Governance Committee “disappointed” by Gasser’s resignation

Anna Ripken
Tue, 04 Jun 2019 15:40:34 +0000
Campus, News, abigail wexner, board of trustees chair, Governance Committee, jeffrey wadsworth, Michael Gasser, ohio state, Ohio State Board of Trustees, ohio state university, timothy smucker

Board of Trustees Chairman Michael Gasser listens at a Finance Committee meeting in Pomerene Hall on Aug. 30, 2018. Credit: Casey Cascaldo | Photo Editor

In an Ohio State University Board of Trustees meeting Friday morning, the Governance Committee acknowledged former Board chairman Michael Gasser’s resignation, which he announced in an email May 24.

Board member Alex Shumate called it an “unexpected change in leadership,” as the Board had just discussed reappointment for Gasser — whose term was set to expire in May 2021 — prior to his resignation.

“While we are certainly disappointed, we all respect Mike’s decision and we’ll identify a chair as we work through this process,” Shumate said. “[Hiroyuki Fujita] and I will be working together on a process to bring forward a recommendation.”

Timothy Smucker will continue to serve as interim chair, Abigail Wexner as vice chair and Jessie Eveland as acting secretary.

In Gasser’s resignation email, he said he no longer had time to commit to the job due to personal issues, but it had been “an honor to serve as a trustee.”

Gasser served on the Board since 2012 and as chairman since June 2018.

“Mr. Gasser’s service to Ohio State is deeply appreciated,” Ohio State spokesman Chris Davey said in a statement following Gasser’s resignation. “He has been an extraordinarily valuable chair and member of the board, and we wish him the very best.”

Gasser was the second Board member to resign within the year, following Jeffrey Wadsworth, who stepped down last fall.