Ohio Senator tours Marietta College

Visit highlights impact of College in the region

Marietta, OH (10/04/2024) — Marietta College's picturesque fall day began with a morning visit from Ohio Senator Brian Chavez (OH-30th District), who met with College leadership and toured a part of the 90-acre campus.

"This has been a good visit. I'm here to see more of the College that I don't typically get to see during different events and sporting events here," Sen. Chavez said. "I'm a big proponent of (Marietta College's) community involvement and community support."

During the visit, Sen. Chavez learned about ways Marietta interacted with the region, including the College's Teacher Education candidates interning in local classrooms, the numerous youth camps - including athletics-based and marching band - hosted at MC, the educational Anderson Hancock Planetarium shows that are free to the public, access to Legacy Library, and performances by the Theatre Department.

"We provided Sen. Chavez information on ways his constituency in this area benefit from Marietta College and were able to show off our beautiful campus," said Chantal Centofanti-Fields, Grants and Foundation Officer at Marietta College. Centofanti-Fields and Provost Dr. Kathleen Dougherty spent time with Sen. Chavez during the campus tour.

Sen. Chavez has been in office since December 2023 and has ties to Marietta College. His wife's parents, MC alums Judith Heinrich '66 and the late Carl Heinrich '64, owned and operated a local gas company and supported their alma mater by attending events and also in philanthropic gifts.

"It was a pleasure to host Senator Chavez for this visit," said Marietta College President Dr. Margaret L. Drugovich. "He has a clear-eyed view of how higher education contributes to workforce development and the region's economic strength. We share a deep appreciation for the continued importance of Marietta College in this community. I am grateful for his service to our region and his leadership."

Located in Marietta, Ohio, at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio rivers, Marietta College is a four-year liberal arts college. Tracing its roots to the Muskingum Academy back in 1797, the College was officially chartered in 1835. Today Marietta College serves a body of 1,200 full-time students. The College offers more than 50 majors and is consistently ranked as one of the top regional comprehensive colleges by U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review, as well as one of the nation's best by Forbes.com. Marietta was selected seventh in the nation according to the Brookings Institution's rankings of colleges by their highest value added, regardless of major.

Media Attachments

Marietta College President Dr. Margaret L. Drugovich and Ohio Senator Brian Chavez discussed the numerous ways the College enhances the region, including educating the workforce, providing talented interns to local classrooms and businesses, and special events such as athletics, youth campus, free planetarium shows, and theatre performances.