Overview
- Ohio State informed staff on October 29 that Verna resigned effective immediately, with Senior Vice Provost Trevor Brown guiding the transition until an interim director is named.
- The Wexner Center finished fiscal year 2024 about $2.5 million below expected income and posted roughly a $1.1 million deficit, according to financial reports cited by The Columbus Dispatch.
- More than a dozen employees sent a late‑summer letter to the provost expressing a vote of no confidence, and the letter reported nearly 50% staff turnover since 2022 and seven trustee departures.
- Spending scrutinized in reporting includes $365,000 for a website redesign, $185,000 for a projector, and $1 million in unspecified capital costs, with staff also raising concerns over a proposed store-to-makerspace conversion near $1 million.
- Past interviews published by Hyperallergic described low morale and alleged abrasive management, and OSU placed the center under heightened oversight with a financial 'red card' in June.