Ohio Dominican University (ODU) President Connie Gallaher has appointed Shonna Riedlinger to serve as the university’s Provost effective immediately. The announcement was shared with the ODU community on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. Riedlinger most recently served as Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs, a role to which she was appointed in November 2022.
As Provost, Riedlinger will manage and facilitate all academic programs, including the curriculum as well as faculty and student progress. She also will oversee the Registrar’s Office, Library, Academic Resource Center, Academic Advising Center, Transfer Program Articulation, the Center for Instructional Technology and eLearning, and the Online Extension Program.
“This is a critical time for small independent institutions such as Ohio Dominican University, so we must lean in to this moment with urgency and leverage the incredible talent we have on our campus to set ODU on a path toward success, sustainability and transformation,” President Gallaher said. “During her decade of service to ODU, Shonna has earned the respect and trust of her colleagues, students and partners. Her reputation and background, combined with her strategic vision, attention to detail and business acumen, make her an ideal candidate to lead ODU’s Academic Affairs operation effectively and efficiently in the years to come.”
“I am grateful to President Gallaher and the entire ODU community for their support as I begin this new chapter at Ohio Dominican,” Riedlinger said. “I very much look forward to working alongside my staff and faculty colleagues to support existing academic programs and explore future offerings that will prepare our students for the opportunities of tomorrow and propel the university toward growth and prosperity for years to come, all the while preserving its legacy of academic excellence.”
Riedlinger joined ODU in 2012 as an assistant professor in the university’s then-new Master of Science in Physician Assistant (PA) Studies Program. Within a year, she was appointed director of the PA program, a role in which she served until fall 2022. During her time as director, the PA program successfully prepared more than 400 graduates who now practice medicine across the country. In addition, students in the program have achieved an average first-time pass rate of the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) that exceeds the national average.
In addition to her role as PA Program director, Riedlinger has served as chair of ODU’s Health Sciences Division. In that role, she was instrumental in helping the university research and develop its new Master of Science in Anesthesiologist Assistant Studies program, which launched and welcomed its inaugural cohort of 25 students in January 2023. She also helped to establish ODU’s partnership with Central Ohio Primary Care, which included the development of the Care Forward Center that now provides care to members of the university community and surrounding community in Peace Hall.
Prior to joining the ODU community, Riedlinger served in numerous roles in healthcare, including 15 years as a PA in Emergency Medicine at Mount Carmel St. Ann’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. She also was employed by Immediate Health Associates, during which time she served as a student preceptor for more than 10 years for PA programs in Ohio and surrounding states and coordinated student rotations.
A Certified Physician Assistant, Riedlinger earned a Master of Science in Medical Science from Midwestern University and a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from Bowling Green State University. She recently submitted final work required for her Doctoral in Medical Science degree with a concentration in Education and Leadership from the University of Lynchburg, which she expects to earn later this spring.
Over the past eight years, Riedlinger has served on the Board of Trustees for Mohun Health Center, which is adjacent to ODU’s campus and is operated by ODU’s founding congregation, the Dominican Sisters of Peace. And over the past four years, she has chaired its Mission and Identity Committee and served on the Executive Committee.