presidential profile committee
Composed of internal and external stakeholders, the Presidential Profile Committee is responsible for drafting the position profile for The University of Toledo’s 19th president.
Dr. Shaza Aouthmany, Co-Chair
Dr. Shaza Aouthmany is a UToledo Health Emergency Medicine Physician and Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education and Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine in the College of Medicine and Life Sciences. A graduate of UToledo, Aouthmany earned her Doctor of Medicine from UToledo and completed her emergency medicine residency at UToledo.
Dr. Frank Calzonetti, Co-Chair
Dr. Frank Calzonetti is the Vice President for Innovation and Economic Development. A professor of geography, Calzonetti has held several leadership roles at UToledo throughout his career including Vice President of Research, Vice President of Government Relations and Chief of Staff. Before joining UToledo in 2001 to lead the research office, he was Director of the West Virginia EPSCoR program and held numerous administrative positions at West Virginia University for more 20 years. He also held a faculty staff position at Argonne National Laboratory. Calzonetti earned a Ph.D. in geography from the University of Oklahoma, an Master of Arts degree in geography from Wayne State University, and a bachelor’s degree in history from Wayne State University.
Dr. Imran I. Ali
Dr. Imran I. Ali is Interim Dean of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences and professor and Clair Martig Endowed Chair in the Department of Neurology. Ali joined the faculty of the then Medical College of Ohio in 1996 and has held a number of administrative positions throughout his career, most recently as vice dean for undergraduate medical education and the inaugural chair of the Department of Medical Education. He also has served as senior associate dean for academic affairs, associate dean for medical education, professionalism and diversity, and assistant dean for clinical undergraduate medical education. Ali is a board-certified neurologist who specializes in epilepsy. He serves as director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at ProMedica Toledo Hospital. Ali earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from Aga Khan University in Pakistan and completed residency and an epilepsy/clinical neurophysiology fellowship at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
Dr. Lesley M. Berhan
Dr. Lesley Berhan is Associate Dean for Student Success and Strategic Initiatives for the UToledo College of Engineering and an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering (MIME). Berhan’s current research is in engineering education with a focus on broadening participation, access and student success. She has received more than $2 million in research funding from the National Science Foundation. As the associate dean she leads the development and execution of initiatives and programs to facilitate the recruitment, retention and success of all students. These duties are well-aligned with her current research interests and external funding in engineering education and workforce development. She received her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of the West Indies in St. Augustine, Trinidad, master’s degree in civil engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan. She joined UToledo in 2004.
Kevin Bishop
A UToledo Student Trustee, Kevin Bishop was appointed to the Board of Trustees in July 2023. Bishop is as senior studying finance in the Neff College of Business and Innovation. On campus he has served as the Co-Director for RockeTHON, President of the College Republicans, and as a member of the Levis Leadership program. A graduate of Central Catholic High School where he was his class president each year, Bishop is involved in the community serving on the Board of Directors for The Victory Center, a Northwest Ohio-based cancer nonprofit organization, and as an assistant soccer and basketball coach for his parish, St. Patrick of Heatherdowns. Bishop works for the family company Bishop Landscape as a crew leader.
Bryan B. Blair
Bryan B. Blair is the Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and Director of Athletics. During his tenure at UToledo, Blair has enhanced collaboration with the community, increased revenue generation, focused on community engagement and strengthened student-athlete support. UToledo won the Mid-American Conference’s 2023-24 Cartwright Award for its overall excellence in academics, athletics and citizenship for the third consecutive year. The Rockets won five MAC championships in 2023-24, earning the Jacoby Trophy and Reese Trophy in the same year for the first time. Blair launched the 1923 Society creating a new pipeline of philanthropic support for Toledo Athletics that quickly led to more than $3 million in new revenue. An advocate for #TeamToledo, he also launched a Fan Leadership Council to bolster the Rocket fan experience. In 2024 Blair announced the addition of rowing as the 17th varsity support in collaboration with MetroParks Toledo and the Toledo Rowing Foundation. Blair has a law degree from the University of South Carolina and undergraduate degree from Wofford College where he played four seasons as a nose tackle. He joined UToledo in 2022.
Dr. Andrew B. Casabianca
Dr. Andrew B. Casabianca is a UToledo Health Anesthesiologist and Medical Director of Operative Services and an Associate Professor in the College of Medicine and Life Sciences. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the former Medical College of Ohio and Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.
Meghan Cunningham
Meghan Cunningham is Vice President for Marketing and Communications leading the UToledo Office of University Marketing and Communications and its efforts to promote UToledo as a transformative public research university and academic medical center that amplifies the initiative of our people. Cunningham recently led the branding effort that launched “The Power To Do” in July 2024 to bring the University’s academic and clinical operations together under one tagline for the first time and highlight the impact of UToledo with authentic and aspirational messaging. A UToledo alumna, she has a Master of Business Administration degree from the UToledo John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business and Innovation and a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Michigan State University. She joined UToledo in 2010.
Randy Gardner
Randy Gardner served as the Chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor until his retirement in 2023 after a long career in public service. Before becoming Chancellor, Gardner served a total of 33 years in the Ohio Senate and House of Representatives earning a 100% voting record during his time in the General Assembly. Throughout his career he served in a number of elected leadership positions, including Senate President Pro Tem, House Speaker Pro Tem, and Senate Majority Leader during his final term in the Senate. He also served as chairman of both the House and Senate Higher Education committees.
Dr. David Giovannucci
Dr. David Giovannucci is a senior researcher and medical educator who serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Medical Education responsible for operationalizing the delivery of the first four years of the medical school curriculum and holds a joint appointment with the Department of Neurosciences and Psychiatry. In collaboration with faculty in the College of Medicine and Life Sciences and Dr. Bruce Bamber and colleagues in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, he recently co-led the development and approval of a new undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree in neuroscience. His scientific work has advanced our understanding of the autonomic nervous system with relevance to cancer, hypertension, chronic stress and dry mouth, and has been supported by substantial extramural funding from government, military and private foundations. Giovannucci received his Ph.D. from Wayne State University and held postgraduate fellowships and appointments at the University of Michigan and the University of Rochester. He joined UToledo in 2002.
Zac Isaac
A UToledo Trustee, Zac Isaac was appointed to the Board of Trustees in June 2022, and he also serves on the UToledo Health Board. Isaac is president of the Isaac Property Co. Prior to rejoining the real estate development company in 2022, he served as Executive Officer of State Bank and Trust Company for nine years. Isaac had previously spent 23 years at Isaac Property Co. as an Executive Vice President. His career also has included serving as Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Isaac Corporation, Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of First Gibralter Bank in Dallas, Texas, Vice President of InterFirst Bank Dallas and an associate attorney with Keating, Muething and Klekamp in Cincinnati. He earned his J.D. from Ohio Northern University and was on the Law Review and his bachelor’s degree in accounting and economics from Duke University.
Addison Kittel
Addison Kittel is President of the UToledo Graduate Student Association committed to enhancing the student experience and fostering a supportive academic community. She previously held the roles of Vice President and Secretary of the GSA. Kittel is a third-year student in the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program and aims to make a positive impact in the lives of individuals through innovative therapeutic practices. She holds an undergraduate degree in psychology from Lehigh University, which has laid a strong foundation for her studies in occupational therapy.
Brenda S. Lee
Brenda S. Lee is president of The University of Toledo Foundation and has served in that role for more than 20 years. Under her tenure, assets under management have grown from $30 million to approximately $700 million, and the number of funds managed have increased from 500 to more than 2,300. She was instrumental in the merger of the Medical College of Ohio Foundation and The University of Toledo Foundation, as well as adding development, alumni engagement and special events under the foundation umbrella. Lee has served on the CASE National Committee for College and University Foundations, and she has assisted many other nonprofit groups. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Bowling Green State University.
Dr. Scott Molitor
Dr. Scott Molitor is Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and professor of bioengineering. A longtime faculty leader in the UToledo College of Engineering, Molitor joined the Office of the Provost staff in 2022 to serve as interim vice provost for academic affairs and acting dean of the College of Graduate Studies before being asked to serve as the interim Chief Academic Officer in 2023. Molitor’s research interests include molecular and cellular neuroscience in addition to science and engineering education. He has served as an investigator on interdisciplinary projects that have garnered more than $19 million in external funding. Molitor earned his Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins University and bachelor’s degree in engineering science from the University of Michigan. He completed postdoctoral fellowships at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. He joined UToledo in 2000.
Joe Napoli
Joe Napoli is President and CEO of the Toledo Mud Hens baseball club, Toledo Walleye hockey club and Hensville. According to Nielsen Research, the Hens and Walleye continue to rank amongst the Top 10 most popular teams in minor and major league sports. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, he graduated from St. John’s University in New York and then joined Manufacturer’s Hanover Trust in New York City. Napoli’s more than 30-year career in sports began with the Canton Indians and Toledo Mud Hens before spending several years working for the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Tigers. He has been involved with the development of downtown Toledo since 1998 with the opening of Fifth Third Field and then later the Huntington Center, Hensville and the Metroparks. Downtown Toledo has since realized more than $1 billion in investment. Napoli is a board member of the Toledo Museum of Art, ConnecToledo, Toledo Local Initaitives Support Corproration (LISC), Metroparks Toledo Foundation, Major League Baseball Business Affairs and the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL).
Kimberly Nigem
Kimberly Nigem is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Management in the UToledo John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business and Innovation. She has taught a wide range of courses across multiple disciplines, including accounting, finance, information systems, management, intellectual property, business law, white collar crime and entrepreneurship. Nigem has served in various administrative roles throughout her career and currently serves as UToledo's Faculty Athletic Representative to the Mid-American Conference and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), an Executive Officer and Treasurer of the UToledo chapter of the American Association of University Professors, and as a senator on Faculty Senate.
Dr. Marc Seigar
Dr. Marc Seigar is Dean of the UToledo College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. An astronomer and astrophysicist, Seigar’s area of scholarship is galaxy dynamics, structure and morphology. He has a bachelor's degree in physics from Imperial College London and a Ph.D. in astrophysics from the Liverpool Astrophysics Research Institute. He held research positions at Ghent University in Belgium, the Joint Astronomy Centre in Hawaii and the University of California Irvine before faculty positions at the University of Arkansas and University of Minnesota Duluth where he served as Associate Dean of the Swenson College of Science and Engineering. Prior to joining UToledo, he was a program director in the Division of Astronomical Sciences in the National Science Foundation. He joined UToledo in 2021.
Dr. Martin C. Skie
Dr. Martin C. Skie is chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. He has served in numerous leadership roles throughout his career as a UToledo Health vascular surgeon and faculty member in the UToledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences including Associate Program Director for the Orthopaedic Residency Program and on the Board of Directors for the University of Toledo Physicians Clinical Faculty, where he was a past vice president. Dr. Skie received his undergraduate degree in chemistry from Miami University and Doctor of Medicine from the former Medical College of Ohio where he completed his residency in orthopaedic surgery. He went on to complete fellowship training in hand and upper extremity. Skie joined UToledo in 1995.
Dr. Russell Smith
Dr. Russell Smith is the Senior Hospital Administrator at the University of Toledo Medical Center, which includes the roles of chief pharmacy officer, quality and safety officer and administrator for the Eleanor N. Dana Cancer Center, as well as several support departments. Smith started his career at UTMC as a pharmacy intern and subsequently as an inpatient pharmacist. Prior to administration, he spent time as the Managed Care Coordinator for the prescription benefit, Pharmacy Operations Manager and Director of Pharmacy. A UToledo alumnus, Smith earned his undergraduate pharmacy degree as a Rocket and went on to earn his Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from Shenandoah University. He also holds an MBA from the University of Findlay. Russ received his Board Certification in Pharmacotherapy in 2007. He joined UToledo in 1995.
Dr. Jerry Van Hoy
Dr. Jerry Van Hoy is the President of the UToledo Faculty Senate. An Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology in the UToledo College of Arts and Letters, his research interests include the political economy of law and legal change. He has published two books on changes to the U.S. legal profession and several articles on movements for legal change and their consequences. Van Hoy directs the Master of Interdisciplinary Studies Program and co-directs the Program in Law and Social Thought.
Dr. Thomas Wakefield
Dr. Thomas Wakefield a National Trustee on the UToledo Board of Trustees. An accomplished clinical vascular surgeon with a focus on venous disorders until his retirement in 2023, Dr. Wakefield is Emeritus Professor of Surgery at the University of Michigan where he was the head of vascular surgery for 16 years and director of the Samuel and Jean Frankel Cardiovascular Center for eight years. A UToledo alumnus, he earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from UToledo and Doctor of Medicine from the former Medical College of Ohio. He completed a general surgery residency and a vascular surgery fellowship at the University of Michigan. Dr. Wakefield previously served as the President of the American Venous Forum, Michigan Vascular Society, and the Frederick A Coller Surgical Society. Among his numerous awards throughout his career are UToledo’s James K. Larson Distinguished Achievement Alumni Award, UToledo College of Medicine Distinguished Alumnus Award, and The University of Toledo Blue T and Gold T Awards. He also serves as a trustee on The University of Toledo Foundation Board of Trustees.
Lucas Will
Lucas Will is President of Student Government. A fourth-year student studying Spanish and Economics, Will came to UToledo from Bryan, Ohio and is the first in his family to attend college for a career path other than education. Serving the student body since April 2023, he has helped connect students with faculty and administration, provide students with free period products and established a parking appeals committee. Active on campus, Will is a brother of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, Blue Key National Honor Society and Order of Omega.