Ohio higher ed. chancellor Randy Gardner retiring

SANDUSKY — The leader of Ohio's state college system, who is a former longtime local politician, is retiring. Ohio higher education chancellor Randy Gardner will step down from that post at the end of the year, Gov. Mike DeWine announced on Thursday. The governor appointed him to the chancellor role in 2019. Gardner, a Bowling Green Republican, served for more than three decades in Ohio's Statehouse. During that time, he served voters in a district that included Erie County and Ottawa County. "I want to thank Chancellor Gardner for his years of service to the people of the state of Ohio," DeWine said. "As a legislator and as chancellor, Randy Gardner has worked hard to make educational opportunities more accessible and to encourage cooperation of our institutions to work hand-in-hand with industries such as Intel to ensure that Ohio has the workers ready to fill the jobs of the future." Added Gardner: "Serving in the cabinet has been an extraordinary experience. The DeWine-Husted administration has established an unmistakable 'all of the above' approach toward supporting students, which is critical to meeting Ohio's emerging workforce needs. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve, and for the Governor's remarkable leadership."