University of Alabama Hires Ohio State Research Leader As President

Five months after Stuart Bell announced his summer resignation, the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees has appointed a research leader from Ohio State to serve as the 30th President of the Capstone.

The Trustees gathered Monday afternoon in the Catherine and Pettus Randall Welcome Center and voted to appoint Dr. Peter Mohler to succeed Bell.

Mohler currently serves as executive vice president for the Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge at OSU, where he was also acting president from August through December 2023 before incumbent Ted Carter's term began.

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Mohler comes to Alabama after 14 years at Ohio State, where his research specialty has been the human heart, particularly abnormal rhythms and heart failure in abnormally young patients.

The Ohio State administrator earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Wake Forest University, a doctorate in physiology from UNC Chapel Hill and spent time in the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at Duke University Medical Center during a postdoctoral fellowship, according to OSU.

UA Trustee Karen Brooks led the search committee to replace Bell, and her review of Mohler was glowing

"The University of Alabama community wanted the next President to have a distinguished record of leadership at an R1 institution, a proven commitment to the student-centered university, impeccable character and the ability to guide a large and successful Division One athletic program," Brooks said. "As Chancellor Trant will soon detail, one candidate distinguished himself throughout this entire process."

Sid Trant, the Chancellor of the University of Alabama System, then revealed Mohler as their candidate.

"Mohler has served the highest levels of leadership in higher education, including several months as acting president of the Ohio State University, one of the largest flagship universities in the country and where he currently leads all research, corporate development, economic development, and workforce development as the university's executive vice president for research, innovation, and knowledge," Trant said. "Dr. Mohler's impressive resume is not the only thing that sets him apart. What also sets him apart is who he is as a person and a leader. Dr. Mohler is known not only for his intellect and work ethic, but also for his authenticity and willingness to bring people together, listen actively and then act boldly."

"75 days before kickoff, Roll Tide," Mohler said in brief comments before taking more questions from local media in a different setting.

Outgoing UA President Start Bell has served since June 2015, marking a decade of transformative leadership at its helm. Bell had the daunting task of navigating the University through the COVID pandemic, but even with that challenge, Alabama can boast all-time-high student enrollment and record-breaking fundraising, which have fueled major capital projects and academic achievements.

The Trustees thanked him for his service and unanimously voted to appoint Mohler on Monday afternoon.

This is a developing story and will be updated.