What ever happened to... Former OU Provost Kathy Krendl

Former Ohio University Executive Vice President and Provost Kathy Krendl was welcomed as president of Otterbein College in an October inauguration ceremony to the tune of at least $20,000, according to figures obtained by Otterbein's school newspaper.  

Some Otterbein students and faculty felt that the college spent too much on Krendl's inauguration, according to Fallon Forbush, news editor for Otterbein's student newspaper, the Tan & Cardinal. Other faculty and students felt that the expense was necessary for welcoming the new president, Forbush added.

"Some students and faculty did feel it was unreasonable," Forbush said. "People felt it was ridiculous, while others thought it necessary because it's an important event."

While Fallon and the Tan & Cardinal were unable to obtain figures on the total cost of the Oct. 23 inauguration, $20,000 is what the university paid the production company, Colortone Staging and Rentals, to put the event together, Fallon said.

The inauguration came at a time when Otterbein College's administration was also discussing 3 percent reductions to retirement contributions and 3.5 percent cuts to discretionary expenses college-wide, according to an article in the Tan & Cardinal. The college is facing a $1.1 million shortfall, the article reported.

This was the first inauguration at Otterbein College in 25 years. Otterbein College officials quoted in a Tan & Cardinal article said the money went to pay for the staging of the event, set-up of the equipment and labor.

"I suppose we could have not done an inauguration, but I thought it was important and... the trustees from the very first time they talked with me said they had planned an inauguration and it was to be Homecoming weekend," Krendl told the Tan & Cardinal.

Krendl was not involved in planning the inauguration, Fallon added. He said the Board of Trustees and other parts of the university wanted to put on the ceremony to welcome Krendl.

"Krendl is not the cause of our budget woes," Forbush emphasized. "She came into (an) institution having financial problems."

He added that in Krendl's short tenure, transparency has improved at Otterbein. With tough budget cuts being made, Krendl's honesty has been appreciated, he said.

Krendl is the first female president of Otterbein College. She took office in June.

Former dean of the College of Communication at OU, Krendl was appointed interim provost in July 2004, and then took on the permanent position the following year. At the time, she replaced Steve Kopp as OU provost.