Aces of Trades: He rose the ranks at OSU-Marion to become dean
Greg Rose grew up in Illinois where the Frank Lloyd Wright influence was strong – and that led him to think of a career in architecture.
“I’m not sure I had a lot of dreams, although at one point I recall being interested in architecture," recalled Rose. "Maybe that was related to living in Oak Park with the Frank Lloyd Wright houses nearby.”
But life took a turn.
“My first exposure to academia probably came partway through high school when my father accepted a faculty position" he said. "Both of my parents held college degrees, and education was always an important part of our lives. But I certainly hadn’t thought of becoming a university professor or an administrator then.”
Today, Rose is dean and director of The Ohio State University at Marion.
“Being an administrator was not something I aspired to,” he said. “But early in my time here the faculty I worked with, and academic leaders I respected, suggested I might have the aptitude and characteristics of an administrator.”
“Helping others, in my small way, to advance and prosper does seem to come from the heart," he noted.
Rose, now in his “very, very late 40s,” grew up in Oak Park, Illinois, a suburb west of Chicago and famous as the birthplace of Ernest Hemingway and the home of Frank Lloyd Wright during his “Prairie School” period. Halfway through high school Rose moved to Valparaiso, Indiana, where his father took a faculty position at Valparaiso University.
Rose’s first years of high school were at Oak Park/River Forest High School. The last years were at Valparaiso High School. He then graduated with degrees in history and geography from Valparaiso University and went on to earn master’s and Ph.D. degrees in geography from Michigan State University.
“My job search serendipitously brought me to Ohio State Marion where I began as an assistant professor of geography in 1982," he said. "The chance to become part of such a great university was what caused me to apply for the position in the first place.”
“Greg is a true servant leader,” assessed Cathy Gerber, director of development and community relations at Ohio State Marion. “From performing menial tasks during the preparation and execution of an event to making legacy decisions that impact Ohio State Marion and our land grant mission, Greg does it all graciously. It’s a pleasure to work with him every day.”
“I am very pleased with where life’s path has taken me,” Rose responded. “It’s a journey I could not have expected.”
“The opportunity to help advance Ohio State Marion and support its faculty and staff, and to provide opportunities for students from the area and beyond to become Buckeyes and use their education to lift themselves, their families and their communities, is both humbling and fulfilling," he concluded.
The Ohio State University at Marion is located at 1465 Mt Vernon Ave. in Marion. For more information, call 740-389-6786 or log on osumarion.osu.edu.
Aces of Trades is a weekly series focusing on people and their jobs — whether they’re unusual jobs, fun jobs or people who take ordinary jobs and make them extraordinary. If you have a suggestion for a future profile, let us know at news@marionstar.com.
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Aces of Trades: Greg Rose's path to become Ohio State Marion dean
