OHIO Distinguished Professor Dr. Brian Clark to speak at Fall Commencement

Ohio University Distinguished Professor Dr. Brian Clark will deliver the keynote address at the Fall 2026 Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 12.

President Lori Stewart Gonzalez said the University is proud to recognize Clark and his longstanding impact on OHIO and the fields of health, aging and medicine.

“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Brian Clark as our Fall 2026 Commencement speaker,” President Gonzalez said. “A nationally recognized researcher, distinguished professor and dedicated mentor, Dr. Clark has made a lasting impact through both his scholarship and his commitment to students. He embodies Ohio University’s mission of advancing knowledge in service to others, and I am grateful he will share his experiences and insights with our graduates as they celebrate this important milestone.”

Clark is a Distinguished Professor of Physiology and Neuroscience in OHIO’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and serves as executive director of the Ohio Musculoskeletal and Neurological Institute (OMNI). He also holds the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation Harold E. Clybourne, D.O., Endowed Research Chair.

“It is a tremendous honor to address Ohio University’s graduates, and a responsibility I take seriously,” Clark said. “I still remember the commencement addresses at each of my own graduations. One of the privileges of being part of Ohio University is watching students discover what they are capable of. I look forward to sharing a few lessons from my own life and encouraging our graduates to take their potential seriously: to aim high and keep working with determination, even when progress feels slow. What they choose to pursue in the years ahead will matter far beyond their own lives. The world is still being built, and they have a hand in what it becomes.”

In the last 20 years at Ohio University, Clark has built a nationally and internationally recognized research program focused on understanding why people lose muscle strength, mobility and skeletal resilience as they age or experience illness, injury or disability, and how those losses can be prevented, detected earlier or reversed.

His research has helped advance scientific understanding of sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle strength and function, by demonstrating the importance of looking beyond muscle mass to also consider neural function, muscle quality and motor control. His work has helped reshape how scientists and clinicians understand the factors that contribute to declining strength and mobility.

Clark's research also explores ways to identify and address bone weakness and fracture risk. Through Cortical Bone Mechanics Technology (CBMT), a novel, noninvasive approach to assessing bone strength, he is helping translate scientific discoveries into practical applications. This work is also advancing through OsteoDx, in which Clark is a co-founder.

As executive director of OMNI, Clark leads a collaborative research enterprise focused on musculoskeletal and neurological health, including aging, injury, pain and rehabilitation. Under his leadership, the institute continues to grow bringing together science, clinical investigation and rehabilitation research to develop approaches that can help people maintain their strength, independence and quality of life.

In May 2026, Clark was named the recipient of Ohio University's Distinguished Professor Award, the institution's highest permanent faculty honor. The award recognizes exceptional scholarly or creative accomplishments and lasting contributions to a faculty member's discipline, students and the University. His research career includes more than 225 published articles and chapters, more than 20,000 citations and over $53 million in grants and contracts.

Clark earned his undergraduate degree in biology from Western Carolina University. He received a master’s degree in exercise physiology, a certificate of advanced study in gerontology and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in neuromuscular physiology from Syracuse University where he was named the doctoral student of the year.

Ohio University's 2026 Fall Commencement Ceremony will be held Saturday, Dec. 12, beginning at 2 p.m. in the Convocation Center on the Athens Campus. For additional information, visit the Commencement website.