Updated October 2024
Elizabeth Ayers
Class of 1980
Durham, North Carolina
Elizabeth Ayers is the Executive Director of Gift Planning at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a former member of the Board of National Association of Charitable Gift Planners (NACGP) and served as NCPP 2017 Conference Chair. She is also a member of NACGP Leadership Institute and the North Carolina Planned Giving Council where she served on its Board from 2013 through 2016.
Prior to joining UNC in 2008 she worked at The Ohio State University, where she served as Director of Planned Giving for the Medical Center and Associate Director of Planned Giving for the University. She has worked for the Columbus Foundation, served on non-profit boards and committees and was president of Central Ohio Planned Giving Council in 2007.
Ayers has presented on various charitable topics at local and national conferences including NACGP, PPP, Crescendo, NCPGC, AAMC, Wealth Counsel, the North Carolina Community College Fundraisers' state conference, UNC System Conference and AFP North Carolina state conference.
She has practiced law in the areas of estate and charitable planning and civil litigation. She holds a J.D. from Capital University, M.M. from Ohio University, and a B.M. from Wittenberg University.
Jordan Crow
Class of 2016
Phoenix, Arizona
Jordan Crow was a part of the women's track team for all 4 years, participated in the Integrated Media Corps internship, guided tours for athlete recruits, served on the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, and was a Tau Pi Phi Business Honors member. Jordan was able to become part of the Springfield Community while attending Wittenberg as an MC for the Champion City Kings and started working at Speedway LLC in Enon after graduation as a corporate recruiter. She developed strong relationships with the C.A.B.L.E program leaders inviting them to tour the Speedway corporate office and partnering closely to hire Wittenberg students for internship and full time roles post graduation.
Jordan now lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband and dog Stark. She is a Program Manager for Talent and People initiatives at the American Cancer Society where the mission is to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support, to ensure everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer.
Justin Dilley
Class of 2001
Atlanta, Georgia
Dilley was a double major at Wittenberg, obtaining a degree in theatre and an interdisciplinary degree in communication studies. He went on to earn his MA in applied theatre at Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. After spending years creating and teaching performing arts programs in public and private schools, he co-founded a performing arts company with fellow Wittenberg graduates. He also performed regionally on Boston and New York City stages, and worked as a church musician in Massachusetts and New Jersey.
Almost a decade later, Dilley embraced an opportunity in the Software as a Service (SaaS) startup space, eventually becoming a sales leader for a pioneer company in the proptech industry. He recently co-founded Fourthwall Advisors, a niche advisory group for the tech and real estate space.
Currently working on the Strategic Account with MRI, a global real estate software company headquartered in Ohio, Dilley founded the Iota Beta chapter of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He was also a member of Wittmen Crew, wrote for both The Torch and Wittenberg Magazine, performed in The Wittenberg Choir, and was active in theatre and music performance. A resident of Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife and son, Dilley continues to teach private music lessons and perform or direct professionally in the metro area.
Chad Downing
Class of 2013
Columbus, Ohio
Chad Downing is a partner in the family owned and operated community and economic development consulting firm, Downing Community Advisors (DCA). After graduating from Wittenberg University, Downing had the opportunity to join forces with his father to create a consulting firm to work with small to medium sized communities in Ohio facing housing, community, and economic development challenges from the Great Recession. In doing so, Downing followed in the footsteps of his family to work in roles to serve the communities in which we live and work and the motto of his alma mater, “having light we pass it on to others.”
Since forming DCA, Downing has worked across Ohio with a focus on Western Ohio. With an emphasis on working with Land Banks and Community Improvement Corporations, Downing has spent his working career supporting communities struggling with vacancy, blight, and distressed real estate. A primary client for DCA over the past 10 years has been the city of Trotwood and the Trotwood Community Improvement Corporation (TCIC). In 2019, DCA was hired to serve as the Executive Director of the TCIC, under Downing’s direction, overseeing all economic and community development activities for Trotwood. Some other communities and non-profits DCA has served include Allen County, Lima, Riverside, Marion, and LADD.
Downing is also proud to serve on the “Friends of Aullwood” board of directors, which supports the Aullwood Audubon Nature Center & Farm in north Montgomery County. Downing received a bachelor’s degree in Political Science with minors in East Asian Studies and Geography from Wittenberg University (2013) in Springfield, Ohio. Downing, a native of Wapakoneta, Ohio, currently resides in Columbus, where he enjoys spending time with family and friends, working in his pottery studio, playing on an amateur soccer team, and staying active with outdoor activities.
Kevin Hooker
Class of 2002
Alexandria, Virginia
Lt. Colonel Kevin R. Hooker is a Clinical Social Worker assigned to the Mental Health Flight, 87th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron, 87th Medical Group, 87th Air Base Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey as the Mental Health Flight Commander. As Flight Command, he oversees mental health operations for 86,000 beneficiaries, 3 elements, and over 15,000 annual appointments. Additionally, he is the Biomedical Sciences Executive Officer, mentoring 22 officers among 10 different career fields. Major Hooker is a Board Certified Diplomat in Clinical Social Work and is licensed as an Independent Social Worker in the State of Ohio.
Lt. Colonel Hooker was born in 1980, in Lima, Ohio, where he graduated from Lima Senior High School in 1998. He graduated Summa Cum Laude and with departmental honors from Wittenberg University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and Sociology in 2002. He went on to earn a Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan School of Social Work in 2005 with a focus in Interpersonal Practice and Children, Youth, and Families. He entered the Air Force in March 2008 after receiving a direct commission as a first lieutenant in the Biomedical Science Corps. Lt. Colonel Hooker completed a nine-month social work residency program at Wright Patterson AFB. In 2011, he deployed to Craig Joint Theatre Hospital, Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as the sole Combat Stress Clinical Social Worker and the Sexual Assault Clinician for Regional Command East and North supporting over 60,000 troops.
Kari Johnston
Class of 2005
Springfield, Ohio
Johnston earned her degree in sociology from Wittenberg. After graduating, she spent 14 years in corporate America before deciding to go into business for herself. In 2020, she opened Rose City Boutique & Consulting, located about a block from Wittenberg's campus. This year, she also added property management for a local Airbnb to her business ventures.
While at Witt, she was a member of Kappa Delta sorority and spent a year in the Wittenberg Choir. Johnston currently resides in Springfield, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, 15-year old son, Noah, two dogs, and a cat. The family enjoys Friday nights watching the Springfield Wildcat Marching Band and traveling when they can find time away from running their small business.
Manny Lamarre
Class of 2009
Las Vegas, Nevada
Since graduating from Wittenberg in 2009 with a major in Political Science, Manny worked at the intersection of research, policy, and practice in the areas of economic and workforce development and education in various cities across the U.S. as a K-12 teacher, policy advisor, and an administrator at a foundation. Manny is currently a Senior Program Associate at WestEd, a nonpartisan research and development agency where he focuses on economic mobility for youth and adults. He serves as a workforce subject matter expert in areas such as career pathways, work-based learning and apprenticeships, industry partnerships, and federal policies. Prior to this role, Manny served as a Governor’s appointee and the Founding Executive Director of the Nevada Governor’s Office of Workforce Innovation and the Governor’s Designee on the Governor’s Workforce Development Board where he supported and led the implementation of the state’s workforce vision and policies from 2015-2019. Manny has authored several workforce reports and has studied and shared workforce best practices with national and international stakeholders.
At Wittenberg, Manny was the Alma Lux recipient and held leadership roles on the Track & Field Team, Pre-law Association, and the Political Science Honor Society. He was also an active tour guide, member of CBS, and involved in the student newspaper, the football team, and other honor societies. Manny holds a Master’s in Education Policy and Management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he was the recipient of the Class Marshal Award for leadership and service to the Harvard community and holds a certificate in Educational Leadership & Management from Georgetown University, McCourt School of Public Policy.
Michael Lawrence
Class of 1989
Pinehurst, North Carolina
Michael Lawrence graduated from Wittenberg in 1989 with a B.A. in political science. In a post-graduate year, he completed his second major in music while a management intern with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. His engagement on campus included serving as a 4+ year intern with the Office of Admission, as a tour guide and Orientation Assistant, and as president and vice president of Sigma Nu Fraternity. He also earned admittance into the Greek honorary, Order of Omega, was named the 1989-1990 Greek Man of the Year, and was a member of the Brass Choir, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and Orchestra while also accompanying the Wittenberg Choir (trumpet). Hired by Major League Baseball Umpire Development, he served as a minor league umpire during the 1992 and 1993 seasons.
In 1997, he earned his J.D. from Wayne State University Law School, Detroit, Michigan, and was commissioned as an active duty officer, embarking on a career in the U.S. Navy’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps. His assignments during his more than 23-year career have included Diego Garcia (3 months before and 10 months after 9/11), the U.S. Naval Academy where he served as an assistant professor and assistant department chair, senior region counsel in Bahrain, senior counsel and department head on the aircraft carrier USS KITTY HAWK (CV 63), operating throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans and homeported in Yokosuka, Japan, a year-long deployment in Afghanistan, and as senior counsel to the Navy’s submarine forces. He was the 2014 Navy recipient of the American Bar Association’s Outstanding Military Service Career Judge Advocate Award. Since 2018, he has served as a judge on the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals. He retired in the rank of Commander in 2021 following his final tour as an appellate court judge on the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals.
Outside of his military service, Mike has completed 15 marathons and, following retirement, hiked more than 600 miles of the Appalachian Trail from Mt. Katahdin, Maine, to Northern Massachusetts. He remains active in music, singing in multiple week-long choir residencies of daily services in England at Wells Cathedral (2019) and Lincoln Cathedral and York Minster (2022), as well as multiple services at Washington, D.C.’s National Cathedral (2018) and St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, The Church of St. Eustache, Paris, and The American Cathedral in Paris (2019), while also performing on stage for subscription concerts and recording as a member of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra Chorus. Mike is an active member of Pinehurst Country Club and consistently volunteers with the USGA and other organizations.
John LePelley
Class of 2005
Cleveland, Ohio
John M. LePelley graduated in 2005 with an interdepartmental major in Africana Studies and minors in Art and Art History. While at Witt, he was an R.A., served as the fine arts and diversity chair of Union Board, was homecoming king, and was awarded the John F. Mitchell Award. Along with his friends Allison Helmuth and Kimie James, they won the contest to rename the Commons to “Post 95.” He was also a member of one of Dr. Rosenberg’s Lesotho trips as well as spent a summer abroad with fellow Witt Art students in Ireland on a trip led by Professor Ed Charney. After graduation, John immediately started a career in Urban Education. For the past 16 years, he has served in the roles of teacher, assistant principal, non-profit director, principal, and currently as Head of School for the Cleveland School of the Arts in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.
John earned his M.Ed. and MBA from Cleveland State University and his Doctor of Education from the University of Penssylvania’s Mid-Career Doctoral Program in Education Leadership. John also serves on the board for LAND Studio, Inc. in Cleveland, Ohio. John and his husband reside in Oberlin, Ohio and enjoy spending their time cooking, gardening, and hiking and biking around the trails of Northeast Ohio.
Claire M. Linkhart
Class of 2008
Springfield, OH
A Political Science major, Claire applied her skills learned at Wittenberg to a career in government and politics where she has worked on Ohio’s Capitol Square for over 16 years. During her time at Witt, Claire was involved with organizations including Habitat for Humanity, Colleges Against Cancer, and the Delta Gamma sorority. Though originally a native of Northeast Ohio, Claire now calls Springfield home after meeting her husband Rob (’99) at Witt, who is originally from Springfield.
Claire began her career in the Ohio Senate, serving in a variety of capacities over a ten-year period including Senior Policy Advisor and Director of Budget and Finance. In her roles, Claire advised the Senate on state policy and economic matters with particular focus on K-12 education and energy policy.
In 2017 Claire transitioned to the private sector in a government affairs role, where she serves as Associate Director for the American Petroleum Institute (API), a national oil and gas trade association. In this position she manages regulatory and legislative issues impacting the industry in Ohio and Michigan. Her duties also include creating and managing programs that educate and influence key stakeholders on oil and gas industry issues while building partnerships with elected officials, allied businesses, industry employees and other key constituencies.
Claire remains actively involved in the Springfield community and serves as the co-chair of Wittenberg’s Greater Springfield Alumni Chapter. From 2010 to 2015 she was the public relations chair for the Wittenberg Guild, the school’s annual scholarship fundraiser for Springfield students. She also serves on the board of the Women’s Energy Network (WEN) of Ohio.
She resides in Springfield with her husband, Rob – a middle school principal – and their daughters, Ella and Annie.
Moses Mbeseha
Class of 2013
From State College, PA by way of Buea, Cameroon, Moses is a community organizer with a passion for social policy, economics, and sports. Moses enjoys working with other community organizers to find solutions to ongoing problems as well as volunteering at different service areas in his community. In his free time, Moses is often involved in recreational sports or working with local political leaders. Moses has demonstrated skills in project & business management, marketing, fundraising, strategic planning, and community organizing.
He pursued studies in Political Science and Africana Studies at Wittenberg University, where he graduated with his Bachelors in 2013. Moses earned his Master's in Business Administration from the University of Dayton in 2020 and his Master's in Public Health from the University of North Carolina — Chapel Hill in 2023.
Chad Minnick
Class of 1998
Seattle, Washington
Chad graduated from Wittenberg in 1998 with a major in Psychology. While at Witt, he was a varsity swimmer, leader in Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, member in the Wittenberg Choir, and Admission Tour Guide and Intern. After graduation he established a career in higher education for 8 years, including 2 years at Wittenberg in Alumni Relations and The Wittenberg Fund. After moving to the Pacific Northwest, Chad transitioned to a career in Technology building customer lifecycle and engagement strategies designed to build and showcase customer successes using tech solutions and developing customer community. He’s also known for volunteering with local and national LGBTQI causes and building diversity and inclusion initiatives within organizations including serving as national co-chair for North America Pride@SAP, Human Rights Campaign, Greater Seattle Business Association’s Scholarship Program, and Out & Equal. He is also an advisor to the University of Washington Lambda Chi Alpha chapter. When not traveling to places with music, sun and beaches, he and his husband live in Seattle and is the proud parent of his son Liam. Where they don’t have any cats or dogs, they do have a cantankerous Roomba who steals cords and plays hide-and-seek around their house.
Arif Mirza
Class of 2005
Springfield, Ohio
Arif graduated in 2005 with a BA, majoring in Political Science along with a Business minor. While at Witt, Arif was an active member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, Wittenberg College Republicans, and spent three years working as an intern in the Office of Alumni Relations. After graduation, Arif served for several years as President of the Lambda Chi Alpha Housing Corporation supporting the local chapter. In his professional career, Arif has worked in a variety of business roles within the financial services, procurement, mergers & acquisitions and project management fields. He earned his MBA from Wright State University in 2018.
Currently, Arif works in Project Management at Speedway LLC, and resides in Springfield, Ohio. Outside of work, Arif serves on the Board of Directors for the Springfield Arts Council, is a fundraising volunteer for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, serves as a member of the Springfield Country Club Membership Committee, and is President of his Homeowners Association. In his free time, he enjoys golfing and spending time with family and friends.
Stephanie Morgan-White
Class of 1992
Louisville, Kentucky
Stephanie L. Morgan-White graduated from Wittenberg in 1992 with a BA in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. During her time on campus, Stephanie was an Admissions Tour Guide, a member and officer of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, a cheerleader, and a member of multiple honorary organizations. After graduating from Wittenberg, Stephanie went on to obtain her JD in 1995 from Cumberland School of Law of Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. Stephanie is a Trust Principal/Attorney with The Glenview Trust Company in Louisville, Kentucky. She is certified by the American Bankers Association (ABA) as a Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA). She serves on the ABA Wealth and Trust School Advisory Board, the Northeast Family YMCA Board of Advisors, the Physician Assistant Advisory Committee for the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure, and the Louisville Alpha Delta Pi Alumnae Association Executive Board. She is also an active member of Hurstbourne Baptist Church.
Stephanie lives on a mini farm outside of Louisville, Kentucky with her husband (Craig), two daughters (Morgan and Shelby), a horse and two dogs. Proudly, their oldest daughter, Morgan, is a member of the Wittenberg Class of 2023, and her youngest daughter, Shelby, will be a member of the Wittenberg Class of 2027.
Jeffery Orner
Class of 1979
West Palm Beach, Florida
Jeff Orner graduated from Wittenberg in 1979 with a B.A. in Political Science and then earned an M.S. in Business-Government Relations from The American University in Washington, D.C. Jeff believes that Wittenberg professors’ passion for teaching and for engaging with their students truly broadened his thinking and enabled him to do many things in life he simply would not have been able to accomplish otherwise.
Jeff is retired after a 35-year career with the Federal government. He served in a series of Senior Executive Service positions leading the people who support military and homeland security operations. Most recently Jeff was the Chief Readiness Support Officer of The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) where he managed the support, transportation and facilities needed by all DHS agencies. Before DHS, Jeff led all engineering, facilities and logistics programs for the U.S. Coast Guard as the Assistant Deputy Commandant for Engineering and Logistics. Prior to that he was the Executive Director of the Naval Supply Systems Command, managing the Navy’s world-wide supply chain operations and leading a workforce of over 25,000 military and civilian personnel. Jeff began his government career at the Naval Sea Systems Command as an intern, ultimately serving as NAVSEA’s Assistant Deputy Commander for Fleet Logisitcs, leading the team that supported all Navy shipbuilding, ship overhauls and operations. He led transformational efforts to make each of his organizations more effective and responsive. Jeff received many commendations for his work, most significantly two Presidents of the U.S. recognized him with the Distinguished Presidential Rank Award and the Meritorious Presidential Rank Award.
Jeff grew up in Ebensburg, Pennsylvania. He now lives in West Palm Beach, Florida. His favorite place to spend time is his family’s cabin on the C&O Canal which runs along the Potomac River. Jeff is retired, raising a little boy, kayaking, volunteering at a nature preserve in the Everglades, and enjoying life.
Matt Overturf
Class of 2011
Columbus, Ohio
Matt graduated from Wittenberg with a Political Science major and Business minor. While at Witt, he competed on the track and cross country teams and worked as a tour guide and intern in the Admission Office. After graduating, Matt was selected to participate in the Ohio Legislative Services Commission Fellowship Program and held various positions in Ohio state government prior to joining the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) in 2021 as the Regional Vice President – Ohio Valley & Mid Atlantic.
Outside of work, he enjoys running, cooking and spending time with his wife, Amy (Stamon) Overturf ’13, their two kids and dog. Matt joined the Alumni Board in July 2020.
Gene Simone
Class of 1977
Springboro, OH
A 1977 graduate of Wittenberg with a bachelor’s degree in political science, Gene Simone was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and the men’s lacrosse team. He began his career with Moore Business Forms, where he served for four years as a sales representative before becoming a district manager for Uforma Shelby Business Forms. For 43 years, he has served as vice president of sales for Eatonform Inc. in Dayton, Ohio. Originally from Pittsford, New York, Simone has resided in Springboro, Ohio, since 1980. An active member of his community, he has served on the Springboro Planning Commission. He has also been active with the Springboro Schools, serving as distribution chair for the operating levy and bond issue and as a volunteer assistant coach for the freshman boys basketball team for 17 years. He has been a board member of the Heatherwoode Golf Community HOA for six years. Dedicated to his alma mater, Simone has been a member of the Dayton Wittenberg Alumni Committee and the Homecoming Tailgate Committee. He and his spouse, Carrie Oxley Simone ’78, have two sons, Drew and David, and one grandson, Will.
Kelly (Maguire) Sumption
Class of 2001
Dublin, Ohio
Kelly Sumption graduated from Wittenberg in 2001 with a major in English, writing concentration and a minor in Business Marketing. While at Witt, she was an active member of the Wittenberg Choir, where she served as Choir Tour leader for two years, Student Senate member, writer for The Torch, Director of the Wittenberg Center for Applied Management (WittCAM) and worked for three years with the Clark County Literacy Coalition’s Warder Literacy Center. Kelly is currently the Vice President of Client Marketing for Synchrony, where she manages a team focused on utilizing private label credit and loyalty to drive consumer traffic and sales for many of their large retail partners. Prior to Synchrony, Kelly was a Senior Marketing leader with Macy’s, Inc. where she led loyalty, branding, acquisition, and activation strategies for both Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s private label and co-brand credit cards.
Kelly lives in Dublin, Ohio, with her husband Jeff, also a member of the Class of 2001, and their two sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and her dogs. She loves reading, traveling, and cheering on her sons in their athletic or personal pursuits!
Callan Swaim
Class of 2016
New York, NY
Currently based in New York City, Callan Swaim works in leadership development at the travel tech company Expedia Group, building high-performing teams and high-impact executive leaders. During her time at Wittenberg, Swaim was a member of the 2015 NCAA national runner up volleyball team, a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority, and president of the Sigma Delta Pi Spanish Honor Society. She also enjoyed hammocking with friends out in the hollow on summer nights.
After graduating from Wittenberg, Swaim moved around the United States and traveled internationally with supply chain and account management roles. In May 2018, she acquired her master’s degree in management and leadership through Purdue University Global. In June 2022, she became a professionally certified coach and founded her own leadership coaching company. In her free time, she loves to explore museums, try new cuisines, and adventure with her partner, Martin, as much as she can.
Barry Zulauf
Class of 1979
Vienna, Virginia
Barry A. Zulauf, class of 1979, Vienna, Virginia, graduated from Wittenberg with Honors in Political Science and History. He was a member of Delta Sigma Phi, Beta Iota. He is now on the Advisory Board for Wittenberg's Graduate Program in Data Analytics. He went on to earn a Ph.D. from Indiana University in International Relations. He is a retired Naval Officer with a combat tour in Afghanistan.
He is a career intelligence analyst and a senior leader and educator in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. During the '21-'22 academic year he was a Recanati-Kaplan Fellow in Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. In July '22 he started a new assignment as the Director of National Intelligence's representative to the Center for the Study of Intelligence in Washington, D.C.