The chair of The Ohio State University Board of Trustees has resigned, effective immediately.
Michael Gasser resigned Friday morning in an email sent to Ohio State President Michael Drake and the rest of the board members. His statement said he could “no longer could commit the time and energy needed to adequately perform the functions of a trustee.”
Gasser also cited “personal and private issues," and asked that Drake and the board respect his privacy and his decision.
According to his university bio, Gasser is the executive chair of manufacturing company Greif, Inc. He was appointed to the board by former Gov. John Kasich in 2012, and was scheduled to serve through 2021.
Gasser is the second trustee to resign in the last year. In August, Jeffrey Wadsworth submitted his resignation in protest against the university's "lenient" punishment of head football coach Urban Meyer.
Ohio State spokesman Chris Davey responded in a statement that Gasser’s service is “deeply appreciated.”
Davey also said that the board’s senior vice chair, Tim Smucker, will preside at next week’s board meeting.
