Athletic Director Gene Smith: Autumn Commencement 2023

Gene Smith, senior vice president and Wolfe Foundation Athletic Director at The Ohio State University, spoke at the 2023 autumn commencement, describing it as "one of the greatest honors of my life." Retiring in July 2024 after a 39-year career as an athletics director, Smith leaves behind a 19-year legacy at the university. He is also the namesake for the Eugene D. Smith Leadership Institute, focusing on leadership, character, and career development for student-athletes. Smith encouraged graduates to stay connected with Ohio State and give back once they've achieved professional success.
Acting President Peter Mohler acknowledged the challenges the class of 2023 faced during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic, praising their perseverance. Alumna Karen L. Hendricks and former WOSU Public Media general manager Thomas M. Rieland received Distinguished Service Awards during the ceremony. A total of 3,515 degrees were awarded, including 170 doctorates, 444 master's and 13 professional degrees, and 2,888 undergraduate and associate degrees and certificates. Graduates represented over 70 countries, emphasizing the university's global reach.
See for more: news.osu.edu/g...
Access:
We are working on captioning our videos as soon as possible. If you notice this video has not been captioned three business days after it has been posted, please email us at [e-mail].
Courtesy WOSU