2026 Founders’ Day
PRELUDE
*PROCESSIONAL
Founders’ Day Convocation
11:30 a.m. Thursday, February 5, 2026
Lutheran Heritage Room, Howard Miller Student Center
Jacob Hoffman ’28, Pianist
*PLACING OF COLLEGE MACE ............ Anna Reinsel, Ph.D. ’06
Faculty Marshall, Professor of Environmental Science
GREETINGS FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ......... Robert Burns, M.D. ’74 H’22 Chair of the Board of Trustees
*OPENING PRAYER ..................... The Reverend Brenda D. Martin Pastor, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
WELCOME ........................................................
Susan Traverso, Ph.D. President
CHORAL MUSIC
O Love ............................................................................
Elaine Hagenberg
Thiel Choir
Jacob Hoffman ’28, Pianist
Worthy To Be Praised .....................................................
Byron J. Smith
Thiel Choir
Jacob Hoffman ’28, Pianist
PRESENTATION OF SPECIAL STAFF AWARDS
Sheila Nowinski, Ph.D.
Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of the College
David Myron
Vice President for Finance and Administration
Michael McKinney, Ed.D. ’02
Vice President for Enrollment, Student Life, and Athletics
Distinguished Staff Advisor/Mentor Award ................Nalini Downing Campus Store Manager
Distinguished Staff Award ............................................... Jodie Witherite Counselor
Distinguished Staff Award........................................ Debbie A. Schreiber Registrar
Distinguished Staff Award ........................................Hannah Keeling ’08 Coordinator of Peer-Led Learning Programs
Distinguished Staff Award ............................................... Anthony Kobak
Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach
Distinguished Staff Award .................................................... Jennifer Law
Environmental Services Worker
PRESENTATION OF SPECIAL FACULTY AWARDS
Sheila Nowinski, Ph.D.
Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of the College
Distinguished Advisor/Mentor ............................................ Neil Lax, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Neuroscience, Department Chair, interim Psychology Department Chair
Distinguished Adjunct ................................................ Ashleigh Musick, Esq. Adjunct Professor of Political Science
Distinguished Scholar................................................................ Sean Oros ’15 Lecturer of English
Distinguished Service .................................................. David R. Buck, Ph.D. Professor of History, Department Chair
Distinguished Teacher ................................................ Jared Johnson, Ph.D. Professor of English, Department Chair
Distinguished Professor of the Year ............... G. Rattan K. Khalsa, Ph.D. Professor of Chemistry
PRESENTATION OF THE LOUIS AND BARBARA THIEL DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
Introduction by President Susan Traverso, Ph.D.
Vicki Poe
An honor bestowed in recognition of her Commitment to the Community, Support of Higher Education and Investment in the Arts
*HAIL ALMA MATER ................................. Led by Thiel College Choir Music by Friedrich F. Flemming and lyrics by E. Grace Hunton 1900
Hail, Alma Mater, on thy hill enthroned, Firm as a mountain, may’st thou stand enduring Fair as the valley of thine own Shenango.
Hail, Alma Mater!
Hail, Alma Mater, may thy torch forever Shed light resplendent for thy God and Country; Send the flame onward to all generations. Hail, Alma Mater!
Hail, Alma Mater, we thy children pledge thee Here our devotion, loyal, true, and tender; Thee will we cherish, praise thy name forever. Hail, Alma Mater!
The Louis and Barbara Thiel Distinguished Service Award is presented annually to community members who demonstrate exemplary character, continuity of leadership and long-term service to Greenville and its environs. The recipients must demonstrate a commitment to the common good above private interests. The award is named after Louis and Barbara Thiel, whose generosity made the founding of Thiel College possible in 1866. The Thiels dedicated themselves to the welfare of others. The German couple immigrated to western Pennsylvania in the 1840s, and as their work was blessed with success, they faithfully served family, community, and the church.
*CLOSING PRAYER ....................................................... Pastor Martin
POSTLUDE .................................................. Jacob Hoffman ’28, Pianist
*AUDIENCE WILL PLEASE RISE IF ABLE.
Louis and Barbara Thiel Distinguished Service Award
Vicki Poe
Vicki Poe is a distinguished member of the Thiel College and Greenville-area communities. Raised in Ohio and educated at Earlham College, she built an early career in physical education before settling in Greenville, Pa., with her husband, Russell W. Poe, where the couple has resided for the past four decades. They have two daughters, Lindy Novonty, 47, and Amanda Sutton, 46.
Beginning her career in Pueblo, Colo. and Beachwood, Ohio, she inspired young minds for a decade before Poe shifted her focus to community involvement, dedicating herself to making an impact outside of the classroom. From 1984-89, she served as the activities coordinator for the Greenville School District. She later became the advisor for the Greenville High School Trojanettes, extracurricular programs, and was a driving force behind student outreach programs. She was the Newspaper in Education and Literacy Coordinator at The Record-Argus newspaper from 1990-95.
Her dedication to leadership in the community has left a lasting mark on Greenville’s arts and civic institutions. Poe went on to help establish the Greenville Area Community Theater and
has served on the Greenville Symphony Orchestra board since the 1980s. Her long-standing commitment to the symphony included orchestrating a nationally notable fundraiser featuring former Jeopardy! gameshow host Alex Trebek as the conductor that helped secure financial stability for the organization. Her continued love for students and mentoring led her to Thiel College, where she spent 16 years as a senior admissions counselor before continuing her commitment as a volunteer academic advisor for the Thiel football team for seven years. She recalls one of most rewarding moments at Thiel College was watching Thiel students she first met in high school walk across the stage at the Passavant Center to receive their college degrees.
Poe also mentored young women through Women Inspiring the Next Generation, assisted in organizing community events, participated in hospital and church leadership, and supported the revitalization of downtown Greenville. Poe is also proud of her service as a member of the Thiel College Board of Associates.
Staff Awards
Distinguished Staff Advisor/Mentor
Nalini Downing
Nalini Downing joined the Tomcat family in March 2023 as campus store manager. She has more than 30 years of professional experience, shaped by an international career that began in India. She lived in Hong Kong and traveled throughout Europe and the United States before settling in the U.S.
Downing lives in Mercer, Pa., with her husband of 25 years, Mark Downing. Together, they have one son, Ethan, who is 21. A dedicated community member, she serves as a local ambassador for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Wounded Warrior Project, and Compassion International. In addition to her role as an ambassador, she is a consistent blood donor to the American Red Cross.
Downing graduated from Green Fields School in India. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delhi in 1992, dual majoring in philosophy and psychology. She also holds a diploma in computer systems, networking, and telecommunications from the National Institute of Information Technology. She also earned an MBA in e-business in 2001 from the Sydney Institute of Technology.
Outside of her professional and volunteer commitments, she enjoys spending time with her family, line dancing, and Zumba.
Jodie Witherite Staff Awards
Distinguished Staff
Jodie Witherite has spent nine years as a dedicated counselor in the Wellness Center at Thiel College.
She resides in Hermitage, Pa., with her husband, Bradley Witherite. Together they are the proud parents of two children, Jarod, 19, who currently serves in the U.S. Army, and Julia, 17.
Witherite brings more than two decades of experience to her role as a counselor. Before joining the Thiel College Wellness Center, she worked at Sharon Regional Health System for 13 years and spent six years at a private practice. She earned a Bachelor of Science in social work from Slippery Rock University in 1999 and later completed her Master of Social Work degree at the University of Pittsburgh in 2001.
As an AmeriCorps VISTA alumna, Witherite has a strong background in community involvement, including her time spent as a Girl Scout leader. She remains active in her daughter’s high school through her involvement with the Hickory softball boosters, as well as other community volunteer opportunities. In her free time, she enjoys listening to podcasts, indoor cycling, concerts and spending time with her family and friends.
Witherite says that one of her most memorable moments at Thiel College was watching the Class of 2024 graduate.
Distinguished Staff Staff Awards
Distinguished
Staff
Debbie A. Schreiber Hannah Keeling ’08 Staff Awards
Debbie Schreiber is the registrar and has served the campus community for the past 18 years.
She is married to Mark Schreiber, and the couple lives in Hadley, Pa., on 89 acres of land where they grow pumpkins commercially. They have two children, Cordell, 30, and Brooke, 21. Their lively household also includes 10 goats, a chicken that believes it is a goat, a cat named Callie, and an ornery miniature donkey, much to her husband’s dismay.
She graduated from Slippery Rock University in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree. Outside of Thiel College, Schreiber and her family enjoy traveling and making life-lasting memories together. They have traveled extensively, from the mountains of Wyoming to the beaches of Florida. She is currently planning the family’s next adventure to the Oregon coast.
One of her favorite memories at Thiel College includes the mornings spent visiting with the late Professor David. M. Miller ’61 H’20, conversing about campus events, life, family, and everyday updates, moments she continues to cherish deeply.
Hannah Keeling ’08 is the coordinator of peerled learning programs. She is a Thiel graduate and is married to Jeff Keeling ’07, whom she met in class in 2005. Together they have two children, Jackson, 12, and Joshua, 10.
Keeling graduated from Thiel College in 2008 with a B.A. in English and a secondary education certification. She earned her M.Ed. in English secondary education in 2011 at Edinboro University. She began her career teaching eighth grade at Saegertown Junior-Senior High School for five years before transitioning to a period dedicated to family life at home. Later, she returned to her alma mater as a part-time administrative assistant in the Department of Education, where she served for three years before advancing to her current full-time leadership position in the Learning Commons.
Outside of her professional life, Keeling is an active member of Oak Grove Church in Mercer, Pa. She spends much of her time supporting her family’s many pursuits in sports, music, and academic games. Keeling looks back fondly on her student life days at Thiel College, specifically as a choir student and trips under the supervision of Michael Bray, D.M.A., as well as studying under Mary Theresa Hall, Ph.D. Reflecting on her professional journey, she notes that she never could have anticipated a career path more closely aligned with her interests and strengths.
Anthony Kobak Staff Awards
Distinguished Staff Staff Awards
Distinguished Staff
Jennifer Law
Anthony Kobak is in his third year with Thiel College. Kobak was named head coach of the Thiel College men’s and women’s tennis teams in December of 2023. He previously served as the interim head coach of both programs for four months, beginning in August of 2023.
Kobak has an extensive club tennis background and is a Certified Tennis Instructor with the Racquet Sports Professionals Association. He also serves as the President of the Trumbull County Tennis Association, supporting the local tennis community in the greater Youngstown, Ohio area.
Kobak earned a B.A. in geography from Kent State in 1993 before going on to earn his M.S. in urban studies with a concentration in downtown development from Cleveland State University. Kobak is married to Communication Sciences and Disorders Clinic Director Julie Kobak and they have two children, Josephine, 24, and Ella, 22.
Kobak was appointed as the Presidents’ Athletic Conference women’s tennis representative to the NCAA Region V Regional Advisory Committee for a three-year term in 2025.
In addition to his many titles and accomplishments, Kobak is also a United States Tennis Association Sanctioned Tournament Director for the USTA Middle States and established Thiel College as a USTA Member Organization.
Although Jennifer Law is one of the newer faces on campus, joining Thiel in the spring of 2025 as an environmental services team member, she already has made a meaningful and lasting impact within the facilities department and across campus. According to her nomination letter, “from her first day, she brought a level of enthusiasm, positivity, and professionalism that elevates the environment around her.”
Her nominator added that she takes genuine pride in her work and consistently goes beyond to ensure tasks are completed thoroughly and accurately. Her strong work ethic, attention to detail, and willingness to take initiative have quickly made her a dependable member of our team.
Law is the youngest of four sisters and has a 20-year-old daughter who is a pharmacy technician at Walberg Family Pharmacy. She attended Greenville Senior high School and has lived in Greenville her whole life. She says her mother, Ronda, is her biggest supporter. She taught me and my sisters how to clean. Every Saturday was cleaning day. We each had a room to do and if it was not done it carried over till Sunday and if it still wasn’t done it carried over till it was done.
Distinguished Advisor/Mentor Faculty Awards
Neil Lax, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Neuroscience Neil
Lax, Ph.D. is the Chair of the Department of Neuroscience at Thiel College. He resides in Cortland, Ohio, with his husband, Ryan Lahner.
Lax earned a B.S. in biology and chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh in 2012 before continuing his education and completing his doctoral degree at Duquesne University in 2018. His doctoral work focused on animal behavior, drug discovery, and neuroanatomy related to pain, anxiety, and depression.
Lax joined the Thiel College staff in 2018 and has served as Chair of the Department of Neuroscience for the past six years. At Thiel, he teaches a wide range of neuroscience courses, including Brain and Behavior, Introduction to Neuroscience, Techniques in Neuroscience, Advanced Neuroscience, and Neuroanatomy.
In 2021, Lax was recognized with the Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award. He has also played a key role in organizing and leading/co-leading study abroad trips to Greece, Italy, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Egypt, Spain, and Portugal. Outside of the classroom, Lax enjoys spending time outdoors, gardening, and cooking.
Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Awards
Ashleigh J. Musick , Esq.
Ashleigh J. Musick, Esq., is an Adjunct Professor of Political Science. Married to Jeffery A. Musick, the couple lives in Cortland, Ohio, and has three children, Wyatt, 9, Kalina, 8, and Weston, 4.
Musick graduated from Ohio Northern University in 2011 with a B.A. in criminal justice and went on to earn an M.S. in criminal justice from Tiffin University in 2013 and a J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 2015.
Musick began her legal career as an intern for the Trumbull County Prosecutor’s Office during law school and later served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and Chief of the Appellate Division. Later, she was appointed as a magistrate for the Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas, General Division. She currently serves as a judicial staff attorney for the Eleventh District Court of Appeals. Throughout her legal career, she developed a strong passion for mentorship, influenced by past professors who guided her own academic success. Her commitment to give back the support and guidance she received led her to Thiel College.
Musick is deeply involved in her community through her church and volunteer work at the Lakeview schools. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time supporting her kids in their various activities.
Distinguished Scholar Faculty Awards
Sean Oros ’15
Sean Oros ’15 has spent the last four years as a Lecturer of English at Thiel College. He is married to Director of the Dietrich Honors Institute and Associate Professor of English Sheila Gross, Ph.D. ’10. They live in Hermitage, Pa.
Oros brings a deep connection to Thiel College and to the surrounding community. Oros completed his undergraduate degree from Thiel in 2015, going on to earn his Master of Arts degree from the University of Chicago. He is completing his doctoral studies at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and expects to finish his Ph.D. soon.
In addition to his time spent teaching, Oros is an active member of the National Council of Teachers of English and is connected to the Dietrich Honors Institute of Thiel College. He has also been involved with the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Greenville since his childhood. One of his most memorable moments at Thiel College was when DHI students surprised Oros and honored him as the DHI professor of the year award in 2024.
In his free time, Oros enjoys distance running, hiking, writing both poetry and fiction, and many strategy games. He also spends his time staying active with Jared Johnson and Mike Mason in the Thiel gym or a local CrossFit gym. A fun fact about Oros is that he spent most summers working on a hay wagon, despite having hay fever, and he has been writing a fantasy novel since the age of 13, drawn to world-building and the ways stories convey meaning and inquiry.
Distinguished
Service Faculty Awards
David R. Buck, Ph.D.
Professor of History David Buck, Ph.D. is in his 20th year as a member of the Thiel College history faculty. He is the Chair of the Department of History and has previously served as an Assistant and Associate Dean.
A graduate of Grove City High School, Buck went on to complete his B.A. in American studies from the University of Dayton, followed by an M.A. in history from Slippery Rock University and a Ph.D. in history from West Virginia University. He actively remains engaged in the field of history as a member of the American Historical Association.
He is married to Laura Buck, and they reside in Greenville, Pa. Together they have three children: Aiden, 23, Eli, 21, and Hannah, 16. In his free time, Buck enjoys reading and photography. He often reflects on his favorite quote, attributed to Gandhi, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” He also values the simple yet grounding advice of “it is all relative.”
One of his favorite experiences at Thiel College has been observing the creative ideas the honors students produce when taking part in the creative scavenger hunt during HONS 300.
Distinguished Teacher Faculty Awards
Jared Johnson, Ph.D. MBA’26
Professor
of English Jared Johnson, Ph.D.
MBA’26 has been a dedicated member of the faculty for 13 years. He is chair of the Department of English, a role he has held since 2022. During his time at Thiel, Johnson has shaped the department’s curriculum, designing and teaching a wide range of courses that include Shakespeare; Shakespeare: Page to Stage; Science Fiction and Fantasy; Dystopian Fiction; World Drama; Playwriting; College Writing; Presentational Literacy; and Satanic Panic in the Renaissance.
Before joining Thiel College, Johnson taught English at Georgia Tech as a Marion L. Brittain Postdoctoral Fellow. He also previously taught in the English Department at the University of Georgia, where he served as a study abroad assistant for the UGA at Oxford Program. His academic background includes graduating from Commodore Perry High School, earning a bachelor’s degree in English and philosophy from Flagler College, a master’s degree in English from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a Ph.D. in English from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He is pursuing an MBA at Thiel College.
Johnson is an active member of the Ohio Valley Shakespeare Association and regularly presents scholarly work at the Ohio Valley Shakespeare Conference. In 2023, he was honored with Thiel College’s Presidential Faculty Award for Distinguished Scholarship, a moment he considers especially meaningful as he was able to share it with his family. He lives in Greenville, Pa., with his wife, Ashley ’16, and their children, Violet and Evelyn.
Distinguished Professor of the Year Faculty Awards G. Rattan K. Khalsa, Ph.D.
G. Rattan K. Khalsa, Ph.D. is a longtime member of the Department of Chemistry, where she serves as a Professor of Chemistry. She resides in Greenville, Pa, and spends her summers and holidays in New Mexico with her daughter, son-in-law, and three grandchildren.
Khalsa earned her B.S. in chemistry from the University of Alabama, going on to earn her Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1979. After a one-year appointment as a Visiting Professor at West Virginia University, she joined the faculty of Thiel College. She served as Chair of the College’s Department of Chemistry at various times for 13 years from 2001 to 2020 and was recognized with the Thiel Distinguished Scholar Faculty Award in 2005.
Bringing decades of experience to her role, Khalsa has spent her time during sabbaticals and summers conducting extensive research for a cumulative five years at Los Alamos National Laboratory, one semester as a Visiting Professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, and one year at the University of Wyoming.
Outside of the classroom, Khalsa enjoys traveling, hiking, wildlife observation, and snorkeling.
PREVIOUS LOUIS AND BARBARA THIEL DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS
Paul J. Miller ’69 ~ 1990
The Hon. Roy W. Wilt ’59 H’85 ~ 1991
Richard L. Werner H’87 ~ 1992
Donna C. Winner, James E. Winner ~ 1993
Joseph M. Walton, D. Michael Walton, Joseph P. Walton ~ 1994
Dorotha E. Anderson ~ 1995
F. W. Knecht III ~ 1996
James E. Feeney ~ 1997
Joseph A. George ~1998
James Weller Jr. Family ~ 1999
Peter Mortensen H’05~ 2000
Dr. Robert Baker, Dr. John Scullin ~ 2002
Archie O. Wallace, Esq., Jeff A. Wallace, Daniel P. Wallace, Esq. ~ 2003
The Rev. Martin M. ’66 & Sarah “Sally” (Fox) Roth ’65 ~ 2005
Paul E. O’Brien ~ 2006
Robert D. Robbins & Cynthia A. Robbins ~ 2007
James D. Bittel Jr. ’60 ~ 2008
PREVIOUS LOUIS AND BARBARA THIEL
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS
Luther John Kuder ’59 ~ 2009
Fred ’65 and Jill (Shackett) Haer ’66 ~ 2010
The Frangakis Family Foundation ~ 2011
John M. Hudson H’23 ~ 2012
Harvey H’15 and Uta Childs ~ 2013
Mark A. Nordenberg, Esq. ’70 H’97 ~ 2014
Robert Olson, Ph.D. ’60 H’09 ~ 2015
The Dietrich Foundation ~ 2016
John ’71 and Nancy (Gibson) Hauser ’75 ~ 2017
Tom Roberts and Michael P. Walton ~ 2018
Sen. Michele Brooks & Rep. Mark Longietti, J.D. ~ 2019
The Pittsburgh Promise ~ 2020
Brenda Wallace ~ 2021
Mary Reames ~ 2022
Rod E. Wilt ’86 ~ 2023
Barry Oman ’74 & Linda (Dean) Oman ’75 ~ 2024
Dan Spence ~ 2025
For lists of previous Distinguished Staff Award and Faculty Award recipients, go to www.thiel.edu/foundersday.