Chief of Staff and Associate Vice President for University Board Affairs
Katie DeBenedictis
Katie DeBenedictis began working at The University of Toledo in spring 2003 as an intern in the athletic department. Following the internship, she accepted the permanent position of business manager and director of football operations for the Rocket football program and continued in that role through fall 2009. She served as coordinator of women’s basketball for the UToledo women’s basketball program for two years before becoming the executive assistant for the vice president of external affairs. During that time, she had the opportunity to assist with the presidential search for the 17th president of The University of Toledo and she joined the president’s office team as director of senior administrative operations for Dr. Sharon L. Gaber in July 2015 and added the responsibilities of secretary to The University of Toledo Board of Trustees in September 2019. She served both roles under the 18th president of The University of Toledo, Dr. Gregory C. Postel. In May 2024, DeBenedictis was promoted to chief of staff and associate vice president of university board affairs for Interim President Matthew J. Schroeder.
As Chief of Staff and AVP for University Board Affairs, DeBenedictis provides management of key operation support to the president and Board of Trustees. She provides oversight for the daily operations ensuring that critical priorities, initiatives and directives are implemented in a timely and effective manner. Duties include managing and prioritizing access to the president and president’s schedule, briefing the president on strategic initiatives and progress, communicating directives on the president’s behalf and serving as a liaison between the president and the president’s cabinet. Additionally, DeBenedictis manages the UToledo and UToledo Health boards. This includes coordination of Board of Trustees’ meetings, compilation of board materials, coordination of board communications and as a liaison between the campus community and members of the boards.
DeBenedictis oversees management of the office of the president staff, strategic engagement communications and the office of government relations.
DeBenedictis is a 2003 graduate of Bowling Green State University with a bachelor of education degree in sport enterprise and a minor in marketing. She is pursuing her M.B.A. at UToledo with an anticipated graduation date of May 2025. She lives in Sylvania, Ohio with her husband, Brian, and her three children: Ethan (14), Audrey (12) and Grady (8).