a wonderful homecoming for me to return to Case Western Reserve University and to Cleveland."
Snyder earned a B.A. in sociology from OSU before obtaining a law degree from the University of Chicago. She served as the interim executive vice president and provost at OSU from 2003-2004 before being named to the position later in 2004.
Snyder also served as OSU's vice provost for academic policy and human resources for two years. As a high-ranking university official, she helped improve OSU's status as a research institution.
"Perhaps the most important lesson I have learned at Ohio State is we realize our goals only when we all work together. It is a lesson I will carry with me to CWRU," Snyder said.
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