Kent State Foundation Board

The Kent State University Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors who safeguard and manage its assets. Leaders in their professions and communities, board members serve without compensation and contribute their time and expertise to ensure a bright future for Kent State University.

If you are interested in serving on the board, submit a nomination form.

Board Officers

Valoree Vargo
CEO
Vice President, Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement
Kent State University

Michelle D. Thomas, Ph.D. ’05
Chair
President
The James Franklin Group, LLC

Gregory A. Long, ’71
Treasurer and Chair, Committee on Finance
President and Managing Partner (retired)
Long, Cook & Samsa, Inc.

James M. Bailey, ’03, M.S. ’04
Chair-elect and Chair, Committee on Investments
Senior Vice President, Managing Director
PNC Institutional Asset Management

​​​​​Peter M. Holway, ’82
Immediate Past Chair
Principal (retired)
Hirtle, Callaghan & Company

​​​​​Greg Ina, ’95, M.A. ’05
Secretary 
Executive Vice President
The Davey Tree Expert Company

Jessica H. Vargo, CPA, ’89
Assistant Treasurer
CFO
Kent State University Foundation

Board Of Directors

Virginia Addicott, ’85, M.B.A. ’95
President and CEO (retired)
FedEx Custom Critical

Raj Aggarwal, M.B.A. ’70, D.B.A. ’80
Retired Visiting Research Scholar
Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

Lawrence R. Armstrong, ’79, BARC ’80
Chairman
Ware Malcomb

Christian R. Palich, ’09
Representative, Kent State Board of Trustees
Vice President of Government and External Affairs
Eagle Specialty Materials LLC

Roxia Boykin ’71
Vice President of Community Benefit and Diversity (retired)
Summa Health System

Gary L. Brahler, ’89
First Vice President - Investments
Morgan Stanley

Heather Cerbone, ’90
Senior VP Product Design and Development
Ralph Lauren Corporation

Vicki Haywood Doe, Ph.D. ’09
President
Vicki Doe Fitness

Timothy D. Eippert, ’92
CEO 
Stratus

John R. Elliot, ’70
Owner
Commercial Holdings, LLC

Alexander Evans, ’14, M.B.A. ’15, M.GISc ’19 
Alumni Board Representative
Epidemiologist
Franklin County Public Health

Barry E. Fetterman, ’74, M.B.A. ’76
Principal/Portfolio Manager (retired)
Sirach Capital Management Inc.

Richard J. Frenchie, MBA, LFACHE
President, The Frenchie Group
Affiliated Partner Leadership Excellence Health Care Advisory Network

Andrea Gauding, ’87
Alumni Board Representative
Vice President and CFO
Insurance Board

Valerie Patton George, ’06
Chair, Committee on Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement
President
Simply Formulas, Inc.

Kenneth M. Grunley, ’76
CEO 
Grunley Construction Co.

Cathy D. Hemming, ’70
Founder
Cathy D. Hemming Literary Agency LLC

Candice A. Hughes, ’70, M.Ed. ’72, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of School Psychology
Adjunct Faculty, International Psychology Department
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology​​​​

Nora Conway Jacobs, ’73
Senior Vice President, Crisis Communications
Hennes Communications

Richard G. Krumel, ’71
Chair, Committee on Governance
President (retired)
Searchwise, Inc.

Steffany Matticola Larkins, ’92
Chair, Committee on Audit
President, Employee Benefits Division
Unison Risk Advisors 

Dale A. Leppo, ’74
Chairman of the Board (retired)
Leppo Group

Mark Lucas, ’83
Lean Manufacturing Manager
General Motors

Stephen M. Milkovich, ’93
President and Owner 
Construction Mechanics Inc.

Robert G. Risman
Chair, Subcommittee for the KSU Hotel and Conference Center
President and CEO
Burton Carol Management LLC

Carla Thigpen
Student Representative
President
Kent Student Ambassadors 

Owen Ross
Student Representative
CIO
The Golden Flash Asset Management Group

Robert E. Ross, ’70
Director, Private Asset Management (retired)
Robert W. Baird & Co.

Diana P. Strongosky, ’88
Senior Vice President, Global Innovation
Sherwin-Williams Company

Daniel A. Wolfe, ’82
Vice President; General Manager, Aircraft Captain
Aviation Business Center, Nationwide Insurance

University Representatives

Todd A. Diacon, Ph.D.
President

Scott McKinney, ’97, M.P.A. ’13
Assistant Vice President, Donor and Volunteer Engagement

Diane Petrella, D.M.A.
Dean, College of the Arts

Emeriti Representatives

Roger K. Derr, ’58, M.B.A. ’63
Executive Vice President and COO (retired)
Ametek Inc.

Cecile M. Draime, ’58
Owner (retired)
CD Interiors Unlimited

Linda Allard, ’62, KHHL ’91
Design Director (retired)
Ellen Tracy

Roe Green, ’80
Theatrical Stage Director (retired)
Self-employed

Mel Mellis, ’68
President (retired)
Real Estate Group, Bartlett & Co.

Ronald A. Pizzuti, ’62
Chairman and CEO
The Pizzuti Companies