COLUMBUS, Ohio – OSU President Dr. E. Gordon Gee, under fire recently for remarks he has made about other universities and Catholics, has announced he will retire from the post July 1.
Executive Vice President and Provost Joseph Alutto will serve as interim president during the search for a successor
The announcement was made this afternoon in a joint statement from Gee and Robert Schottenstein, chairman of the Board of Trustees.
Gee says he made the decision while on vacation with his family.
“During my days away, I…spent some time in self-reflection. And after much deliberation, I have decided it is now time for me to turn over the reins of leadership to allow the seeds that we have planted to grow. It is also time for me to reenergize and refocus myself,” he said.
Gee was forced to apologize for remarks he made in December about Catholics, Notre Dame University and other universities and Arkansas football coach Bret Bielema, former coach at Wisconsin.
Gee served two terms as OSU president for two terms, from 1990-1997, returning in 2007.
Wearing a boyish grin and bow tie, he has been credited with enhancing the university’s academic profile and its image as a public research institution.
A virtually legendary fundraiser, he recently embarked on an effort to help raise more than $1.6 billion.
His tenure has also been marked by several verbal gaffes, including references to football teams known as the Little Sisters of the Poor, which required him to apologize to a religi0ous order of that name in the Toledo area, and remarks about the Polish army.
“I cannot express enough my deep appreciation to the people of Ohio for the opportunity they have given me to lead this great university. I love this university, and although I might be retiring from the presidency, my work with Ohio State will continue. No matter what the future may hold for me, Ohio is my home,” he said.
“This man has been an inspiration to many people, including me, and we all are forever grateful for his friendship. His thoughtful and unique leadership style has taken the University to new levels. His engagement with the entire Ohio State community is truly remarkable. Clearly he leaves a rich and lasting legacy and will be missed,” Schottenstein said in the joint statement.
Alutto previously served as interim president in 2007.
As The Ohio State University’s chief academic officer, he has been responsible for the administration, coordination, and development of all academic functions of the university.
Details about a search for a replacement will be released later, the university said.