Rob Messinger

As senior director of strategic initiatives, Rob Messinger leads marketing and communications for priority efforts to advance Ohio State’s mission. He is focused on university-wide projects to enhance access and affordability (Ohio State’s debt-free bachelor’s degree), academic excellence (faculty hiring and RAISE) and other priorities.

In this role, Rob leads and convenes teams that involve members of the Office of Marketing and Communications as well as partners throughout the university. He works closely with university leadership, subject matter experts and key stakeholders to launch, sustain and advance strategic initiatives.

Since joining Ohio State in 2014, Rob helped establish and advance the Ohio State Tuition Guarantee, the Buckeye Opportunity Program, the Digital Flagship and the Comprehensive Energy Management Project. He served two senior leadership offices as director of communications, first for the senior vice president and chief financial officer (Office of Business and Finance) and later for the executive vice president and provost (Office of Academic Affairs). Since the onset of the pandemic, Rob has been part of the central team focused on Ohio State’s COVID-19 response.

Rob’s career began in journalism. As an assistant city editor at The Columbus Dispatch, he oversaw the coverage of education, local government and social services. Previously, he was a reporter and editor for two business newspapers, Business First of Columbus and The Business Press in Ontario, Calif.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from Denison University (English literature and philosophy) and his MBA from The Ohio State University. In his life outside of work, Rob loves to travel and enjoy the arts with his wife and son. He also is a recreational cyclist and has ridden in Pelotonia every year since 2012.