Youngstown State University. Office of the President.

David C. Sweet was born on May 16, 1939. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Rochester in 1961 and his Master of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1963. Sweet was awarded a Ph. D. from The Ohio State University in 1970. From 1963 to 1970, he was the Regional Economics Division Director of the Battelle Institute in Columbus, Ohio. In 1971, he was appointed Director of the Department of Economic and Community Development. Sweet was made a commissioner on the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio in 1975 and served in this capacity until being named Dean of the Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University in 1978. In 2000, Sweet became the sixth president of Youngstown State University. The author of several books and articles relating to urban affairs, Sweet has been a key participant in the Wick Neighbors partnership, which was established to enhance Youngstown's Wick Avenue and Smokey Hollow areas, where Sweet guided the construction of the University Courtyard Apartments. His support for Youngstown State University's role in promoting community revitalization has been demonstrated through his work with Youngstown 2010, an ambitious urban renewal project. On campus, Sweet's leadership has resulted in the construction of the Andrews Student Recreation and Wellness Center in 2005 and increased enrollment. In 2008, Sweet presided over celebrations commemorating Youngstown State University's centennial.