Dayton Business Journal names Wright State’s Hopkins among most influential

Wright State University President David R. Hopkins

The Dayton Business Journal has named Wright State President David R. Hopkins as among its Top 12 Most Influential People of 2012 in the Dayton Region.

Hopkins and the other honorees were selected by the Journal’s editorial board as having had an impact on the Dayton region through their efforts—both publicly and behind the scenes—during the past year.

Among the criteria for being on the list was having been responsible for actions that have helped shape the community this year and involvement in efforts that will continue to reshape the region in coming years.

Also named among the Top 12 was Vishal Soin, president of Soin International and former chair of the Wright State University Board of Trustees.

The Top 12 honor is the second recent one Hopkins has won from the Journal. In September, the newspaper selected Hopkins to receive the Regional Leadership Award for 2012, applauding him for taking the lead in trying to help improve the local community. The award was part of the Journal’s Business of the Year awards program.

During Hopkins’ time at Wright State, a central theme to his administration has been the creation of a culture for innovation that is reflected through the development of seven Centers of Excellence.

Hopkins has pointed out that every college and school at Wright State has nationally recognized academic programs and faculty and that the university has been nationally recognized for its community service and community engagement.

Among his other activities, Hopkins is president of the Ohio College Association, chair of the Wright Brothers Institute, vice chair of the Advanced Technical Intelligence Center, and co-chair of the Ohio Board of Regents Articulation and Transfer Oversight/Steering Committee.

He also has been active in the community and served on the boards and in leadership positions for many community organizations.

He is a member of the Dayton Development Coalition Executive Committee, Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, Miami Valley Higher Education Consortium, Miami Valley Research Foundation, Southwest Ohio Council for Higher Education, daytaOhio and others.

Those on this year’s Top 12 list will be recognized in a special report in the Dec. 28 issue of the Journal. That issue will feature biographies and stories on the people on the list detailing the reasons each of them are considered among the top influencers locally.

Others on the Top 12 list include Congressman Mike Turner and Jeff Hoagland, president and CEO of the Dayton Development Coalition.