Main Content
REPORT ON GIVING
Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023
PHILANTHROPY IN SERVICE TO EDUCATION
For more than two centuries, Ohio University has fulfilled its commitment to encourage education, impacting the lives of more than 28,000 students on our residential campus, regional campuses and centers, and in online programs, and supported by the legacy of more than 290,000 alumni worldwide. This is made possible the the generosity and support of alumni and countless friends, who have invested in the future of Ohio's first institution of higher learning through The Ohio University Foundation.
We are proud to report that the commitment and support of our donors has resulted in record-high contributions for fiscal years 2022 and 2023, specifically $44,114,936 for fiscal year 2022 and $44,434,572 for fiscal year 2023.
These donations allow students to pursue their passions through Ohio University’s 250+ academic programs, 550+ student organizations, 16 NCAA Division I teams, and study abroad opportunities on six continents. Each experience builds on the thousands of moments and growth opportunities that have been created over the past two centuries, inspiring our sense of forever.
We are grateful to our donors for their generosity and support, which have allowed Ohio University to continue to fulfill its promise of educational excellence for generations to come.
-
Alumnus shares OHIO tradition through new Ohio University Eastern scholarship
Ohio University Eastern students who plan to pursue one of the more than 250 programs offered at the Athens campus now have the opportunity to receive a $5,000 scholarship due to the generosity of Ohio University alumnus George J. Kontogiannis
The George J. Kontogiannis Scholarship for Eastern Campus Relocating Students was established to support a regional campus student’s financial need as they relocate to Ohio University’s Athens campus.
OHIO meta-majors and relocation pathways allow students to choose a general field of study and pursue degree options that may not be offered at OHIO Eastern. Students can enroll to begin courses at a regional campus and choose to relocate to the residential campus in Athens to finish their degree.
Kontogiannis’ generosity extends across his alma mater, where he has established scholarships that support OHIO Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine students and the Collegiate Recovery Community in the Division of Student Affairs. He has a passion for supporting mental health and addiction resources. To show his commitment to medical education, he named the third-floor Quiet Study Area in Heritage Hall in Athens, the George J. Kontogiannis A.I.A. Quiet Study Area.
“This scholarship is an exciting opportunity because it increases access to more degree programs for area students who want to attend Ohio University. Now that OHIO regional campuses have meta-major pathways, the timing of this generous gift is perfect.” — David Rohall, Dean of Campus and Community Relations
-
Education major makes the most of teaching internship with Experiential Learning Award
Tatum Tatman graduated in Spring 2022 with a degree in middle childhood education and noted that she made the most of her professional internship experience during her senior year. With an Ohio University Experiential Learning Award, she was able to purchase instructional tools for use in her 6th-grade classroom at Salt Creek School in Kingston, Ohio.
Tatman began her internship in Fall 2021, observing in the 6th-grade classroom where she later did her student teaching.
Ohio University’s Experiential Learning Awards represented an opportunity to secure outside resources to enhance the learning experience of Tatman’s students at Salt Creek. She has used her Experiential Learning Award funding to purchase books the students use in small groups or book clubs based on their interests and reading levels. She also purchased personal-sized whiteboards the students use to share ideas and write answers to questions.
Associate Professor of Instruction Karen Corcoran said Tatman has emerged as a teacher leader.
As a high school senior, Tatman was attracted to Ohio University Chillicothe because of its proximity to her home and its affordability. She said she knew she had made the right choice once she started her college career at OHIO Chillicothe.
“I definitely made the right choice. I loved it! I was able to pay for school all on my own through working and scholarships so I came out of college debt-free,” Tatman said. “I’m really grateful for that.”
“Tatum has always sought opportunities for professional growth in her teacher preparation journey… The real winners of this experiential grant are the students she teaches in her internship.” — Karen Corcoran, Associate Professor of Instruction in Middle Childhood Education at Ohio University Chillicothe
-
Multigeneration Bobcat family shares OHIO tradition through Appalachian Scholarship
Each family has its traditions. For the Lykins family, attending Ohio University is a tradition — one that stretches back five generations and includes 26 Bobcats.
Ronald Lykins, MBA ’67, Ph.D. ’71, is sharing his family’s tradition with the OHIO community and Appalachia through a generous gift in honor of his late wife, Ruth Wilson Lykins, BSHSS ’69. The Ron and Ruth Wilson Lykins Family Scholarship supports high school graduates in Adams County, Ohio, who qualify for OHIO’s Appalachian Scholars Program so they can start or continue their own connections to Ohio University.
An Adams County native, Lykins lived with his grandparents in the house he was born in, which had no running water or electricity. With his family’s encouragement, Lykins was able to pursue an undergraduate degree.
Lykins arrived in Athens for his MBA and met the woman who would become his wife, Ruth, whose grandfather, Olan Euzeda Fri, BSED 1920, began her family’s Bobcat tradition. Lykins remained connected to OHIO through his doctoral studies, and later, after he founded his financial advising firm, he returned to teach as an adjunct in the MBA program for 13 years.
The Lykins family's Bobcat tradition passed down to their three children — Kurt, Kristi, and Lisa — and oldest grandchild, Alex Mielke, who graduated from OHIO in 2017. Today, grandchildren Mia Citino and Nick Citino are keeping the tradition alive as current OHIO students, walking the same brick paths as two dozen of their family members across the generations.
Looking back, Lykins says his OHIO experience is “like a fairy tale.”
“My OU experience has helped enhance the quality of my life enormously, and to know that so many of the members from my wife’s family have attended Ohio University, now going on five generations, and on the Lykins side, three generations – it just has meant the world to me to have established all those friends and opportunities that it’s given me. It’s just a dream, it really is.” — Ronald Lykins, MBA ’67, Ph.D. ’71
-
OHIO & Dilley family unite to make higher education more accessible for West Virginia students
An Ohio University education will be more affordable for select students from West Virginia thanks to a new scholarship fund created by a family with multigenerational ties to OHIO. In 2022, The Dilley Family Scholarship for West Virginia was established with funding from the Dilley family combined with The OHIO MatchTM funds to create a $1 million endowment.
The Dilley family legacy dates to 1920, when then-OHIO President Alston Ellis hired Frank B. Dilley to lead the John Hancock High School, a teaching high school in the College of Education. Frank Dilley continued to serve Ohio University for more than 35 years. Beyond his commitment and service to OHIO, Frank’s career also began a family legacy at Ohio University that spans four generations.
As director of admissions, Frank helped thousands of students begin their journey at Ohio University, including his four children. The pursuit of education was an important family value, as demonstrated by the academic achievements and subsequent careers of Frank and his children. Now through the generosity of the Dilley family, students from West Virginia will have even greater access to pursue their education at Ohio University.
Since 2021, students from West Virginia have qualified for in-state tuition rates at Ohio University, based on a reciprocity agreement. The Dilley Family Scholarship for West Virginia will assist qualified students from the Mountain State to pursue their dreams of attending Ohio University. The scholarship provides an opportunity to honor the legacy and commitment of the Dilley family while making college more affordable and accessible for future generations of students.
“The Dilley family has always been interested in increasing access to Ohio University, and this generous scholarship will make it more accessible to West Virginia students. The West Virginia reciprocity that we’ve achieved recently makes Ohio University affordable in general to West Virginia students, and this scholarship will make it even more attractive to some of the top students.” — Candace Boeninger, OHIO Vice President of Enrollment Management
-
Gift to Ohio University’s Heritage College honors osteopathic manipulative medicine pioneer
Ohio University’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine received a $700,000 gift from investor Richard Fulford in honor of his late father, Robert C. Fulford, D.O., who was a pioneer in osteopathic manipulative medicine and alternative medical remedies.
Along with the major gift, Richard Fulford has also created the Robert C. Fulford, D.O., Endowment Fund to support osteopathic manipulative medicine programs in the Heritage College. The endowment will be created through a residual bequest in Richard Fulford’s will at a future date and is currently estimated to be a gift of $300,000. To honor his father’s legacy, the osteopathic manipulative medicine lab in Heritage Hall has been named the Robert C. Fulford, D.O., Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Lab and includes a portrait of Robert Fulford that was gifted to the school.
Richard Fulford’s total gift is the largest individual gift in the history of the Heritage College.
Robert Fulford, born in 1905 and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, was a graduate of the Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He authored three books and developed several methods to treat chronic illnesses, opening practices in Indiana, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Tucson, Arizona, before retiring and living the rest of his life in Waverly, Ohio. He died in 1997.
While in Waverly, Robert Fulford developed relationships with faculty and students from OHIO’s Heritage College, often sharing his knowledge of medical practice with members of the Heritage College who would come by to learn from the esteemed doctor.
This generous gift will continue to support the manipulative medicine approach Robert Fulford presented to his patients for years to come in OHIO’s Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) Department.
“My dad was so dedicated to his profession and always did the best he could for his patients. I wanted to honor my dad and support his life’s work through planting the seeds I’ve been fortunate to have and letting them grow through osteopathic medical students. My dad was born, raised, and died in Ohio so I wanted to give back to the community he was from and further his legacy.” — Richard Fulford
-
Ohio University’s College of Business announces gift to enhance student leadership success
A top Ohio University College of Business initiative is expanding, thanks to a $2.5 million gift from one of the University’s most recognizable graduates in the global leadership space. Keith and Deborah Wandell’s multimillion-dollar commitment will enhance The Keith and Deborah Wandell Leadership Development Program. This College of Business flagship enterprise accelerates the personal growth, professional development, and leadership identity of high-potential students using the same leadership practices Keith Wandell is known for championing throughout his career. Promoting students’ leadership capabilities is what led the Wandells to focus their impact on OHIO.
A native of Lima, Ohio, Keith Wandell graduated with a degree in business administration from Ohio University in 1972. Wandell served as CEO of Harley-Davidson from 2009 to 2015. His appointment as CEO took place during a nationwide financial crisis that threatened the company’s operations. Under Wandell’s leadership, Harley-Davidson developed and implemented a strategy that successfully transformed the 112-year-old company, restored its financial strength, and positioned it for continued growth. Wandell’s commitment to excellence is evident in his successful career.
Wandell drove success for the organization through his commitment to strong, principled leadership at all levels. Wandell is internationally known not only for his ability to create high-performing, values-driven cultures, but also for his willingness to mentor others.
Through the initiative’s process of self-awareness, application, experience and growth, these OHIO students develop skills to differentiate themselves as leaders.
“We need effective leaders in the world. Deb and I want to make sure the next generation of leaders understands the importance of trust, listening, and the value of relationships. I’m glad we have a part in helping Ohio University develop those aspects of students’ leadership practice.” — Keith Wandell
FACTS & FIGURES
-
FY 2022 total: $44,114,936
Donor Counts
-
FY 2022 total: $44,114,936
Purpose*
* Reporting of gifts by purpose adheres to guidelines from the Council for Aid to Education (CAE). Gifts to support the academic department of health, physical education, and recreation are reported under “Academic Divisions”; gifts to support athletic scholarships are reported under “Student Financial Aid”; and gifts for capital projects are reported under “Physical Plant” or “Property.”
-
FY 2022 total: $44,114,936
Restriction
-
FY 2022 total: $44,114,936
Donor Counts
-
FY 2023 total: $44,434,572
Donor Type
-
FY 2023 total: $44,434,572
Purpose*
* Reporting of gifts by purpose adheres to guidelines from the Council for Aid to Education (CAE). Gifts to support the academic department of health, physical education, and recreation are reported under “Academic Divisions”; gifts to support athletic scholarships are reported under “Student Financial Aid”; and gifts for capital projects are reported under “Physical Plant” or “Property.”
-
FY 2023 total: $44,434,572
Restriction
-
FY 2023 total: $44,434,572
Donor Counts
VOLUNTEER LISTING
Ohio University Foundation Board of Trustees (July 1, 2022–June 30, 2023)
Officers
Perry A. Sook, BSC ’80
Chair
I. Robert Rudy, BBA ’74
Vice Chair
Sandra J. Anderson, BA ’73
Vice Chair
Susan Mulgrew, BSJ ’72
Secretary
Nico Karagosian
President and CEO, The Ohio University Foundation
Vice President, Ohio University Advancement
Candice Casto
Treasurer and CFO
Trustees
David Abram, BSC ’89
Thomas Anderson, DO ’83
Mark Arnold, BSISE ’82
Melissa Wervey Arnold, BSJ ’99
Karen Bailey, BBA ’81
William “Erv” Ball, BSEd ’77
Joseph Becherer, BFA ’87, MFA ’90
Timothy Busch, BSC ’85
Cynthia Calhoun, BSEE ’88
Edward C. Chow, BA ’71, MA ’72
Casey Christopher, BSC ’02
Charles Ciuni, BBA ’80
Cary Cooper, BS ’64
Richard Dickerson, BSCE ’80
R. Scott Durcanin, BBA ’85
Ann Gabriel
Paul Gydosh, BSEE ’74
Donald L. Harrison, BBA ’83, MBA ’84
Greg Hill, DO ’86
Ann Wagner Hill, BSEd ’68
William D. Hillyard, BSEd ’67
Janis Jones, BS ’79
Phyllis Kohler, AB ’69
David Levy, BS ’78
Jeffrey M. Loewy, BBA ’64
Dennis Minichello, AB ’74, MA ’74
Stephen Muck, BBA ’84
Susan Mulgrew, BSJ ’72
Eric Peterson, BBA ’74
Jackie Reau, BSJ ’92, MSA ’12
Hugh Sherman
Robin Smith, BFA ’72
Diane Smullen, BBA ’92
Daryl Sybert, DO ’86
Robert “Bob” Wolfinger, AA ’73, BGS ’80
David Wolfort, AB ’74
Jeffrey Wright, BBA ’03
The above listing is reflective of Board membership from July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023.