In the News

A selection of news media articles, broadcasts, and podcasts featuring President Matt vandenBerg

• Fortune, "Let 17-year-olds change their minds. In the age of AI, it's their best career move," featuring an op-ed from President Matt vandenBerg, stating: "At Ohio Wesleyan, we're building the entire institution around the exploratory majority. ... We're also running back toward the arts and humanities while much of the sector runs away. ... Seventeen-year-olds are still becoming who they'll be, and college is where much of that becoming happens. We should build higher education for that work and be exceptionally good at it." 10/23/2026
• Columbus Business First, "Ohio Wesleyan to raise faculty pay to among highest in Central Ohio with $40M gift," featuring President Matt vandenBerg announcing the Mecum College of Arts and Humanities, along with one of the largest investments ever committed to faculty salaries at an American liberal arts college. 10/23/2026
• Columbus Dispatch, "Ohio Wesleyan gets $40 million gift for faculty salaries, arts and humanities college" Columbus Dispatch, " featuring President Matt vandenBerg announcing the Dudley Mecum II family gift along with OWU's new market identity of "America's University for Ambitious Self-Discovery." 10/23/2026
• Columbus Dispatch, "Ohio Wesleyan University breaks ground on new $50 million library, two campus centers," featuring comments from President Matt vandenBerg and OWU graduate Thomas Palmer '69. 10/08/2025
• Delaware, Gazette, "OWU given national honor," featuring President Matt vandenBerg discussing Ohio Wesleyan's ranking as one of the most transfer-friendly schools in the nation. 8/29/2025
• Columbus Dispatch, "Ohio Wesleyan President Matt vandenBerg wants to start a higher education rebellion," featuring President Matt vandenBerg in a question-and-answer interview with reporter Sheridan Hendrix. 6/21/2025 online and 6/29/2025 print edition
• Fulcrum Nonprofit Leadership, "Lead for Good: A Conversation with Matt vandenBerg," featuring President Matt vandenBerg in a podcast conversation with Fulcrum CEO Chris Looney. 6/16/2025
• The EdUp Experience, "How This University President Accelerated Institutional Change in Just 9 Months - with Dr. Matt VandenBerg, President, Ohio Wesleyan University," featuring President Matt vandenBerg in a podcast interview with Joe Sallustio, co-founder and host of The EdUp Experience. 5/7/2025
• Chronicle of Philanthropy, "Looking to Lead? Try Your Hand at Fundraising First, Experts Say," featuring President Matt vandenBerg discussing his fundraising background and its value in leadership development. 10/15/2024
• Spectrum News 1 Ohio, "Divisiveness, polarization prompts new training for college students," featuring interviews about the Constructive Dialogue Institute initiative with student Vincent Sack '27 and President Matt vandenBerg. 9/18/2024
• Spectrum News 1 Ohio, "Ohio Wesleyan University Partners with South Carolina HBCU," featuring an interview with President Matt vandenBerg combined with video from the Claflin "sister school" agreement signing and other OWU video. This story also appeared on urbanactive.ca. 6/14/2024
• Columbus Dispatch, "Some are skeptical about the value of liberal arts. These Ohio college presidents disagree," featuring President Matt vandenBerg discussing the value of a liberal arts education in a Page 1 print and online homepage article. This article also appeared on AOL.com. 5/29/2024
• Forbes.com, "What's The Role Of College Presidents In Fostering Civic Engagement For Democracy?" featuring comments from President Matt vandenBerg regarding his decision to join the College Presidents for Civic Preparedness initiative. 5/14/2024
• WDLR-96.7 FM, OWU President's update, featuring a live interview with Matt vandenBerg discussing all of the inauguration week announcements, including the Delaware County Promise and Columbus State Community College collaborations. 4/29/2024
• Columbus Dispatch, "Ohio Wesleyan to become tuition-free for lower-income Delaware County students," featuring President vandenBerg's Delaware County Promise announcement and more inauguration announcements. 4/20/2024
• WSYX-ABC6 / FOX28 Columbus, OWU Inauguration and Inauguration Week announcements, featuring inauguration coverage and an interview with Vice President Adam Smith. 4/19/2024
• Spectrum News 1, "Columbus State, Ohio Wesleyan partner up to help save students money on tuition," featuring a comment from Matt vandenBerg. 4/19/2024
• NBC4, "Columbus State and Ohio Wesleyan team up to improve student access and affordability," featuring video footage from the OWU-Columbus State news conference. 4/18/2024
• Columbus Dispatch, "Columbus State, Ohio Wesleyan partnership could save students thousands on tuition," featuring an announcement of the Tuition Match, Teach Now, and expanded Preferred Pathway programs. The article also appeared on AOL.com. 4/18/2024