 Hello and welcome to the Ohio University History Project. I'm Dr. Dwayne Nellis, 21st President of Ohio University. Having worked in higher education my entire career, I knew the story of Ohio University's founding as the first institution of higher education in the Northwest Territory. But I never truly appreciated the extraordinarily rich and distinctive history of this great institution until I became its president in 2017. As I began to study the university's past, I discovered a more complex and inspiring story than I ever imagined. During its first two centuries, Ohio University faced numerous challenges and setbacks. Fortunately for us, its difficulties were always met with resilience and strength to endure and grow. I'm convinced that our students, as well as our alumni, could gain a deeper appreciation of their education here if they also understood how Ohio University came to be the singular place it is today. The result is this project, an introduction to Ohio University. For everyone who visits this site, we welcome you to be reminded of Ohio University's rich history, or perhaps to experience it for the first time. I believe participating in this project will be meaningful to you as a student, alumna, or friend of the university. An introduction is designed to be an engaging learning experience in which you understand how the school's past has shaped its present. In addition, an introduction asks you to reflect on your own Ohio experiences that have made you who you are today. I invite you to participate in this project, and I'm confident that insights you gain here will be useful to you both now and in the future.