Caroline Whitacre, Ph.D.

Carol recently retired from the Senior Vice President for Research position at The Ohio State University in Columbus, a position she held for the past 9 years. In her faculty position as Professor of Microbial Infection & Immunity, she spent her career researching the immunology of multiple sclerosis. During her 36 years at Ohio State, she also served as Vice Dean for Research in the Medical Center and as Chair of the Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics. She received a Bachelor’s degree and PhD from The Ohio State University.

In recognition of her University activities, she was awarded the OSU Faculty Award for Distinguished University Service in 2001 and the Distinguished Scholar Award in 2008. In 2004, she was named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and was elected to the National Academy of Inventors in 2015. Carol serves as a member of the National Board of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society since 2014. She was inducted into the National MS Society Volunteer Hall of Fame for researchers in 2009 and currently chairs the Research Programs Advisory Committee (RPAC) for the National MS Society. Carol also serves on the Board of The Wellington School, located in Columbus Ohio.

Since her retirement from Ohio State in 2017, Carol works part time in her hometown of Morrow, Ohio, serving as the city manager. Carol and her husband, Mike, have one grown son, Alex, and they enjoy cooking, traveling and restoring old houses. Their dog, Mario, loves his time in Morrow, where he chases deer and foxes.