By Kelley Bozeman

William E. Kirwan II

"Dr. Kirwan has been a national leader in higher education as president of the University of Maryland and current president of The Ohio State University. We were honored to acknowledge his contributions and proud that he is a graduate of the Mathematics Department in the College of Arts and Sciences."

-- Howard Grotch,
dean, UK College of Arts and Sciences

April 22, 2002 (Lexington, Ky.) -- William E. Kirwan II, president of The Ohio State University and alumnus of the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences, was presented the Outstanding Alumni Award from the UK Alumni Association and the College of Arts and Sciences on April 12 at the Hilary J. Boone Center.

"Dr. Kirwan has been a national leader in higher education as president of the University of Maryland and current president of The Ohio State University. We were honored to acknowledge his contributions and proud that he is a graduate of the Mathematics Department in the College of Arts and Sciences. In his acceptance remarks and at dinner, Dr. Kirwan expressed his great love for his alma mater and his vivid memories of his days at UK," said Howard Grotch, dean of Arts and Sciences.

Kirwan has served as president and professor of OSU since 1998.

Prior to that, he served nine years as president of the University of Maryland. He received his bachelor's degree in mathematics from UK in 1960 and his master's and doctoral degrees in mathematics from Rutgers University.

Kirwan serves on the board of directors of the American Council in Education and the National Association of State Universities and Land-grant Colleges. He is the chair of the NCAA Board of Directors and co-chair of the Business-Higher Education Forum Diversity Initiative Task Force. Ohio State has 55,000 students, nearly 19,000 faculty and staff and over 300,000 alumni. Under his direction OSU completed a $1.23 billion capital campaign.

Kirwan grew up on the UK campus. His father, Albert D. Kirwan, was a history professor, Dean of Students, graduate dean and UK's seventh president. He is married to Patricia Harper Kirwan, also a UK graduate.

On August 1, 2002, Dr. Kirwan will become the Chancellor of the University System of Maryland. The University System of Maryland enrolls over 120,000 students and encompasses 13 institutions around the state.