Updated July 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 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 their 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
Justin 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, Justin 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, Justin 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, Justin 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, Chad 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, Chad 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 Chad’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.
Chad 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. A native of Wapakoneta, Ohio, Chad 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 master's 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 was a four-year member of Wittenberg's baseball program, where he earned two All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) awards, was named team MVP twice, and served as a team captain. In addition, Jack participated in the University Honors Program and served as a community service scholar through the Hagen Center, dedicating the majority of his four years to volunteering with 4 Paws and the Springfield YMCA. He completed a year-long internship with the Champion City Kings, focusing on ticket promotions and fan engagement. Jack remains active with the sport management program at Wittenberg, conducting guest lectures and assisting with prospective student events whenever applicable. During his college tenure, Jack also had experience with starting his own nonprofit organization and LLC, both based in Cleveland.
Following graduation, Jack 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, Jack relocated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, supporting the University of Pennsylvania in a fundraising role within athletics. In September 2025, Jack began a new role as a Director of Development with USA Squash, helping to lead the organization’s campaign for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Jack currently resides in Philadelphia with his fiancé, Emily.
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's degree in Political Science and Sociology in 2002. He went on to earn a 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. 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.
Claire M. Linkhart
Class of 2008
Springfield, Ohio
A political science major, Claire Linkhart 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.
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. 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.
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
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.
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, Precious completed a Master’s 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.
Over the past 25 years, Precious 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.
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, Callan 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, Callan 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.