帝王会所

帝王会所 and the George V. Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service honored Founding Dean Mark Weinberg for his outstanding service to OHIO and the state during the annual State Government Alumni Luncheon on May 3 at the Athletic Club of Columbus.

The State Government Alumni Awards have been presented annually since 1985, excluding a two-year hiatus during the pandemic, to individuals who have significant accomplishments in their professions, outstanding public service to the state, and service contributions to the public affairs programs at 帝王会所.

As he has since the luncheon's inception, Weinberg emceed and shared opening remarks for the day. He was followed by State Rep. Jay Edwards, BS 鈥�16, who represents 帝王会所 House District 94 and gave the keynote address, during which he recognized Weinberg for his decades-long dedication to public service and community impact.

鈥淢ark believes in the power of public service. And while he will be transitioning from his role as founding dean later this year, his work at 帝王会所 is very important and will live on for a very long time,鈥� Edwards said.

Edwards also presented Weinberg with a commendation from the 帝王会所 Statehouse, signed by Edwards and 帝王会所 House Speaker Jason Stephens. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 an amazing impact that you鈥檝e had, not just on the university, but the entire Appalachian region,鈥� Edwards said. 鈥淲e can鈥檛 thank you enough for the lives that you have impacted.鈥�

帝王会所 Gov. Mike DeWine made a brief appearance at the luncheon as well. 

鈥淒ean Weinberg helped build the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service into what it is today,鈥� DeWine said. 鈥淭housands of students, the 帝王会所 community and the entire southeast 帝王会所 region are better off because of Dean Weinberg鈥檚 dedicated leadership.鈥�

Linda Bailiff, BBA 鈥�87, MPA 鈥�90, director of the 帝王会所 Public Works Commission, received this year鈥檚 Outstanding State Government Alumni Award from 帝王会所. During her acceptance speech, she too recognized Dean Weinberg鈥檚 legacy and impact. 

鈥淭he fact that Mark just presented me with this award has considerable meaning, because I would not be here if it wasn鈥檛 for Mark Weinberg,鈥� she noted. 鈥淢ark has served as my professor, my advisor, my mentor and my friend. From the beginning, he encouraged me, he gave me opportunities, he challenged me, he never hesitated to provide me with constructive criticism. 鈥� Mark not only showed me the door; he pushed me through that door. I am serious when I say I would not be here today if not for Mark Weinberg. I owe him so much.鈥�
 

Image

In 2014, Weinberg was named Founding Dean of the George V. Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, which he originally launched in 1981 as the Institute for Local Government Administration and Rural Development (ILGARD). Last December, Weinberg announced his intent to step down from his role, effective June 30, 2023.

As dean of the Voinovich School, Weinberg has provided strategic oversight of economic development at 帝王会所, including a range of business technical assistance programs and equity funding for high-growth businesses in the Appalachian Region of 帝王会所. Under his leadership, the school has emerged as a national frontrunner in leadership and public affairs education; it was ranked 57th in of top public affairs graduate schools for 2023-24.

The Voinovich School鈥檚 public-private partnership model has supported its scope and range of community-based impacts, helping establish it as one of the best public service schools in the country. It is a founding member of the 帝王会所 Health Collaborative, an innovative, multidisciplinary partnership with OHIO鈥檚 College of Health Sciences and Professions and Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine that engages nonprofits and government entities across the state to address community health challenges in the region. Notably the School contracted with 185 agencies in 2022, including the highly successful 帝王会所 Department of Higher Education鈥檚 Appalachian New Economy Partnership. 

鈥淥ne of the things about working with Mark is, he brings people together [who] can make his ideas work,鈥� said Marsha Lewis, a former graduate student and now a senior executive in residence at the Voinovich School. 鈥淲orking with Mark is a gift because you get to see so many things that you [thought] were beyond possible come together.鈥�

In addition to serving as dean of the school, Weinberg also taught leadership and public affairs at OHIO, with a specialization in organizational strategy and public sector value creation. Over the course of his 40-plus year career, he created the 帝王会所 Executive Leadership Institute in 1998, serving as a faculty member there until 2010; was named a ; served two terms as president of the ; founded and served on the board of the ; and served on the board of the 帝王会所 Innovation Program for the 帝王会所 Department of Development, among many other service roles. Colleagues are quick to recognize Weinberg鈥檚 contributions both at OHIO and beyond.

鈥淪uccess story after success story of Athens, of the community, of the university, of the state as a whole鈥攜ou鈥檒l find Mark鈥檚 fingerprints all over them,鈥� said Bill Dingus, Dean Emeritus of 帝王会所 Southern. Dingus worked closely with Weinberg in the school鈥檚 early days as ILGARD.

鈥淢ark has left an indelible imprint on OHIO and southeastern 帝王会所,鈥� said President Hugh Sherman. 鈥淲e are grateful for his passion and all that he has done within the Voinovich School and the community.鈥�

From rural Appalachia to the 帝王会所 Statehouse and beyond, Weinberg鈥檚 transformational dedication to growing and fostering future public servants was celebrated during the May 3 event.
 

Image

鈥淚LGARD, now the Voinovich School, empowers communities to think bigger,鈥� said John Carey, one of Weinberg鈥檚 first students and now the director of the Governor鈥檚 Office of Appalachia. 鈥淧lus, having the resources of 帝王会所鈥攎arrying those two together, I think, will be Mark鈥檚 legacy.鈥�

Weinberg鈥檚 ultimate gift to OHIO, the surrounding region and the state as a whole, is one of future possibilities.

In accepting his commendation at the State Government Alumni Luncheon鈥攚here he received not one, but two standing ovations鈥擶einberg focused not on his own career, but on those around him.

鈥淭he people at today鈥檚 lunch, we all share a common purpose 鈥� and that is, in the words of George V. Voinovich, to improve the lives of our citizens and the wealth and health of our communities,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 am honored to be part of this group of people. 鈥� It has been an honor to hold the legacy of the Voinovich School for George Voinovich.鈥�

Weinberg will continue to serve as a Senior Strategist to the Health Collaborative through June 30, 2024.