MANSFIELD — One of the first things Jason Opal did when he arrived on the Ohio State University’s Mansfield campus was order new signs.
After 13 years at the prestigious McGill University in Canada, Opal said he found Buckeyes’ enthusiasm for their college refreshing. So he’s leaning into it.
“I learned something about America in my years that I was gone. It’s got these really interesting regional patriotisms and pride in a place. It’s so powerful. I love being a part of that again,” said Opal, the new dean and director of the Mansfield campus.
“I want the place to say OSU more loudly. I want to convey that pride.”
Opal took on his new role at OSU Mansfield last month, succeeding interim dean and director Eric Anderman.
Prior to that, Opal worked as an associate dean of graduate studies at McGill.
“Last year, we just decided we really wanted to come home to the U.S.,” Opal said.
It was a homecoming of sorts for Opal and his family. While he described himself as an “Army brat” growing up, his wife’s family is from Cleveland Heights and Wooster.
Meanwhile, Opal said the small-town feel of the campus reminds him of Colby College in Waterville, Maine, where he began his career as a professor.
“My first teaching job was at such a campus, and I love the creative interactions and supportive feel that those kinds of schools can provide,” said Opal.
“The faculty and staff at Mansfield are passionate about their students, their writing and their projects. My goal will be to share that enthusiasm and to enable the faculty, staff and students to flourish.”
Opal’s academic specialty: early American history and infectious diseases
Opal began his career as a history professor. He specializes in early American history and infectious diseases.
He earned his bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and his master’s and doctoral degrees from Brandeis University. He has published or edited three books and written several scholarly articles and chapters. He has also provided historical context to modern issues on American, Canadian and French radio and TV networks.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he partnered with his father, a medical professional, to write about how humanity has handled past pandemics.
“I know this isn’t very much in vogue, but we tried to be a little bit optimistic,” he said. “There’s always terrible things that are happening. But humans, we did overcome smallpox. Even during the Cold War, we cooperated and got rid of a horrible scourge.”
Goals include innovative teaching, community outreach
Opal said he hopes to encourage a culture of “grassroots innovation” and interdisciplinary collaboration on campus.
“People who are engineers working a little bit more with biologists, biologists with historians — those kinds of projects are really, really important,” he said. “That’s where the real creative work is.”
Opal said he also wants to promote partnerships with the community. He hopes the campus’ new biology major can benefit local healthcare employers and boost the campus’ research efforts.
He’d also like to partner with the 179th Cyberspace Wing to offer relevant credentials and curriculum, as well as increase the number of service members on campus as teachers and students.
Another goal of Opal’s is to expand awareness of the opportunities at Ohio State Mansfield across northeastern Ohio.
“It is a full part of the Ohio State University,” Opal said. “Your degree is an Ohio State University degree, you are immediately connected to 600,000 alumni.”
“The Mansfield campus combines all the good things of a small campus with all the benefits and resources of a powerhouse university,” he added. “That’s a rare combination, and I wanted to be a part of it.”