Michael Boehm, currently professor and chair of the department of plant pathology at Ohio State, will join Academic Affairs as vice provost for academic planning.

Boehm promoted to vice provost

Ohio State Provost Joseph Alutto has announced that Michael Boehm, currently professor and chair of the department of plant pathology, will join Academic Affairs as vice provost for academic planning. Subject to approval by the Board of trustees, his appointment will be effective Saturday (5/15). Boehm will focus on capital improvements that strategically support the academic plan and provide oversight of a number of academic support units.


In a letter to the University Community Executive Vice-President and Provost Joseph Alutto said, “I am delighted to announce that Michael J. Boehm, currently professor and chair of the Department of Plant Pathology, will join the Office of Academic Affairs as the vice provost for academic planning. 


Mike will focus on capital improvements that strategically support the academic plan and provide oversight of a number of academic support units.  His academic work in biology and plant pathology involves systems integration and those experiences will provide a natural transition to his work in the central administration with university-wide systems.


An Ohio State faculty member since 1996, Mike also has wide-ranging administrative experience, including serving as both associate chair and chair of his department.  Mike is involved in teaching at all levels and in advising and mentoring students and postdoctoral researchers, and his research has been widley published in peer-reviewed publications.  In addition to his academic career, Mike served 20 years in the military reserves and was recalled to active duty with the Navy after 9/11 and the intentional release of anthrax.  While on active duty Mike developed and implemented a Navy-wide response for protecting the fleet from potential use of bioweapons.


Among his many awards and honors, he received an Excellence in Teaching Award from the American Phytopathological Society and, at Ohio State, he received an Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching.  He has provided leadership for all extension-outreach activities related to turfgrass disease management at Ohio State and was awarded the Professional Excellence Award from the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation.


Mike earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Heidelberg College and both his master’s degree and doctorate in plant pathology at The Ohio State Uiversity.  I look forward to working with Mike in his new role.”