Ohio University to recognize legacy of former president, Dayton-native Roderick J. McDavis

Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.

Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.

Ohio University will celebrate on Friday the achievements of former President Roderick J. McDavis, a Dayton native, and former First Lady Deborah McDavis.

McDavis will give a public lecture at the university’s Baker Theater titled “Ohio’s legacy and the future of higher education.”

That same day, the university will have a cornerstone dedication and reception to celebrate the construction of the new Roderick J. McDavis Residence Hall.

Ohio University President Roderick McDavis is a graduate of Chaminade High School. After graduating from the high school, he went onto get degrees at Ohio University, the University of Dayton and the University of Toledo. McDavis became president of the university on 2004.

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The new dormitory is scheduled to open next fall and will have 591 beds. It will be the largest residence hall at OU.

Roderick McDavis is the university’s first Black president and second alumnus to lead OU, according to the university.

He served as president from 2004 to 2017.

During his tenure, OU started its first guaranteed tuition plan, according to the university. He helped raise more than half a billion dollars to support students and programs.

A Dayton native and Chaminade High School graduate, he was on the university’s varsity track team and a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

He completed his undergraduate at OU and earned his master’s at the University of Dayton. Roderick McDavis received his doctorate from the University of Toledo.