Chris Davey is set to start at OSU Aug. 11 as the assistant vice president of media and public relations. Credit: Courtesy of Chris Davey

Chris Davey is set to start at OSU Aug. 11 as the assistant vice president of media and public relations.
Credit: Courtesy of Chris Davey

Ohio State has found its next public relations official after a roughly seven-month search.

Chris Davey is set to start at OSU Aug. 11 as the assistant vice president of media and public relations.

His role will involve “enhancing Ohio State’s reputation through leadership of media strategy, planning and execution,” according to an email from Melinda Church, vice president of university communications, that OSU spokesman Gary Lewis provided to The Lantern.

Davey is set to earn a salary of $155,000, Lewis said.

Davey, an OSU alumnus in journalism and a former editor of The Lantern, is currently the director of public information at the Supreme Court of Ohio, a position he’s held since 2003. Prior to that, he worked at Ohio Dominican University and the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

He started his career as a reporter at the Dayton Daily News and the Cincinnati Enquirer.

“OSU has been an important part of my life from an early age, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve this institution that I love,” Davey said in an email. “It is exciting to come back at a time when Dr. Drake and the administration have big plans, and I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of it.”

The position was previously held by Gayle Saunders, who left in February after a year and a half at OSU. Her resignation was announced in December and, at the time, Church said the search for her replacement would begin immediately. Saunders earned $150,000 in the role.

Her interim replacement, Doug Haddix, an editorial assistant vice president in the department, also earned $150,000. Haddix is set to remain in the interim position until Davey’s start and then return to his role as editorial assistant vice president, Lewis said.

 

Logan Hickman contributed to this article.

Editor’s note: This article was updated July 8 with Chris Davey’s salary, a statement from Davey and what role Doug Haddix will move into after Davey starts.