Rodney K. Rogers

12th President of Bowling Green State University, the #1 university in Ohio students would choose again (The Wall Street Journal)

[Rodney K. Rogers @Pres_Rogers]

On this #FourthofJuly, we reflect on the enduring role education has played throughout our nation’s 250 years of independence. George Washington said we must “promote, then, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge.” It was an early and lasting recognition of the importance of education in fostering an informed and engaged citizenry that sustains a strong and vibrant democracy. As a public university for the public good, @BGSU is proud to bring people together and drive innovation for our nation’s collective future. We are especially grateful for our courageous veterans and members of the military for their service, as well as all who work each and every day to make our communities better through our classrooms, hospitals, businesses, community and arts centers, transportation hubs, and more. Together, we continue to shape these United States of America in our endless pursuit of a more perfect Union.

[Rodney K. Rogers @Pres_Rogers]

.@FireflyNightsBG in the @CityofBG! What a great city. It is wonderful to live in one of the best college towns in America. It was especially fun to see @BGSU_Athletics student-athletes who were engaged with all the kids!

[Rodney K. Rogers @Pres_Rogers]

As the #1 university in the Midwest for veterans and active military students by @MilitaryTimes, Bowling Green was honored to be part of the @IUCOhio Military-Connected Student Symposium and join the Leadership Panel alongside fellow university presidents today at the Ohio Statehouse. It was especially powerful to hear from @BGSU alumnus and keynote speaker Major General Matthew Woodruff '96, Ohio’s 84th Adjutant General, one of the state's highest military position. We are also incredibly proud that Bowling Green was recognized with the National Veterans Leadership Foundation’s Excellence in Programming for Military-Connected Students Award, a testament to our faculty and staff who are so committed to serving those who serve.

[Rodney K. Rogers @Pres_Rogers]

A great night for @BGSU_Athletics at the @MACSports Awards! @BGSU received best overall academic performance and best women’s academic performance, highlighting how we have both outstanding and high-achieving student-athletes across our programs. We are also incredibly proud of two outstanding Falcons, Blane Cleaver and Jenna Lucas, who received the 2026 Medal of Excellence, recognizing their achievements in athletics, academics and leadership. #AyZiggy

[Rodney K. Rogers @Pres_Rogers]

Today, we honor and reflect on the selflessness and courage of the fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our nation’s freedoms. Their legacy lives in everything we do and is the reason we must always strive to create public good. #MemorialDay

[Rodney K. Rogers @Pres_Rogers]

We are so incredibly proud of our @BGSU Falcon Flight Team on their performance in their third consecutive trip to Nationals! Out of nearly 500 student competitors at the 2026 NIFA National SAFECON, a six-day competition that brings together some of the top collegiate aviators in the country, 13 Bowling Green aviation students placed in the top 20 in nine out of 11 events, and the Bowling Green team placed 11th in the nation! In addition, the Falcon Flight Team was awarded the Collegiate Aviation Progress Award, which is a significant honor. Congratulations on this incredible achievement!

[Rodney K. Rogers @Pres_Rogers]

Our @BG_Football helmets now feature the Ohio flag! Senator @SteveHuffmanOH encouraged Ohio's Division I football schools to incorporate the state flag into their helmets, and we were proud to do this at Bowling Green!

[Rodney K. Rogers @Pres_Rogers]

.@BGSU and @BGSUFirelands are proud to again, partner with @TerraCC to establish the Tri-County Interpersonal Violence Prevention and Education Consortium. Through this collaborative effort, we are strengthening our communities by supporting student well-being and safety and building healthier communities across northwest Ohio. We are grateful to the Ohio Department of Higher Education for recognizing the importance of this work through the Campus Collaborative Grant Program. By working together across institutions and communities, we are creating a stronger regional network of care, prevention and support that will have a lasting impact throughout northwest Ohio.

[Rodney K. Rogers @Pres_Rogers]

We are so incredibly proud to host the nation’s first-ever Life Design convening, bringing together 27 universities and colleges from across North America to @BGSU to learn how each institution is bringing Life Design to their students.

We are especially grateful to Bill Burnett, Co-founder of the @Stanford University Life Design Lab and @nytimes best-selling author, for joining us and kicking off the two-day event with a meaningful conversation.

Career and Life Design is transforming the student experience at universities across the country by putting students in the drivers seat of their college education from freshman year through graduation. We are excited to continue to grow our program at Bowling Green that intentionally develops the career and life skills employers are seeking, leading to great careers and great lives for our students.

[Rodney K. Rogers @Pres_Rogers]

It was wonderful to host our 59th Nakama Meeting at @BGSU this evening. Through this event, we foster friendships and partnerships among the region’s Japanese and American business executives and leaders. Thank you to the many business and community leaders who joined us!

[Rodney K. Rogers @Pres_Rogers]

Tonight, we dim the lights of the Robert W. and Patricia A. Maurer Center, home to the Allen W. (Hon. '17) and Carol M. Schmidthorst College of Business in honor of Carol M. Schmidthorst, who passed away today, May 11.

It is with profound sadness that we share the loss of one of Bowling Green State University's most generous and transformational supporters. Carol, alongside her husband Allen, forever changed the course of this University.

In 2020, Al and Carol together made the single largest academic gift in Bowling Green's history, establishing our first named college: the Allen W. and Carol M. Schmidthorst College of Business. Their belief in the power of a Bowling Green education has directly empowered countless students to become the next generation of business leaders. Their generosity is also woven into the fabric of our athletics community through the Schmidthorst Pavilion and Schmidthorst Heritage Hall at the Stroh Center, which features the Cochrane Cunningham Athletic Archives, one of the largest and most distinctive collections in all of college athletics, and through their steadfast support of scholarships, public broadcasting and the arts.

Longtime residents of Lima, Ohio, Carol and Al built their lives rooted in hard work and generosity. They created businesses, gave back to their communities, cared deeply for their families and paid it forward by investing in the future of Bowling Green in unprecedented ways. 

On behalf of the entire Bowling Green community, we extend our deepest condolences to Al and the entire Schmidthorst family. Carol's belief in our University and our students will always be remembered with our deepest gratitude.

[Rodney K. Rogers @Pres_Rogers]

A photo from one of my favorite Mother’s Day memories, when our washer broke and we spent the day together at the laundromat! From that Mother’s Day to today, and all the years before and in between, @SandyEarleBG is always there for our family, and we are so fortunate to celebrate her. On Mother’s Day, and always, we recognize and thank all mothers who demonstrate kindness and strength in helping others grow and succeed. Happy Mother’s Day!

[Rodney K. Rogers @Pres_Rogers]

It was great to catch up with a few graduates of the @BGSU Class of 2026 this weekend! We cannot wait to see where life takes these students. Congratulations!

[Rodney K. Rogers @Pres_Rogers]

We were so proud to honor alumnus Rick Valicenti ’73, ‘26 (Hon.), graphic designer, author and entrepreneur, with an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts during this weekend’s Commencement ceremony.

Dr. Valicenti is a visionary leader in graphic design, with groundbreaking work that has been recognized nationally and internationally. He has shared his talents generously with students at @BGSU, as well as at nearly 50 institutions around the world. We are so grateful Dr. Valicenti has stayed connected to his alma mater throughout his successful career, and we are honored to honor him. Congratulations!

[Rodney K. Rogers @Pres_Rogers]

A great Falcon family graduation story: @BGSU graduate Aidan Licata ’26 is the 6th Falcon in his family to wear this graduation cap. It was first worn in 1979 and has now been part of Bowling Green commencements for nearly 50 years. Congratulations, Aidan!

[Rodney K. Rogers @Pres_Rogers]

Congratulations to our Spring 2026 graduates! You have enriched our learning community through your engagement, and we are so proud of all you have accomplished. Thank you for choosing @BGSU, which will forever be home. Continue to be curious, bold and kind, and we hope to see you at #BGSUHomecoming, September 23–27, 2026! #BGSUGrad

[Rodney K. Rogers @Pres_Rogers]

We are so proud of our newest doctoral and master’s graduates! It was an honor to celebrate you alongside your supporters at tonight's Doctoral Hooding and Graduate College Ceremony. Conrgratulations, and we cannot wait to see what you’ll accomplish next! #BGSUGrad

[Rodney K. Rogers @Pres_Rogers]

We enjoyed celebrating our President’s Award recipients this afternoon on earning a perfect 4.0 GPA as undergraduate students at @BGSU. We look forward to recognizing these graduates during Saturday’s Commencement ceremony. Congratulations, Falcons!

[Rodney K. Rogers @Pres_Rogers]

The stage is set! We are looking forward to celebrating our 2,511 @BGSU graduates and their supporters this weekend!

[Rodney K. Rogers @Pres_Rogers]

Following significant growth in Bowling Green State University engineering programs, the ribbon-cutting of the expanded @BGSU Engineering and Innovation Center marked an incredible milestone for our University. Home to what is now the most modern university engineering labs in the region, Bowling Green will always remain determined to provide our students with the learning environments and opportunities they need to be successful and prepared for in-demand careers that support workforce needs in Ohio and beyond. We want to thank all of our faculty, staff, students, alumni, industry partners and donors for their support of this project. We were especially grateful @LtGovJimTressel and many elected representatives attended the event, demonstrating how significant Bowling Green’s academic programs are for the state of Ohio.