About Us
The Mershon Center was formally established by The Ohio State University Trustees in 1967. It is the fulfillment of a bequest by Col. Ralph D. Mershon to the university for the exploration of matters pertaining to national security and principles of good citizenship. Much of the center’s annual operating budget comes from the Ralph D. Mershon Fund along with smaller endowments established to support peace studies research, peace outreach, and conflict resolution student scholarship support.
Mission
The mission of the Mershon Center for International Security Studies is to advance interdisciplinary collaborative approaches to international, national, and human security. The center does this by fostering collaborative interdisciplinary research and programming projects within the university and in conjunction with other institutions around the world. It supports research and programming by individual faculty members, interdisciplinary teams, and through cross-sectoral initiatives. The center also organizes local, national, and global conferences, symposia, and workshops that bring together scholars, government officials, nongovernmental organizations, and civic leaders to discuss the latest research and policy frameworks in national and international security. Strategic research and programming initiatives for 2022-2024 focus on the following themes:
Director
The Mershon Center for International Security Studies is directed by Dorothy Noyes, Arts & Sciences Distinguished Professor of English and Professor of Comparative Studies. Noyes provides strategic direction and leadership for the programmatic and administrative activities of the Mershon Center, and reports to the Divisional Dean of Social and Behavioral Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Mershon Endowed Faculty Chairs and Designated Professors
The Mershon Center for International Security Studies promotes the recruitment and retention of distinguished faculty members who lead critical research and educate the next generation on issues related to international security in a global context. The center does this by supporting several endowed positions including three chairs:
The Mershon Center supports three endowed chairs:
- Gen. Raymond E. Mason Jr. Chair in Military History
- Wayne Woodrow Hayes Chair in National Security Studies
- Chair in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
The Mershon Center also supports two designated professorships for scholars recognized for excellence in teaching, research, and service. These joint appointments between the center and an academic unit currently include:
- Ralph D. Mershon Professor of International Security
- Ralph D. Mershon Professor of Human Security
Contact Us
Mershon Center for International Security Studies
The Ohio State University
1010 Derby Hall
154 N Oval Mall
Columbus, OH 43201
Phone: (614) 292-1681
Fax: (614) 292-2407
mershoncenter@osu.edu
