Quarterly Luncheon-Workforce: How Are We Preparing Our Future Talent During This Phase of COVID?

Workforce: How Are We Preparing our Future Talent During This Phase of COVID? featuring the President of Otterbein University, President of Columbus State Community College, Westerville City School Superintendent and the Delaware Area Career Center Superintendent. Discussions will include: shifts made within each organization/district in light of the pandemic, innovative ways each entity is reaching credentialing requirements, challenges brought to light with COVID-19, ways businesses can help support the changing needs of these institutions along with open Q&A from the audience. We invite our virtual attendees to submit questions via the chat function as all attendees will remain muted through the presentation.

Dr. Kellogg presently serves as Superintendent of the Westerville City School District. He is a
former assistant superintendent of curriculum for South‐Western City School District. He brings
professional experience as a classroom teacher at Bruton High School in York County School
District (Yorktown, Va.); assistant principal at Atlee High School in Hanover County Public
Schools (Hanover, Va.); principal of Grove City High School in the South‐Western City School
District; principal of Bexley High School in the Bexley City School District; and executive director
of secondary schools in the South‐Western City School District. He holds a bachelor’s degree in
Biology and master’s degree in Secondary Science Curriculum from the College of William and
Mary, an educational specialist degree in Educational Leadership from George Washington
University, and a Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership from Ohio University.
Dr. Kellogg has participated in the Educational Service Center of Central Ohio 2011 District
Leadership Institute, completed Lean Six Sigma training, participated on the Mayor of Bexley’s
Budget Review and Recommendations committee, served on the Capital University Institutional
Review Board as a community representative, and has served on the Buckeye Association of
School Administrators’ technology committee. His hobbies include distance running, reading
and spending time with his family.

Otterbein’s 21st President John Comerford comes to Otterbein with over 20 years of experience in university leadership, including the past 13 years at liberal arts institutions. His most recent role was at Blackburn College in downstate Illinois, where he served as president. During his time there, the institution achieved enrollment growth through a focus on underserved populations, a record-breaking fundraising campaign, the launch of new academic and co-curricular programs, investments in faculty/staff compensation, and the renovation of four major campus buildings. Prior to Blackburn, Comerford worked at Westminster College (Missouri), Missouri Western State University, and Ball State University (Indiana). He studied political science as an undergraduate student at Western Illinois University and thought he was headed to law school until a mentor told him he might enjoy a student affairs profession. That led him to earn a master’s degree in student personnel administration at the University of Central Missouri. He earned his doctorate degree in higher education administration at the University of Kansas, where he also worked on a Lumina Grant to study student migration patterns. Comerford has been married 15 years to Rachel Rumple Comerford, and they have three children: Garrett, Reagan and Grant. 









Dr. David T. Harrison became the fifth president of Columbus State Community College in July 2010. With more than 46,000 students, Columbus State is one of the largest and most comprehensive colleges in Ohio. The College’s focus on student success through partnerships has resulted in recognition as the 2019 Leah Meyer Austin Award winner through the national community college advocacy network Achieving the Dream. Since 2010, Columbus State has more than tripled its graduation rate, and has significantly closed performance gaps for low-income students and students of color. Its 2019 graduating class was the largest and most diverse in the College’s history. Under Dr. Harrison’s leadership, Columbus State has developed deep relationships with regional universities to create affordable bachelor’s degree pathways through innovative 2+2 and 3+1 partnerships. The College has expanded access to postsecondary opportunities to high school students – serving more than 7,000 high school students annually – and has collaborated with employers to develop innovative solutions for regional workforce needs. As an established proving ground for public-private partnerships, Columbus State has brought together social service organizations, employers, and local, state, and federal agencies to create outcomes benefiting students, families and communities. Dr. Harrison came to Columbus State with extensive experience building successful community partnerships. As Vice Provost for Regional Campuses at the University of Central Florida, he worked with community colleges to create the Central Florida Higher Education Consortium and the nationally-recognized DirectConnect to UCF program, which guarantees the opportunity for a bachelor's degree for graduates of partner community colleges. Prior to joining UCF, Dr. Harrison served in leadership roles at Seminole State College in Florida and at Sinclair Community College in Ohio, and was a consulting manager with Accenture in Pittsburgh. He holds a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University, an MBA from the Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh, and a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Dayton.

Mary Beth Freeman is the Superintendent of the Delaware Area Career Center where she leads the district in creating environments for students to succeed. Since Mary Beth came to the Delaware Area Career Center, the district has embraced blended and personalized learning plans to match the way students learn today. Under her leadership, the district has added new programs in the technology, health, and engineering fields. Mary Beth is also leading the district in a building project that will provide both students and staff with an interactive, highly technical learning space. As a visionary and voice for change, Mary Beth is in communication with local, state, and national legislators to advocate for career and technical education. Mary Beth is on the Delaware Area Chamber of Commerce Workforce Development, Education and Community Committee, the Ohio Department of Higher Education Articulation and Transfer Network Oversight Board, the Great Lakes Comprehensive Center Board, and she is an active member of the Delaware Rotary. She is the Past President of the Ohio Association of Career and Technical Superintendents. She has also served as Past President for the Ohio Career and Technical Administrators and the Ohio Association of Career and Technical Education – Administrative Division, from which she has earned two Trendsetter Awards. Mary Beth is committed to providing a comprehensive and supportive learning environment. By partnering with area agencies, she brings together professionals to serve the whole student in addition to providing a high quality educational experience. Examples include a partnership with the Delaware-Morrow County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board that has resulted in the addition of Mental Health Professionals. The Delaware Area Career Center has also partnered with the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, hiring a joint Ohio Basic Peace Officer Commander. A highlight of Mary Beth’s career is working with staff who embrace change and adapt their own teaching styles to help students be successful for the future. Mary Beth received her Bachelor’s of Science in Secondary Mathematics Education from Wright State University and her Master’s of Science in Educational Administration from the University of Dayton. She spent 20 years of her career at the Miami Valley Career Technology Center before coming to the Delaware Area Career Center in 2008.