TUSCALOOSA — The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees today unanimously appointed Dr. Peter J. Mohler as the 30th president of the University of Alabama. He will assume the role July 21.
With more than 20 years of experience in higher education, Mohler is executive vice president for research, innovation and knowledge at Ohio State University and chief scientific officer of OSU’s Wexner Medical Center. He served as the university’s acting president in 2023, successfully leading one of the largest public flagships in the nation.
“Dr. Mohler is uniquely equipped to build upon the University of Alabama’s strong foundation and lead this institution into an even brighter future,” said UA System Chancellor Sid J. Trant, who recommended Mohler’s appointment to the Board. “He is a champion for the power of public higher education to transform lives and communities through teaching, research and service, and he will advance our flagship mission through his bold, student-centered and visionary leadership.”
Mohler joined Ohio State in 2011 as the director of the Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute and subsequently served as chair of the department of physiology and cell biology, vice dean of research in the College of Medicine, and vice president for research for the university.
His current role at Ohio State is dedicated to growing high-impact academics, research, scholarship and entrepreneurship across the enterprise, as well as building strategic partnerships with government and industry leaders to foster innovation and fuel economic and workforce development.
“It is a tremendous honor to be named the next president of The University of Alabama, and I am deeply grateful to the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees for the opportunity to serve this institution and further its tradition of excellence,” said Mohler. “UA stands as a national leader in higher education, and I look forward to working collaboratively across campus, the UA System and the state to expand our impact and build on the University’s remarkable momentum.”
Under Mohler’s leadership, Ohio State has risen in national research rankings, and research and development expenditures have increased by around $600 million annually – topping $1.5 billion. He has supported over $100 million in gifts and led academic efforts to establish several transformational academic centers and initiatives on campus, including a 300-acre innovation district focused on accelerating collaboration across public, private and academic sectors to drive academic achievement and economic success while preparing future-ready graduates.
As acting president, Mohler led 15 academic colleges and programs serving over 65,000 students, and advanced key initiatives in economic development, college athletics, enrollment growth, academic excellence and campus safety, among other areas.
Mohler is a strong advocate for increased educational access and student success, and he has supported innovative programs to enhance entrepreneurial learning, improve graduation outcomes and align education with career pathways.
“Dr. Mohler is a highly respected and forward-thinking leader who will elevate The University of Alabama to new heights,” said UA System Board of Trustees President Pro Tempore Scott Phelps. “His leadership will attract world-class faculty, staff and students and will ensure they are prepared to thrive and succeed on campus and beyond. I want to thank our search chair, Trustee Karen Brooks, and the entire presidential search advisory committee for their outstanding work identifying the ideal leader for UA’s future.”
Mohler has authored more than 275 peer-reviewed publications. His research focuses on uncovering the genetic and cellular mechanisms underlying abnormal heart rhythms and heart failure and designing new diagnostics and therapies. The work from his team has been published in top scientific journals, including Nature, Cell, Nature Medicine, and the New England Journal of Medicine.
He is the recipient of multiple awards and honors, including being named a Pew Scholar, an Outstanding Investigator of the American Heart Association and an inaugural NIH National Heart Lung and Blood Institute Outstanding Investigator.
He has held academic leadership positions at the national and international levels and has served on the editorial boards of numerous academic journals.
Mohler also serves on the boards of OneColumbus, Pelotonia, Rev1, the Transportation Research Center, the Ohio State University Foundation Board, and the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Research Institute.
Mohler earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Wake Forest University and his doctorate in cell and molecular physiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He performed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at Duke University before being appointed to the faculty at Vanderbilt University and later the University of Iowa.
A native of Grand Junction, Colo., Mohler and his wife, Nancy, have three children, Eleanor, Caroline and John.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our email newsletter to have all our smart stories delivered to your inbox.
