National Board of Directors

Chairwoman

Joni Fitch
BA ’07

Director, Community Affairs & Engagement
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

Vice Chair

Shon Christy
BSBA'00, MSE'09

Founder and President
Shon Christy Social Media

Theron Brown
BM ’13, MM'22

Pianist, Composer, Educator
Theron Brown Music

Dr. Eric Butler
BA'10

Higher Education Attorney
Bricker Graydon, LLP

Kevin Burwell
JD '19

VP & General Counsel
Kloeckner Metals Corporation

Laura Cessna
MSE'11

University Director of Career Services and Alumni Relations
South University

Tracy S. Dowe, III
BSBA ’01

City President, Akron / Canton / Youngstown
Fifth Third Bank

Amber Genet Barkoukis
BA '06 MA '14

Executive Director Embracing Futures, Inc.

Jeff Flowers
BS'07

CEO
Swensons

Dr. Jacquelyn R. Jones 
BS'01, MS'03

Assistant Vice President for Student Success
American Association of State Colleges and Universities 

Founder & CEO
Pathway to Purpose Consulting, LLC

Michael Leftwich
J.D. BA '99, JD '06

Employee Relations Manager
The Timken Company

Cristina Pastore
BS '03

Vice President
Kimley-Horn Consulting Firm

Andrea Ponikvar
BBA '12

VP of Philanthropy
Cleveland Zoological Society

Alex Shannon
BSA-BS '15

Director of Business Development
Clearstead

Romeo Travis
BAMS '19

Entrepreneur

Rhonda Winslow
BSA '09, MBA '17

Vice President of Development Finance
Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority

Immediate Past President

Dr. Tierney Bates
BA ’99, MA ’02

Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs
University of South Carolina Upstate

Brian L. Cherkala
JD ’78

Senior VP and National Director of Field Fiduciary Adm.
KeyBank

Deborah Cook
’74, ’78

The University of Akron

Christine Franz
'93

Senior Administrative Assistant
Alumni Relations
The University of Akron

Jordyn Miklinski
'23

The University of Akron

Willy R. Kollman
BA ’08, MAED ’10

President, University Engagement Executive Director
Alumni Relations
The University of Akron

Dr. Pat Roberts
’88, ’96, '05

Vice President, Advancement
The University of Akron