KAREN HOLBROOK

'Karen A. Holbrook' (born November 6, 1942 in Des Moines, Iowa) was the 13th presiding president of The Ohio State University. She took office on October 1, 2002, replacing Interim President Edward H. Jennings. Holbrook earned her B.S. and M.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in zoology. After teaching biology at Ripon College, she earned a Ph.D. in biological structure from the University of Washington School of Medicine in 1972, then pursued further training in dermatology. She is an alumna of Gamma Phi Beta sorority.
Prior to leading The Ohio State University, Holbrook was a professor of biological structure and medicine at University of Washington School of Medicine, Vice president for Research and Dean of the Graduate School at the University of Florida, and most recently Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at the University of Georgia. At all points in her career Holbrook has continued to research dermatology.
In addition to her academic responsibilities, Holbrook serves on several non-profit boards, such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Association of American Universities, National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, Association of American Medical Colleges, American College Testing Program, American Council on Education, National Merit Scholarship Corporation, and National Council for Science and the Environment, among many others.
Holbrook resigned on June 30, 2007, ending her five-year career at Ohio State. Joseph A. Alutto, dean of the Max M. Fisher College of Business at Ohio State replaced Holbrook as an interim president until Gordon Gee took his place as the new president.

★ onCampus newspaper story on election of Karen Holbrook

★ Letter of resignation and facts about her years as President

★ Official Biography from Ohio State Office of the President's Office