Author

Todd Jones

Photo portrait of author Todd Jones
Author

Todd Jones

Todd Jones has been a senior writer for Ohio State Alumni Magazine and University Marketing and Communications since 2017. He also served as host of the Ohio State podcast “One Degree Greater,” featuring Buckeyes in their first years after graduation.

Todd spent three decades as a newspaper reporter, including 20 years at The Columbus Dispatch, and has received more than 50 national, state and local journalism awards. He reported on stories from Australia, Greece, Scotland, Japan and nearly every major U.S. city while covering events such as Hurricane Katrina, the Olympics and two Ohio State football national championships. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including The New York Times and Los Angeles Times.

You can usually find Todd with his face in a nonfiction book, listening to all types of music, enjoying time with his wife, Deb Bertsch, or having yet another fashion faux pas corrected by his two young-adult daughters.

Selected storytelling
An older man in an Ohio State golf shirt and a younger man wearing a button-up shirt and tie stand side by side with arms around each other. They look relaxed and happy.
Our Alumni
This family will tell you: One blind date started it all

Or maybe it was the scholarships. Either way, the result is 10 Buckeyes, 13 degrees and a special love for Ohio State.
A bumblebee gathers pollen from a willow tree.  
Research & Innovation
This project will track bees using their DNA  

Funded by the Defense Department, the professor-alumnus collaboration is intended to help protect crucial pollinators. 
Two women smile in a lab setting.
Research & Innovation
Why Pelotonia makes this cancer researcher cry

Abby Zalenski’s grandpa lived thanks to a charity ride-funded treatment, and that put her on a path to help others. 
A young Black woman smiles at the fellow scientist who funded her scholarship
Our Students
60 years apart, scientists share zeal for discovery

Kristin Chesnutt is the first recipient of the Nancy Byrd Johnson and Howard M. Johnson endowment, and a kindred spirit.
A bearded man wearing glasses and a kufi looks directly at the viewer and slightly smiles. A colorful map is projected onto him and the wall behind him. 
Research & Innovation
He sees the potential for data to do good 

Researcher Ayaz Hyder turns insights from the pandemic into tools that can help us better navigate future public health crises. 
Ohio State President Kristina M. Johnson, a white woman with short blond hair, smiles cheerfully from the sidelines of a fall football game.
Campus & Community
President Kristina M. Johnson answers your questions

She talks about helping students, teaching financial literacy, fall highlights and the toughest times of her life.
An older black man with gray hair and glasses seems thoughtful as he looks into the distance.
Our Alumni
With his whole heart

Howard M. Johnson found love, a passion for science and a bright future — all on a campus hundreds of miles from home. With generosity, he and his late wife are lighting the way for others.
A white woman with long brown hair looks interested while listening in a meeting.
Campus & Community
This storyteller’s No. 1 priority is listening

Leticia Wiggins ’11, ’13 MA, ’16 PhD dedicates herself to authentically reflecting the Ohioans who enrich our community. 
A female theater employee opens an entry door for a widely grinning Chad Whittington
Our Alumni
The man behind CAPA’s curtain shares a day

At Columbus’ premier performing arts group, CEO Chad Whittington ’99 expertly juggles priorities so the shows can go on.
A toddler is all smiles while holding a unique balloon animal
Campus & Community
Kids programming parents can feel good about

Original shows, national series and local events provided by WOSU make for rich resources for families and teachers.