Message from the Director

The end of June marks the end of Ohio State’s fiscal year. What a year it has been! We enjoyed the sesquicentennial and celebrated the countless accomplishments that make us proud Buckeyes. In India, we had the pleasure of connecting with our alumni, hearing them share their favorite memories about the university and initiating new collaborative projects on mutually enriching avenues.

The India Gateway continues to deliver high-value services that have enhanced faculty engagement in India with institutions of higher education, hospitals, corporations and government entities. We hosted over 80 faculty visiting more than 23 cities. The Frontier Science and Engineering Research Center, a joint initiative between Ohio State’s Institute of Materials Research and IIT-Bombay, initiated its scholars program and organized a United States – India Science and Technology Endowment Fund financed workshop. The second edition of our signature conference with the Infectious Diseases Institute hosted multiple experts in Mumbai. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Tata Management Training Center for conducting corporate executive education programs, and two cohorts graduated this year. The India Gateway hosted leadership from Tata and Mahindra as well as a faculty cohort from India participating in the Ministry of Human Resource Development, the government of India sponsored Leadership Excellence for Academicians' program on the Columbus campus.

In January, the India Gateway hosted Ohio State’s senior leadership, including Bruce McPheron, executive vice president and provost, and Gil Latz, vice provost for Global Strategies and International Affairs, who met with several of our hospital, university and corporate partners.

The last few months have been challenging for all with the COVID-19 pandemic and particularly for our current students. Ohio State is providing grants received from the CARES Act along with university funding for emergency student aid and continues to accept applications from students through the Together as Buckeyes program which provides support to eligible undergraduate, graduate and professional students who have been negatively affected by COVID-19. In India, we have experienced lockdown orders through the end of May which caused concerns among new and current students and their parents. The India Gateway has been coordinating with them while working with the Office of Student Life, the Office of Student Academic Success and the Office of International Affairs; additionally, we have been in close interactions with the U.S. Embassy and the Mumbai Consulate to track the resumption of visa services. After the spring semester and summer term were converted into online teaching and learning, the university has decided to resume classes on campus for the autumn semester.

We stand on the cusp of the new internationalization strategic plan, which will shape the next five years of global connections with partners. The new president of Ohio State was recently announced, and we are proud to have Kristina Johnson, a highly accomplished academic, entrepreneur and engineer, leading us.

In the next fiscal year, the India Gateway looks forward to continue building on the university’s important work in this part of the world.

Nikhil Tambe, Director of the India Gateway

Reflection on racial issues in the United States

High profile public protests against racial injustice and police-involved killings have heightened social tensions in the United States. Ohio State is taking steps to address institutional racism and reaffirmed its commitment to the university values of inclusion, diversity and tolerance.

Kristina M. Johnson appointed 16th president of Ohio State

The Ohio State Board of Trustees has appointed Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, as the 16th president in university history. Johnson, who currently serves as chancellor of the State University of New York, brings more than 30 years of experience as an academic, business and policy leader.

“We are pleased beyond measure to welcome Dr. Johnson to Ohio State,” said Board of Trustees Chair Gary R. Heminger. “Her range of knowledge, service and accomplishments across sectors and throughout her career is nothing short of remarkable. She is uniquely positioned to make an immediate impact – building on Ohio State’s momentum and advancing our mission to uplift lives through academic excellence.”

Alumni Engagement

Global Perspectives: Aditi Kare Panandikar

Aditi Kare Panandikar graduated from the College of Pharmacy with a Masters in Pharma Business Administration (1992). In May 2015, Panandikar was the recipient of the Jack L. Beal Post-Baccalaureate Alumni award from Ohio State for her outstanding contributions to the pharma industry. She was the recipient of the Leader of the Year award at the UBM India Pharma Awards and Business Woman of the Year award at the Business Goa Awards for Corporate Excellence in 2016.

Faculty

Final round of COVID-19 seed funding

Ohio State’s Office of Research announced details of the final round of funding to boost research in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. New research includes vaccine programs, mental health and history lessons.

Abhay Satoskar, professor and vice chair of research for the Wexner Medical Center’s Department of Pathology, is leading an effort to develop a vaccine against COVID-19 with a delivery platform designed to induce a robust immune response and provide longer immunity.

Bhushan receives ASME lifetime achievement award

Professor Bharat Bhushan, Ohio Eminent Scholar and Howard D. Winbigler Professor and Director of Nanoprobe Lab for Bio- and Nanotechnology and Biomimetics, has received the 2020 Mayo D. Hersey Award from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). The ASME Mayo D. Hersey Award was established in 1965. It is given in recognition of distinguished and continued contribution over a substantial period of time to the advancement of tribology, the science of friction, wear, lubrication, and related design aspects. The award is regarded as the highest honor in the field given by ASME.

"I am deeply honored to receive this award," Bhushan said.

Plans announced for autumn semester

Ohio State announced that it plans to resume in-person classes for the autumn semester. The announcement was made by President Michael V. Drake at a meeting of the Board of Trustees and in a message to the university community.

Specific guidelines will be announced in the coming weeks based on guidance from state and local health authorities and recommendations of the Safe Campus and Scientific Advisory Subgroup of the university’s COVID-19 Transition Task Force.