YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Ohio U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson will leave Congress to accept the job as Youngstown State University's next president, the 69-year-old announced Tuesday.
Johnson, a Republican who has represented Ohio's 6th Congressional District since 2011, did not offer an exact timeline for his departure but says he will stay in the House of Representatives "for several more months" before taking over YSU. The school offered Johnson the position last week, the culmination of a search that began following Jim Tressel's retirement in February.
"As I’ve stated previously, I wasn’t looking for another job, because I love the one I have serving the people of Eastern Ohio in the U.S. House," Johnson wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "This was an extremely difficult decision."
The 6th Congressional District has long hugged the eastern end of the Ohio River, and currently includes not only all of Mahoning County but also the entirety of Carroll County as well as portions of Stark and Tuscarawas counties. During his time in the House, Johnson has sponsored legislation improving health care facilities for veterans and has recently been among the loudest voices in Washington pushing for more rail safety regulations following the toxic train wreck in East Palestine, the people of whom he represents.
But despite Johnson's resume as a legislator, his hiring by Youngstown State has been met with controversy by some, including the university's faculty union. Speaking with 3News last week, YSU Ohio Education Association President Dr. Mark Vopat expressed frustration not necessarily with Johnson as a candidate, but more so with the school's Board of Trustees, whom he claims conducted a search that lacked transparency by not allowing students and staff to meet with potential finalists.
"The board has been distant," Vopat said. "They haven't looked for input."
Board Secretary Anita Hackstedde responded to those concerns in a Tuesday press conference introducing Johnson as the presumptive president, saying trustees wanted to avoid what she called the "chilling effect running an open search has on the ability to find the best qualified candidates."
"When our board began the process to look for YSU's next president, we knew we had to shift gears in our approach. That is why we chose to undertake a confidential search — an approach more and more universities are adopting," Hackstedde said. "However, that does not mean we took any shortcuts to reaching the decision we are announcing today. On the contrary, we used a methodical, comprehensive process that I think it's important to understand."
An open letter signed by YSU faculty and alumni also called into question some of Johnson's "highly contentious" political positions. Per the letter, "The Congressman has opposed gay marriage, supported then-President Trump's ban of travel from majority-Muslim countries, and, without evidence, questioned the validity of the 2020 presidential election." Johnson signed on to an amicus brief challenging the results of the election Trump lost to current President Joe Biden.
On Tuesday, Trustees Chair Michael Peterson stressed his belief Johnson's politics would not affect his ability to lead Youngstown State.
"We're not hiring a politician. We're hiring a president of Youngstown State University who must work with every YSU stakeholder — students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners," Peterson said. "We know this decision is not immediately being embraced by everyone. But we also firmly believe that, in short order, Bill will show our YSU family why he’s the leader we need right now."
Johnson himself echoed those sentiments.
"I know some have questioned my professional and educational experience," the congressman stated. "As president, my history in politics will not be reflected in the decisions I make for YSU and the students of YSU."
Like his predecessor Tressel, Johnson does not have a doctorate degree, although Tressel did have prior experience in higher education coupled with his career as a Hall of Fame college football coach at both Youngstown State and Ohio State. Since Tressel stepped down earlier this year, Dr. Helen K. Lafferty has served as interim president.
"Bill Johnson has an unwavering belief in Higher Education, a strong belief in people, and his wide array of leadership experiences will serve him well at YSU," Tressel wrote of his selected replacement. "My message to Bill is that he is joining the finest group of faculty, students, and staff in America."