Central State University President joins panel to discuss the future of higher education in Ohio

Above: Central State University President Morakinyo A.O. Kuti, Ph.D., speaks during a panel of Ohio university presidents on "Ohio Higher Education Innovates for a New Era." Photo courtesy of WCBE.

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Central State University President Dr. Morakinyo A.O. Kuti recently took the stage at the Columbus Metropolitan Club's panel titled “Ohio Higher Education Innovates for a New Era.” Broadcast on WCBE 90.5 FM, this engaging event brought together an array of education leaders to dissect the rapidly evolving landscape of higher education in Ohio. 

The discussion kicked off with Dr. James Orr, Vice Provost of Strategic Enrollment Management at The Ohio State University, who painted a sobering portrait of the upcoming challenges — a “demographic cliff” that threatens to shrink the number of college-age students. He attributed this drop in youth numbers to a significant decline in birth rates following the Great Recession. Dr. Orr also highlighted that despite 8.3 million students receiving acceptance letters to colleges two years ago, many opted not to enroll. Notably, college-going rates among Ohio high school graduates plunged from 72% in 2010 to just 66% last year. 

President Kuti illuminated how Central State is rising to meet these challenges head-on. “As a Historically Black University, we've maintained steady enrollment post-pandemic, and there's been a renewed interest in HBCUs," he said following the panel. He noted a slight increase in traditional student enrollment last fall and outlined ambitious plans: 

“For fall 2025, we expect even stronger enrollment figures, as we’re investing significantly in our enrollment staff to concentrate on attracting Ohio students." 

Emphasizing the vital role of research in addressing urgent societal issues, Dr. Kuti said, “At Central State University, we are committed to leveraging our research capabilities to tackle critical challenges like health disparities and national security.”  

The panel also featured insights from Dr. John Comerford, President of Otterbein University, and Dr. David Harrison, President of Columbus State Community College. It was moderated by Sheridan Hendrix, higher education reporter at The Columbus Dispatch. 

Since his appointment as President on July 1, 2024, Dr. Kuti has been relentless in his pursuit of expanding research initiatives and elevating the student experience, positioning Central State University as a transformative player in both the local community and the broader national arena. 

Catch the full conversation and insights from this thought-provoking discussion at https://www.wcbe.org/podcast/columbus-metropolitan-club/2025-02-04/ohio-higher-education-innovates-for-a-new-era.