Ryan J. Schmiesing, PhD, began his appointment as senior vice provost of external engagement on August 15, 2022, having previously served as vice provost for outreach and engagement. He was named interim senior vice provost in August 2021.
As senior vice provost, Ryan will lead our external engagement strategy that connects Ohio State expertise, scholarship, and service to local, statewide, national, and international communities. He will also provide leadership of regional campus strategy and operations in partnership with our campus deans and directors.
Since 2019, Ryan has served as Ohio State’s vice provost for outreach and engagement. In leading our Office of Outreach and Engagement and a portfolio of regional and statewide external engagement initiatives, Ryan has deepened partnerships and enhanced impact across the university and in our communities. He created several funding and recognition programs, including an internal grant program focused on assessing community-university programs and partnerships and the OSU Engages awards program. He established a university-wide community of practice for faculty engaged in community-based research. Ryan coordinates the Ohio State Energy Partnership internal grants program, which has awarded more than $2.4 million to faculty, staff, and students. He also led the first external review of the regional campuses.
Prior to leading outreach and engagement, Ryan served first as associate vice provost and then as vice provost for strategic planning and implementation. In these roles, he supported the development of the Time and Change strategic plan and built an aligned review process for college and program strategic plans. He is on the faculty of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences and served in progressive administrative positions. For 12 years, he was an educator and administrator for Ohio 4-H Youth Development in Ohio State University Extension, which connects the university’s knowledge and resources across Ohio. Among his many accomplishments with 4-H, he facilitated the project planning for the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center.
His research and published work in peer-reviewed journals focus on volunteer leadership and management, particularly related to university extension education. He has been a frequently invited speaker at local, state and national conferences on these topics and received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents.
Throughout his career he has focused on and led efforts related to program and strategic planning as well as improved organizational operations. With more than 20 years of experience in higher education, he has also worked at state and federal levels in program, youth and volunteer development.
Ryan began his undergraduate experience at Ohio State's Lima campus and earned his BS, MS, and PhD from The Ohio State University.
Executive Assistant
Jo'Vanna Zanders
zanders.3@osu.edu