Updated September 2026
Chandra Donnell Carey
Class of 1995
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Chandra Donnell Carey graduated from Wittenberg University in 1995 with a BA in Psychology. During her time on campus, Chandra was a member of the Imani Gospel Choir, served on the Union Board, was a Varsity Cheerleader, and worked with the Wittenberg Fund. While not a recognized sorority on Wittenberg’s campus, Chandra joined Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, in her senior year and is a 30-year Life member.
After graduating from Wittenberg, Chandra earned her master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling at the University of Illinois at @Urbana-Champaign and went on to complete her Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Counselor Education at Michigan State University. She has been a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor since 1998 and practiced as a Licensed Professional Counselor Intern for over five years, working as a mental health counselor serving individuals with psychiatric disabilities.
Currently, Chandra is a tenured Professor of Counseling and Behavioral Health at the University of Pittsburgh. Over the past 24 years, Chandra has trained clinical mental health practitioners and rehabilitation counselors. Dr. Carey has made investigating issues affecting persons of color with disabilities a career-long focus. Her current research explores psychosocial adjustment and positive mental health among college students with intellectual disabilities, as well as mental health support for parents and caregivers of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in communities of color. She is part of a U.S. Department of Education–funded team working on UNT ELEVAR, a four-year inclusive postsecondary education program for students with IDD.
She has served on the editorial board for the Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, is a current editorial board member for the Journal of Rehabilitation Counseling Research and Practice, and is a past president of the National Association of Multicultural Rehabilitation Concerns.
A fierce advocate, wife, and mom to two children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Chandra is passionate about creating pathways to full inclusion in education, employment, and community life. Her daughter, Kennedy, has Down syndrome, and her son, Miles, is on the autism spectrum. Their experiences have sharpened Chandra’s dedication to equitable policy and practice for individuals with disabilities.
With her family’s recent move from Texas, she is excited to serve the disability community in Pittsburgh and reconnect with her Wittenberg roots.
Jordan Crow Nicholas
Class of 2016
Phoenix, Arizona
Jordan Crow Nicholas, Wittenberg class of 2016, currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona. Part of the women's track team for all four years of college, she also participated in the Integrated Media Corps internship program, guided tours for athlete recruits, served on the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, and was a Tau Pi Phi Business Honors member. Nicholas 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.
Now living now in Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband and dogs Stark and Loki, she is a 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.
Nicholas’ favorite memories of Wittenberg date back to her time on the track team.
“As a team we were so close, we practiced nearly all year round and would sometimes go from lunch to practice to dinner to the library together,” she said. “We were a very special family and I think about the camaraderie on hard workout days and the silly banter we had with our coaches and can't help but smile.
“I chose Wittenberg because it was the place where I could say yes to everything,” Nicholas added. “I could be an athlete, have campus jobs, try new internships and volunteer activities, take leadership roles in organizations I joined, and explore my major opportunities through a liberal arts foundation. It was truly four years of accepting every opportunity presented to me where I learned and grew exponentially. And now, I like seeing the energy of our leadership – it is contagious! Sometimes it takes challenging times for you to really grow and look back on those experiences to acknowledge how strong it made you. As a Wittenberg community, the camaraderie, support, and passion is stronger than ever as we united through those challenging times.”
Justin Dilley
Class of 2001
Atlanta, Georgia
Justin Dilley, class of 2001, was a double major at Wittenberg, earning a degree in theatre and an interdisciplinary degree in communication studies. He later earned his MA in applied theatre from Emerson College in Boston, continuing a lifelong connection to performance, education, and storytelling.
Following graduate school, Dilley spent several years as a theatre and music educator, developing and teaching performing arts programs in public and private schools. He also co-founded a performing arts company with fellow Wittenberg graduates, performed professionally on stages throughout the Boston and New York City areas, and worked as a church musician in Massachusetts and New Jersey.
Although his career eventually expanded beyond the arts into technology, real estate, sales, and communications, theatre and music have remained an active part of his life. Today, he continues to perform and direct professionally in the Atlanta, Georgia, area and teaches voice at Decatur Fine Arts Academy. Most recently, he appeared in ART Station’s summer production of the musical Working.
Dilley also brings his background as a performer, educator, and communicator to his work within the real estate industry. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at industry events and co-founded and co-hosts Multifamily Weekend Update, a weekly newscast covering news, trends, and conversations shaping the multifamily housing industry.
At Wittenberg, he was a founding father of the Iota Beta chapter of Delta Tau Delta fraternity, was a founding member of Wittmen Crew, wrote for The Torch and Wittenberg Magazine, sang in The Wittenberg Choir, and was active throughout the University’s theatre and music programs.
A resident of Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife and son, Dilley continues to bring together the different threads of his career—performance, teaching, storytelling, communication, and community. He is currently a national strategic account manager with MRI Software.
“Many of my favorite memories at Wittenberg were the groups of diverse people I got to create with, talk with, sing with, and laugh wit,” Dilley said. “And I also cherish the conversations and connections that I had with talented, learned professors and professionals in their craft. I chose Wittenberg because the energy of everyone I met when I toured, auditioned and visited, was that they WANTED to be there. And I later am grateful that I got to experience so much during those four years.
Dilley is excited about the future of Wittenberg.
“While the campus may not seem as crowded or bustling as my memories due to technology or inevitable change, the same smiles exist on campus, and the institution continues to improve and evolve into a first-class liberal arts experience for the modern day,” he said.
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.
Amber Gibbs
Class of 1998
Cleveland, Ohio
Amber Gibbs is the CEO and superintendent of the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities (DD) in Cleveland, Ohio. She and her team support and empower 15,000 people with DD to live, learn, work, and play in the community in the ways that are most meaningful to each person. She is a leader throughout the statewide disability system in Ohio, advocating for legislative and policy changes that enhance services to people with developmental disabilities and their families. Starting with her first job as a camp counselor for children with special needs, Amber has dedicated her entire career to serving people with disabilities.
After graduating from Wittenberg in 1998, Amber earned her M.A. in psychology from the University of Chicago and later her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from the University of Dayton.
At Wittenberg, Amber was an active member of Sigma Kappa Sorority (the Snake house), worked at the Registrar’s Office and as a Resident Assistant, and volunteered at Head Start in Springfield. As a proud alumna, Amber returns to campus almost every year for homecoming, and in 2024 received the Alumni of the Year award.
Amber lives in Cleveland with her husband, three daughters, and their rescue dog. She loves to read and travel (and has already visited 49 states), is a Girl Scout troop leader, and serves on the Community Fund Ohio board of directors.
Jack Hollinshead
Class of 2021
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jack Hollinshead, Wittenberg class of 2021who currently resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was a four-year member of the Wittenberg University men's baseball program, where he earned All-NCAC honors twice. He was also named team MVP twice and served as a team captain. In addition, Hollinshead participated in the University Honors program and served as a community service scholar through the Susan Hirt Hagen Center for Civic and Urban Engagement, dedicating most of his four years to volunteering with 4 Paws and the Springfield YMCA. He remains active with the sport management program at Wittenberg, conducting guest lectures and assisting with prospective student events.
Following graduation, Hollinshead moved to Champaign, Illinois, where he served as a graduate assistant for athletics development at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. During his nearly two years with the Fighting Illini, he also earned a master's degree in recreation, sport, and tourism. In April 2023, he relocated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, supporting the University of Pennsylvania in a fundraising role within athletics. In September 2025, Hollinshead began a new role as director of development with US Squash, driving the organization's $15-million-plus campaign for growth and its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Hollinshead currently resides in Philadelphia with his fiancée, Emily, and their golden retriever, Scottie.
“I chose Wittenberg because it was the perfect mix of a small school, great academic resources, a homey environment, and an opportunity to compete in college athletics right away,” Hollinshead said. “Wittenberg ‘felt right’ the second I stepped on campus; I was welcomed with open arms and never looked back.
“There are too many favorite memories to share, but the real highlights come from the baseball road trips, breakfast at the CDR after morning lifts, ping pong in New Hall, and the countless lifelong friendships that were formed. Wittenberg is at an inflection point with the opportunity to lay the foundation for the next 100-plus years of community, growth, and success. I'm most excited about the new leadership who have identified bold and strategic plans to ensure that future generations of Tigers can look back, much like me, and feel immense pride in their alma mater.”
Kevin Hooker
Class of 2002
Alexandria, Virginia
Lt. Col. Kevin Hooker, Wittenberg class of 2002, is the commander of the Lackland Aerospace Medicine squadron, Lackland Medical Group, 59th Medical Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Responsibilities of his current duty position include leading 156 members to provide flight medicine, active-duty primary care, bioenvironmental engineering, and public health support to nine wings as well as initial flying exams for the United States Air Force (USAF) enlisted aviation and special warfare career field. He also oversees the En-Route Patient Staging hub for the Central U.S.
Lt. Col. Hooker entered the Air Force in March of 2008 after receiving a direct commission as a clinical social worker in the Biomedical Sciences Corps. Since then, he has held a variety of clinical and staff positions related to the mental health career field. Prior to his current position, he was the commander of the 9th Healthcare Operations Squadron at Beale Air Force Base, California.
In 2011, Lt. Col. Hooker deployed to Craig Joint Theatre Hospital, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as Combat Stress Clinical Social Worker for Regional Command East and North supporting over 60,000 troops.
Originally from Lima, Ohio, Lt. Col. Hooker graduated from Lima Senior High School in 1998. He graduated Summa Cum Laude and with departmental honors from Wittenberg University with a BA in political science and sociology in 2002. He went on to earn his master's 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.
Some of his favorite memories from his time at Wittenberg include living in Woodlawn Hall and traveling with the choir for tours. He chose Witt because of the financial aid and scholarship package along with the beauty of the campus.
“I am excited by the energy of the new campus leadership and the array of opportunities for students,” he said.
Claire M. Linkhart
Class of 2008
Springfield, Ohio
Claire M. Linkhart, class of 2008 and political science major, applied her skills learned at Wittenberg to a career in government and politics where she has worked on Ohio’s Capitol Square for nearly two decades. 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, Linkhart now calls Springfield home after meeting her husband Rob (’99) at Witt, who is originally from Springfield.
She began her career in the Ohio Senate, serving in a variety of capacities over a 10-year period including as Senior Policy Advisor and Director of Budget and Finance. In her roles, Linkhart advised the Senate on state policy and economic matters with particular focus on K-12 education and energy policy.
In 2017 she 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. Linkhart also serves as President of the Board of Directors of the Women's Energy Network of Ohio and is a 2025 graduate of Leadership Ohio.
She remains actively involved in the Springfield community, serving as the co-chair of Wittenberg’s Greater Springfield Alumni Chapter and as a member of Equality Springfield where she helps organize Springfield's annual Pride festival.
Linkhart, who resides in Springfield with her husband, Rob – a middle school principal – and their daughters, Ella and Annie, loves looking back on her time as a student at Wittenberg.
“In between my junior and senior years, my friends and I made the decision to stay at Witt during the summer,” she said. “We got part-time jobs, took a couple fun summer courses (my lineup was woody plants, watercolor, and wine tasting), and lived at the Sprecher apartments. This became not just a core Wittenberg memory, but a lifelong one as well. Nothing matches campus in the summer months - games of kickball in the hollow, long summer walks, nights on the McMurray's patio (RIP!) and meeting other students I probably would have not otherwise met during the regular school year, many of whom I still consider lifelong friends. I'll cherish that time forever.”
Linkhart chose Wittenberg because it checked all her boxes.
“I was lucky enough to attend schools with small class sizes in elementary, middle and high school, so I knew I wanted a college that offered the same,” she said. “Wittenberg checked all the boxes and ended up being the first school I heard back from in the application process. The admission counselors seemed genuinely excited about me and immediately made me feel welcome. Fast forward to my first night on campus and this sentiment remained. I was home.
“One thing about Witt is that no matter how much time has passed, the core of the school that we all know and love is still there,” she added. “Sure, evolution and growth is inevitable and important, but the heart and soul of Witt remains. I have already noticed a momentum shift in the past year since the new leadership took over, and I'm thrilled with the progress that's already being made. I can't wait to see what this new momentum brings.”
Nathan Mawhirter
Class of 2014
Dallas, Texas
With a bachelor's in International Studies and Spanish and a minor in religion, Nathan Mawhirter is an experienced recruiter with a background in higher education, corporate recruiting, and intern program development with Dallas-based Bain and Company, where he has served for more than five years, starting as a specialist in MBA recruiting in 2021 before moving into his current position as Texas consultant recruiting manager beginning in April 2023.
His goal as a recruiter is to build strong mutually beneficial relationships with candidates and clients alike. Nathan is skilled in project management, strategic planning, public speaking, client advocacy, and various virtual platforms. Before joining Bain and Company, he was an admission counselor at Southern Methodist University.
During his time at Wittenberg, Nathan was a member of the football team, a peer helper, an orientation assistant, a member of the Wittmen Crew a capella group, the Wittenberg Choir, the American International Association, Sigma Delta Pi, and a tour guide in the Office of Admission.
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. He 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.
Orner 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 he 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, Orner 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. He began his government career at the Naval Sea Systems Command as an intern, ultimately serving as NAVSEA’s Assistant Deputy Commander for Fleet Logistics, 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. Orner 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.
Orner grew up in Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, and 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. He is retired, raising a little boy, kayaking, volunteering at a nature preserve in the Everglades, and enjoying life.
“I feel that my Wittenberg education truly improved my analytical thinking, my writing, and my ability to communicate persuasively orally,” he said. I chose Wittenberg over a much larger university where my family has a long history, because I truly value the idea of a smaller college where the professors’ focus is on the students and where you are part of a tight community. Despite being eligible for a significant cost reduction elsewhere, I chose the intimacy of Wittenberg where the faculty and staff genuinely care about their students and spend time inside and outside of class helping those students move forward. I never regretted it.”
At his 20th reunion, he saw his former faculty advisor.
“The professor walked up to me, shook my hand, slapped me on the back, and said ‘Jeff I thought about you last summer when I drove through your hometown of Ebensburg, Pennsylvania.’ I believe that kind of faculty-student connection simply does not exist at most universities, and it matters,” Orner said. I enjoyed many informal events in Myers Hollow, the final W Day celebration, spending time every Sunday morning in Weaver Chapel, where if you arrived early, you got free donut holes, and time to chat with the whole community. I also enjoyed the Weaver Chapel Association, and attending football games, including the Division III national championship. Me and my friends also looked forward to weekend excursions to Young’s Jersey Dairy for ice cream.”
Jennifer Peters
Class of
Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Jennifer Peters graduated from Wittenberg with a degree in biology. During her time on campus, she served on the former Union Board (now Tiger Activities Council) and played percussion in the Wittenberg Symphonic Band. She also participated in intramural sports and enjoyed being a Lambda Chi Alpha Little Sis.
Upon earning a Master of Environmental Management degree from Duke University in 1988, Jennifer moved to Washington, D.C., where she worked as a consultant for 30-plus years supporting environmental and infrastructure protection programs for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). While in D.C., she was actively involved in her condo association, serving for multiple years on the Environmental Sustainability Committee, where she led efforts to implement and promote recycling programs for the community, and on the covenants committee, which was responsible for interpreting association bylaws and resolving resident disputes.
In 2021, Jennifer joined the federal government as a technology transfer specialist with the DHS Science and Technology directorate. In this capacity, she facilitates partnerships between DHS and private sector companies to develop technologies that support homeland security missions. In 2024, she decided to move back to Ohio and now lives in her childhood home outside Cleveland. An avid Duke basketball fan, Jennifer volunteers with the Community Life Collaborative, a NE Ohio-based non-profit focused on social and environmental justice issues.
Cliff Pope
Class of 1992
Cincinnati, OH
A 2025 recipient of Wittenberg’s Professional Achievement Award, given to alumni who have achieved outstanding distinction in their professional field, Cliff Pope began his professional career teaching high school religion and coaching football and wrestling at his alma mater, Cincinnati Purcell Marian High School. He entered Wittenberg in the fall of 1988 as a member of the late head football coach Ron Murphy’s final recruiting class and intended to study art but quickly turned his focus to history, graduating with a B.A. in history.
He spent 16 years at Purcell Marian in several other roles: summer school vice-principal, assistant athletic director, and dean of students, winning several awards, including Most Promising Teacher (1994), Faculty Pride and Spirit Award (1998), and Teacher of the Year twice (2000 and 2004). He also was honored by the Society of Mary with the Marianist Sesquicentennial Award in 2000. For his accomplishments in athletics and coaching, he was named the Greater Catholic League-North Division Wrestling Coach of the Year in 2004, and later that year was inducted into the Purcell Marian High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
In 2007, Cliff took a position at Elder High School, where he worked for 11 years, beginning as a religion teacher and assistant football coach. That winter, he graduated from Xavier University with a master’s degree in secondary education. In 2012, he attained his Ohio Social Studies License and began teaching courses at Elder in both the religion and history departments. In 2013, with the blessing of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, he created and developed a new course, American Catholic History. In 2009, during his time at Elder, Purcell Marian awarded him the Praestans Inter Omnes Award, the highest award given to an alumnus.
In 2018, Cliff assumed his current position as the Upper School assistant director at The Summit Country Day School, an independent Catholic High School sponsored by the Sisters of Notre Dame De Namur that opened in 1890. He has held several roles, including history teacher (2018-present), The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion director (2020-2024), and assistant football coach (2021-2022). His accomplishments at The Summit include working with medical professionals in 2018 to develop the school’s first comprehensive concussion protocol plan; receiving a state award from the Ohio High School Athletic Association in 2023 for sportsmanship, values, and spirit; and receiving the Leaders of Character Award from Summit in 2025.
The 2026-2027 school year is Cliff’s 35th consecutive year in Cincinnati Catholic high school education. He lives with his wife, Erica, in the Springfield Township community in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Kevin Schalnat
Class of 2007
Springfield, Ohio
Kevin Schalnat graduated with a B.A. in mathematics and a minor in education. During his time at Wittenberg, he was a member of the baseball team and Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, experiences that helped develop his leadership, teamwork, and commitment to service.
Following graduation, Kevin began his career in education as a middle school mathematics teacher at Schaefer Middle School in the Springfield City School District. Over the course of nearly two decades, he taught a variety of subjects, including middle school mathematics, engineering/STEM courses, and high school mathematics. In May 2013, he earned a Master of Science in Education and Allied Professions from the University of Dayton, where he also obtained his principal licensure.
In 2015, he was named principal of Horace Mann Elementary School in the Springfield City School District, then later transitioned into district leadership and, in 2023, became the curriculum and instructional coordinator for mathematics and science (pre-K-12), a role he currently holds. In this position, he collaborates with teachers, administrators, and district leaders to support curriculum development, instructional improvement, assessment practices, and professional learning opportunities across the district.
Beyond the classroom and central office, Kevin has remained actively involved in athletics, coaching middle school basketball and varsity football at Springfield City Schools, varsity football at Oakwood City Schools, and middle school basketball and varsity softball at Kenton Ridge High School in the Northeastern Local School District. He has also proudly supported his wife, Sarah Schalnat, in leading the Kenton Ridge High School softball program to back-to-back undefeated Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Division IV State Championships in 2025 and 2026.
He resides in Springfield, Ohio, with his wife, Sarah - a middle school mathematics teacher, two-time OHSAA Division IV State Championship softball coach, and a Class of 2024 inductee into the Ohio High School Softball Coaches Association Hall of Fame - and their dog, Pete.
Gene Simone
Class of 1977
Springboro, Ohio
Gene Simone, current resident of Springboro, Ohio, is a 1977 graduate of Wittenberg with a bachelor’s degree in political science. During his time at Wittenberg, Simone was a member of the 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 and has 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.
Simone has been a board member of the Heatherwoode Golf Community HOA for six years. Dedicated to his alma mater, he 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.
Some of Simone’s favorite memories of Wittenberg were attending such events as Greek Week, W-Day, and being a part of the whole Greek social system. Being from Rochester, New York, he was looking to attend a small liberal arts college.
“I grew up in Rochester and most of us couldn’t wait to get out of there,” he said. “I attended a college fair in our gym on an evening in November and had a conversation with the rep from Wittenberg, this small liberal arts school in the Midwest. I chose to Witt, which was very successful recruiting in that area at that time. By the time I graduated from Wittenberg, there were approximately 100 students from the Rochester area.”
Precious Smith
Class of 1991
Washington, D.C.
Precious A. Smith, MAT, class of 1991, is a seasoned educator with decades of experience in both private secondary schools and higher education. She came to Wittenberg University from Cincinnati Country Day School in Indian Hill, Ohio, drawn to Witt’s small, rigorous academic environment—one that echoed the extraordinary middle and high school experiences she cherished: close, thoughtful relationships with faculty, a love of exploration and learning, and the freedom to discover her true path.
After earning a BA in political science with minors in economics and Japanese from Wittenberg, Smith completed a master’s degree in teaching at Brown University. She then taught high school English in Japan through a government program before embarking on a career in U.S. boarding schools. Her work culminated in a leadership role as director of the nation’s first "urban boarding school" in Washington, D.C. She is currently associate director of auxiliary services at American University in Washinton, D.C.
Over the past 25 years, Smith has held a range of leadership positions in higher education, including in academic advising, financial aid, and business services. Her ongoing commitment to Wittenberg has centered on helping talented students from across the country discover and embrace the transformative potential of a Witt education—just as she once did.
Some of her favorite memories of Wittenberg include the time she spent at the ‘Black House,’ now the William McClain Center, where she could have an impromptu gospel choir meeting or get receive help with her chemistry class from a friend.
“I also remember being able to talk directly with senior administrators like the Dean of Students, simply by walking into the office. There were really no barriers to speaking with the staff or faculty at almost any time of day,” she said. “I also loved working at ‘the cage’ - the equipment and laundry facility at the back of the fieldhouse, which was where all of the varsity sports retrieved their practice gear after it was washed. It was where a 19-year-old student would receive their orders from the coaching staff and take responsibility for thousands of dollars worth of vehicles, equipment, personnel, and cash (we actually had to BUY meals and distribute them to the football team after every away game! Even back then it was hilarious watching the local McDonald's, in any small Ohio town, prepare 150 bags of Big Mac's, chicken sandwiches, fries and apple pies to feed players, coaches and managers - there were no "healthier choices" - eat/don't eat - those were the choices!”
Smith chose Witt because she had just received an excellent secondary school education at a top state prep school and wanted to replicate that experience.
“I had great relationships with my high school teachers, each serving as mentors and people I really trusted and admired and I wanted a 'teaching institution' that did not have a bunch of TAs between me and the instructor,” she said. “I wanted a campus I could navigate in the dark, feeling safe and valued as a student. I had just earned 13 varsity letters in high school and wanted the possibility of walking onto a college team. I started three new organizations in high school and wanted the freedom to do the same if I felt there was a need. Wittenberg was where I felt I could do all of those things . . .and I was right - it all bore out and I was ABLE to do all of those things and more while furthering my sense of self and being supported and encouraged to make the world a better/brighter place through service to all.”
“I am excited that Witt wants to return to the liberal arts roots that have been its strongest foundation since inception,” she added. “The fact that small schools are struggling has certainly give many parents pause, but there are dedicated pedagogues in the country and the world who know that teaching a student HOW to learn is the skill that will make them a life-long learner. Witt's commitment to 'passing light' is rooted in the understanding that knowing how to learn, how to write, how to debate and how to serve is what will make the generations of the future better citizens of the state, the country and the world! TIGER UP!!!”
Callan Swaim
Class of 2016
New York, NY
Callan Swaim ’16 is a global people strategy and learning & development leader with a decade of experience transforming organizational culture, building leadership pipelines, and scaling high-performing teams in the travel tech industry.
Callan has led award-winning programs at enterprise scale - most recently serving as a Chief of Staff-level leader within a global HR function. Sparked from her liberal arts education at Wittenberg, Callan’s career has taken her from London to New York and now to Australia, where she continues to shape the future of work.
At Wittenberg, Callan was a member of the 2015 NCAA national runner-up volleyball team, president of Sigma Delta Pi Spanish Honor Society, and a proud member of Gamma Phi Beta. The discipline, collaboration, and competitive drive she developed in the hallowed halls of Witt have defined her professional journey ever since.
“The Hollow at dusk, early mornings in the CDR, and every small moment in between - Wittenberg didn’t just educate me, it shaped who I became and continually strive to be. I’m energized to help build a Witt that offers the next generation of Tigers that same rare combination of rigor, connection, and belonging.”