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Board of Trustees

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Charting a Course for the Future

2025-26 Board Members

Chairperson
Deborah F. Tobias
Retired Juniper Networks UK Sales Operation Director

First Vice Chairperson
 Rev. Oscar Vasquez, S.M.
Provincial, Marianist Province of the United States

Second Vice Chairperson
Denise E. Palmer
Retired President and Publisher, The Tampa Tribune

Members
Brenton K. Ahrens
General Partner, Canaan Partners

Thomas W. Albrecht, J.D.
Retired Partner, Sidley Austin LLP

Thomas B. Barker
Retired CEO and Chairman of the Board, West Corporation

John R. Beran
Managing Director, Beran Group, and Senior Advisor of Banking Solutions for The Clearing House 

Nancee R. Berger
Retired President and Chief Operating Officer, West Corporation

Rayford Blakeney
Senior Director, Global Engineering Talent Acquisition
Cloud & AI, Security, Discovery and Quantum, Microsoft Corporation

Brian J. Blaser
President and CEO, QuidelOrtho

David W. Conway
Co-founder and Managing Partner, J476 Capital

Kristin Dailey
Educator

Bro. Timothy S. Driscoll, S.M.
Vice President for Mission and Rector Designate, University of Dayton

Rev. James F. Fitz, S.M.
Vice President for Mission and Rector, University of Dayton

Terri L. Freeman
Executive Director, Reginald F. Lewis Museum of African American History & Culture

Hailee M. Gabbert
Senior Associate, Acquisition Marketing, JP Morgan Chase

Susan G. Griffith
Retired Divisional CFO, JP Morgan Chase

Jamel Gross-Cassel, J.D.
Clerk, U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit

Michael R. Herr
Retired CFO, SRAM

William R. Klesse
Retired Chairman of the Board, Valero Energy Corporation

Michelle L. Mathile
Vice Chair, The Glen at St. Joseph

Bro. Robert Metzger, S.M.
Director of Finance, Marianist Province of the United States

Bro. Jesse E. O'Neill, S.M.
Assistant for Education, Marianist Province of the United States

Bro. Bernard J. Ploeger, S.M., Ph.D.
Assistant Provincial, Marianist Province of the United States

Debra Plousha-Moore
Principal, Plousha Moore Group

Lisa Rich-Milan
CEO, Cannovation Clinical Research Partners, LLC

Eric F. Spina, Ph.D.
President, University of Dayton

Gregory J. Stevens
Partner and Corporate Engineering Manager, Cold Heading Company

Cary J. Stier
Vice Chair and Global Investment Management Sector Leader, Deloitte

Bro. Jack Ventura, S.M.
Director of Mission Integration, Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory

Bro. Edward A. Violett, S.M., Ph.D.
Vice President & Executive Director, Marianist Center of Hawaii

Lisa Payne Wansley
Retired Senior Vice President, Environmental Justice, Community & Legislative Affairs, New York Power Authority

Joseph L. Weidenbach, J.D. 
President, Calamos Wealth Management

Sharon D. White
Strategic Communications Advisor, Premier Health

Lawrence W. Woerner
Retired Global Head of Regions and CHRO, Mercer

Committees

Much of the work of the Board of Trustees is accomplished through its standing committees, which serve in an advisory capacity. Committees are chaired by trustees; a senior officer of the University serves as the administrative liaison. Members of the Board are appointed to serve on these committees, which may also have affiliate (non-voting) members.

Academic Affairs Committee

Responsible for oversight of the academic and research areas of the University and for recommending appropriate standards and policies.

Chair: Thomas W. Albrecht
Vice Chair: Debra Plousha-Moore
Administrative Liaison: Darlene Weaver, Ph.D.

Members:

  • Thomas B. Barker
  • Brian J. Blaser
  • Kristin Dailey
  • Bro. Timothy S. Driscoll, S.M.
  • Hailee M. Gabbert
  • Michelle L. Mathile
  • Denise E. Palmer
  • Lisa Rich-Milan
  • Bro. Jack Ventura, S.M.
  • Bro. Edward A. Violett, S.M., Ph.D.

Athletics Committee

Responsible for reviewing the strategic issues of the Athletic Division.

Chair: Joseph L. Weidenbach, J.D.
Vice Chair: Lawrence W. Woerner
Administrative Liaison: Neil G. Sullivan

Members:

  • John R. Beran
  • Rayford Blakeney
  • Terri L. Freeman
  • Jamel Gross-Cassel, J.D.
  • Bro. Jesse E. O'Neill, S.M.
  • Gregory J. Stevens
  • Lisa Payne Wansley
  • Sharon D. White

Audit and Risk Committee

Responsible for providing oversight and ensuring the integrity of the University's governance, risk management, and internal control practices.

Chair: Cary J. Stier
Vice Chair: Denise E. Palmer
Administrative Liaison: Andrew T. Horner

Members:

  • Thomas W. Albrecht
  • Thomas B. Barker
  • Brian J. Blaser
  • Jamel Gross-Cassel, J.D.
  • Michael R. Herr
  • Bro. Robert Metzger, S.M.
  • Bro. Bernard J. Ploeger, S.M., Ph.D.
  • Lisa Rich-Milan
  • Bro. Edward A. Violett, S.M., Ph.D.

Committee on Trustees

Responsible for seeking suitable candidates for Board membership and for assisting in the continuing development of trustees.

Chair: Terri L. Freeman
Vice Chair: Rayford Blakeney
Administrative Liaison: Lisa S. Rismiller

Members:

  • Kristin Dailey
  • Bro. Timothy S. Driscoll, S.M.
  • Michelle L. Mathile
  • Debra Plousha-Moore
  • Bro. Jesse E. O'Neill, S.M.
  • Bro. Jack Ventura, S.M.
  • Lisa Payne Wansley
  • Sharon D. White

Executive Committee

Directs the Board of Trustees and acts on behalf of the Board between regular meetings.

Chair: Deborah F. Tobias
Vice Chairs: Denise E. Palmer and Rev. Oscar Vasquez, S.M.
Administrative Liaison: Eric F. Spina, Ph.D.

Members:

  • Brenton K. Ahrens
  • Thomas W. Albrecht
  • Thomas B. Barker
  • John R. Beran
  • Nancee R. Berger
  • Bro. Timothy S. Driscoll, S.M.
  • Rev. James F. Fitz, S.M.
  • Terri L. Freeman
  • Michael R. Herr
  • William R. Klesse
  • Cary J. Stier
  • Lisa Payne Wansley
  • Joseph L. Weidenbach, J.D.

Finance/Facilities Committee

Responsible for those areas relating to the University's fiscal operations, as well as maintenance and operational policies and long-term planning review for University facilities.

Chair: Nancee R. Berger
Vice Chair: Michael R. Herr
Administrative Liaison: Andrew T. Horner

Members:

  • Brenton K. Ahrens
  • David W. Conway
  • Rev. James F. Fitz, S.M.
  • Susan G. Griffith
  • William R. Klesse
  • Bro. Robert Metzger, S.M.
  • Bro. Bernard J. Ploeger, S.M., Ph.D.
  • Cary J. Stier
  • Rev. Oscar Vasquez, S.M.

Investment Committee

Responsible for the stewardship of the University's monetary and related marketable assets.

Chair: Brenton K. Ahrens
Vice Chair: Thomas B. Barker
Administrative Liaison: Andrew T. Horner

Members:

  • Thomas W. Albrecht
  • John R. Beran
  • Brian J. Blaser
  • Bro. Robert Metzger, S.M.
  • Bro. Bernard J. Ploeger, S.M., Ph.D.
  • Bro. Edward A. Violett, S.M., Ph.D.
  • Lawrence W. Woerner

Research and Scholarship Committee

Responsible for reviewing the strategic and business aspects of research in both the academic departments and the University of Dayton Research Institute.

Chair: John R. Beran
Vice Chair: Susan G. Griffith
Administrative Liaison: Sukhjinder S. Sidhu, Ph.D.

Members:

  • Brenton K. Ahrens
  • Nancee R. Berger
  • David W. Conway
  • Rev. James F. Fitz, S.M.
  • Hailee M. Gabbert
  • William R. Klesse
  • Gregory J. Stevens
  • Lawrence W. Woerner

Student Life Committee

Responsible for oversight of all issues of non-academic student life under the administrative responsibility of the division of Student Development.

Chair: Bro. Timothy S. Driscoll, S.M.
Vice Chair: Bro. Jesse E. O'Neill, S.M.
Administrative Liaison: Casey Gill, Ph.D.

Members:

  • Nancee R. Berger
  • Rayford Blakeney
  • David W. Conway
  • Terri L. Freeman
  • Jamel Gross-Cassel, J.D.
  • Lisa Rich-Milan
  • Gregory J. Stevens
  • Cary J. Stier
  • Bro. Jack Ventura, S.M.
  • Lisa Payne Wansley

University Advancement Committee

Responsible for oversight of the advancement of the University through strategic marketing, fundraising, public relations and alumni relations.

Chair: Michael R. Herr
Vice Chair: Michelle L. Mathile
Administrative Liaison: Christopher Morrison

Members:

  • Kristin Dailey
  • Rev. James F. Fitz, S.M.
  • Hailee M. Gabbert
  • Susan G. Griffith
  • Debra Plousha-Moore
  • Joseph L. Weidenbach, J.D.
  • Sharon D. White
Contact Office of the President
St. Mary's Hall
300 College Park
Dayton, Ohio 45469 - 1624
937-229-4122
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