Mike Duffey

Mike Duffey was born on December 14, 1977, in Columbus, Ohio. He is married to Lindsay and has two children. He currently serves as the *11th Chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education *, a position he has held since January 2024, appointed by Governor Mike DeWine.

Education

Duffey earned a Bachelor of Degree in Political Science from the University of Michigan and a *Master of Business Administration * from The Ohio State University, where he graduated as a Weidler Scholar.

Political Experience

Legislative Career

Duffey served eight years in the Ohio House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019, representing District 21. During his tenure, he held several significant committee roles:

• Chair of the Higher Education and Workforce Committee
• Vice-chair of the Joint Committee on College Affordability
• Co-chair of the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority

Before joining the state legislature, he was twice elected to Worthington City Council.

Notable Legislative Achievements

His most significant legislative accomplishment was sponsoring HB1, which created JobsOhio in 2011. He also sponsored legislation that established the Chancellor's authority to review special fees at Ohio's public colleges and the state auditor's authority to conduct performance audits. Additionally, he led efforts to provide voting rights to student trustees.

Duffey is notably recognized among sports fans for initiating the legal theory and evidentiary basis for the state lawsuit that saved the Columbus Crew Major League Soccer franchise, for which he received the Spirit of Columbus award from The Columbus Foundation.

Current Roles

As Chancellor, Duffey oversees the state's two-year and four-year colleges and universities and Ohio Technical Centers, and provides policy guidance to the Governor and Ohio General Assembly on state higher education policy. He also serves as Governor Mike DeWine's designee on the Midwestern Higher Education Compact ** and was elected **Chair of MHEC during its annual meeting in November 2025.