The Ohio State University at Marion will celebrate a major milestone in its commitment to the Marion community with the ribbon cutting and grand opening of the Downtown Engagement Hub on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, from 4-6 p.m. at 146 N. Main Street, Marion, OH 43302.
The new space, located in the heart of downtown, is designed to bring people together; a welcoming, flexible environment where students, faculty, alumni, residents, nonprofits, and local leaders can collaborate, codesign solutions, and strengthen the fabric of Marion.
Made possible through the generosity of Lois J. Fisher and thoughtfully designed by Rebekah Matheny, Associate Professor of Interior Design at Ohio State, the Hub reflects a vision of community‑centered innovation. It offers accessible, comfortable, and creative space for workshops, conversations, project teams, gallery events, and hands‑on problem‑solving. The Hub is part of Ohio State Marion’s broader effort to do its work in public, meeting people where they are and building partnerships that support Marion’s growth and vitality.
The ribbon‑cutting celebration is open to Ohio State Marion faculty, staff, students, alumni, community partners, and the public. Attendees will be invited to tour the space, meet campus and community leaders, and learn how to get involved in upcoming programming.
To attend, guests are encouraged to RSVP by Wednesday, September 9 at: https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_baovknTdIjwugOq. To learn more about the Downtown Engagement Hub visit: https://osumarion.osu.edu/outreach/downtown.
About Ohio State Marion
The Ohio State University at Marion was established in 1957 in Marion, Ohio as one of four Ohio State regional campuses. The 187-acre campus provides an open access portal to Ohio's flagship university, faculty expertise, and the breadth and depth of opportunity synonymous with one of the country's top public universities. Students can earn and associate of arts or bachelor's degree in biology, business, education, engineering technology, English, history, leadership, psychology, or social work on the Marion campus or begin any of 200+ Ohio State degree programs. Ohio State Marion's caring community of world-renowned faculty scholars and researchers and dedicated staff are passionate about fostering the full potential of each student in an inclusive environment that embraces the idea of caring and personal attention. Ohio State Marion prepares students for meaningful careers through innovative, engaging, and inclusive learning experiences and seeks to be the destination of choice for those seeking a university education at a campus recognized for excellence in teaching, research, community outreach, and citizenship.