Vice Presidents
Dr. John Wiencek
Executive Vice President and Provost
Dr. John Wiencek, an accomplished chemical and biochemical engineer, experienced academic administrator and Northeast Ohio native, joined The University of Akron as executive vice president and provost on April 30, 2020. He is the most senior administrator reporting to the president.
As provost, Wiencek has the lead role in redefining and implementing the priorities for the Office of Academic Affairs and bolstering UA’s research prominence and productivity. He also has responsibility for sharpening the University’s enrollment strategy and practices, including exploring new markets and expanding delivery models; assessing and optimizing the academic affairs structure and processes; recruiting and developing an exceptional academic leadership team; and contributing to UA’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
An experienced academic leader, Wiencek most recently served as provost and executive vice president at the University of Idaho. While there, he developed and implemented a strategic plan and executed new improvements in communication to build trust between the faculty and administration for a stronger campus community.
Wiencek previously served as interim provost and vice president of academic affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University. There he was the driving force behind many significant accomplishments, including resolving initiatives such as enrollment planning and fundraising; completing several searches for key roles; and establishing a Strategic Enrollment Council.
Earlier in his career, Wiencek served as dean of the College of Engineering at the University of South Florida. He also has served in a variety of positions at The University of Iowa, including department chair, graduate director, graduate admissions chair, and professor of chemical and biomedical engineering. Wiencek began his career as an associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at Rutgers University.
Joining The University of Akron has been something of a homecoming for Wiencek, who grew up near the Portage Lakes and graduated from Walsh Jesuit High School.
Wiencek went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering at the University of Cincinnati and a Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy, both in Chemical Engineering, at Case Western Reserve University. As a researcher, he has focused on protein biophysics with applications to drug formulations.
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Dr. Suzanne Bausch
Vice President for Research and Business Engagement and Dean of the Graduate School
Dr. Suzanne Bausch is an accomplished researcher and experienced administrator who joined The University of Akron in August 2022 as the vice president for research & business engagement, the dean of the Graduate School, and The University of Akron president's designee as president of its Research Foundation.
She oversees The University of Akron’s Graduate School, Research Foundation, and Offices of Research and Technology Transfer. She is a primary point of contact for businesses interested in collaborative agreements and partnerships with The University of Akron.
Bausch previously served as associate dean for research and graduate affairs followed by vice dean of the College of Science & Mathematics and School of Health Professions at Rowan University. In these roles she facilitated an increase in the college's externally funded research portfolio and expansion of its graduate programs. She also led federally funded university-wide interdisciplinary grants focused on diversity, equity and inclusion.
Bausch’s sixteen-year independent faculty career was spent at the Uniformed Service University School of Medicine, the nation’s military medical school, where she ran an internationally recognized and continuously funded neuropharmacology and epilepsy research laboratory. She served for seven years as vice chair and a stint as acting/interim chair of Pharmacology.
Bausch worked as a radiologic and MRI technologist before receiving her bachelor’s degree in Chemistry with a minor in Biology from Metropolitan State College of Denver, Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Washington, and postdoctoral training in Neuroscience from Duke University.
Jill Bautista
Vice President for Operations
As vice president for operations, Jill Bautista leads several of the University’s core operational teams, including Information Technology Services; University of Akron Police Department; Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety; Capital Planning and Facilities Management; and Compliance and Risk Management. She provides strategic and innovative counsel and collaborative support to UA ’s leaders to identify and execute short- and long-term strategies and objectives that drive operational excellence, business growth and continuous improvement.
Bautista previously served as the University’s chief compliance and risk officer, where she developed the University’s integrated compliance and risk management program in collaboration with compliance and other leaders across campus.
Prior to joining the University, Bautista spent more than 20 years in various legal roles focused on supporting operations. She most recently served as compliance counsel for Eaton, overseeing the company’s global compliance and enterprise risk management programs. She previously practiced law at the firms of Square Patton Boggs and Brouse McDowell.
Bautista earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Environmental Science from Westminster College, as well as a Juris Doctor from Pace University.
She also currently serves as the chair of the Board of Directors for YWCA Greater Cleveland.
Kimberly M. Cole
Vice President of Advancement
Executive Director, The University of Akron Foundation
In her role as vice president of development for the University and executive director of the Foundation, Kimberly M. Cole oversees all central fundraising staff, partners with the University’s academic leaders, and collaborates with key community volunteers to increase support for UA.
Her work encompasses all aspects of fundraising, including the development and management of campaigns; solicitations via major gifts, the Center for Gift and Estate Planning, and the Annual Fund; and the reporting and recording of all gifts to the University and the Foundation. Her work with the foundation includes overseeing its endowed investments, working closely with its board of directors, and stewarding gifts to ensure donor wishes are always honored.
Additionally, Cole oversees all staff members in the Office of Alumni Relations. They, together with members of the Department of Development, support the needs of the University while engaging alumni and other stakeholders in the mission of the University.
Cole, who joined UA in 1997, is an alumna who earned a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in psychology here.
M. Celeste Cook
Vice President and General Counsel
As General Counsel to The University of Akron, and subject to the authority of the Ohio Attorney General, M. Celeste Cook coordinates and directs the legal affairs of the University.
She became vice president and general counsel, as well as secretary to the Board of Trustees and chief ethics officer, on Jan. 1, 2017.
Cook joined The University of Akron on June 2, 1997, as associate general counsel. She most recently served as associate vice president and deputy general counsel, and assistant secretary to the Board of Trustees.
As general counsel, Cook is the chief legal advisor to the Board of Trustees, the University’s president, and to UA’s officers and administrators. The office is responsible to the Board of Trustees and to the president for the direction and supervision of all legal matters of The University of Akron.
An alumna, Cook earned both a Juris Doctor in 1987 and a B.A. in Business and Organizational Communications in 1984 at UA.
Tammy Ewin
Vice President, Chief Communication and Marketing Officer
Tammy Ewin joined UA as vice president, chief communication and marketing officer in January 2020.
She leads a team of 18 professionals responsible for marketing communications, public relations, media relations, social media, advertising, issues/crisis/reputation management, employee communications, brand strategy, digital communications and executive communications.
Ewin has extensive experience providing strategic communication counsel, building consensus and achieving solid marketing and communication results in the higher education, health care, corporate, not-for-profit, agency and public safety arenas.
Prior to joining UA, Ewin spent more than 10 years in the Office of Marketing and Communications at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pa., as a valued communication leader where she held positions of increasing responsibility. As associate vice president for marketing and communications, she led a team of 24 professionals responsible for all internal and external marketing and communications. Accomplishments during her tenure include the management of an award-winning team responsible for a more than 300% increase in media coverage; development of successful strategies to address significant crisis management issues; and completion of a large-scale website redesign, among others.
Ewin earned both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in Communication from the University of Dayton.
She is a member of the American Marketing Association as well as the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) where she served as a member of the PRSA Counselors to Higher Education Section Communications Committee. She is also a board member of Zoe’s New Beginnings, a nonprofit organization assisting families of premature babies.
Sarah Kelly
Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer
As vice president, chief human resources officer, Sarah J. Kelly is responsible for leading all aspects of human resources including organizational development, compensation, talent acquisition, employee relations, labor relations, equal employment opportunities/affirmative action, HR records and benefits.
She leads a team of more than two dozen professionals who provide strategic counsel, navigate sensitive situations and information, and assist in the resolution of complex work-related issues.
Kelly joined The University of Akron in 2000 and has served in multiple roles during her tenure. She assumed her current role in 2022.
As an alumna, Kelly earned both a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in management at UA.
Dr. Paul E. Levy
Vice President and Chief of Staff
Dr. Paul E. Levy was named vice president and chief of staff on July 1, 2022. In this role, he serves as an advisor to President Gary L. Miller.
Previously, Levy served as a professor in the Department of Psychology for 33 years and served as chair of that department for 17 years. Levy received his Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology from Virginia Tech in 1989 and has been a faculty member at The University of Akron since that time. He chaired the nationally ranked Industrial/Organizational Psychology Program for 10 years prior to becoming department chair.
Levy is a fellow of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, the Association for Psychological Science and the American Psychological Association. His consulting and research interests include performance appraisal, feedback, motivation, coaching and leadership. He is the author of one of the leading I/O textbooks in the field and was the associate editor of Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, a bimonthly peer-reviewed scientific journal covering organizational behavior and psychology, for seven years. He has more than 80 publications, with many appearing in the top journals in the discipline, including the Journal of Applied Psychology, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Academy of Management Journal and Personnel Psychology.
Levy has supervised the dissertation work of 30 Ph.D. students who have completed their work under his direction. His expertise in the areas of leadership development and coaching have served many organizations including the federal government, large private organizations and local not-for-profit entities. Levy is the vice chair of the board of the Victim Assistance Program and will be representing UA on other civic and non-profit boards.
Dr. John A. Messina
Vice President for Student Affairs
Dr. John A. Messina serves as the vice president for student affairs, responsible for oversight of the many programs and services designed to educate, engage and enrich the lives of students through social, personal, health and wellness development, academic engagement and retention.
Messina joined The University of Akron in 2004 and has served in multiple roles during his tenure, including director, associate vice president, senior lecturer and vice provost. He assumed his current role in 2015 and has oversight of a wide array of student support units across the University. These departments include Dean of Student’s Office, Esports, Residence Life and Housing, Student Life, Student Union, Student Conduct and Community Standards, Student Health Services, and Student Recreation and Wellness Services, whose team members collaborate to provide an engaged campus community. Student success is supported resources offered through Exploratory Advising, Military Services, Military Science and Leadership, International Programs, Study Abroad, Registrar, Career Services, Student Employment, Counseling and Testing, Accessibility, Tutoring, ZipAssist, New Student Orientation and Undergraduate Student Government.
Messina serves on the executive leadership team within the University, responsible for supporting the student experience from admission through graduation with oversight of both New Student Orientation and Commencement. He leads efforts toward collaborative engagement and retention activities that span the campus and community. Messina serves as primary investigator on a number of grants, including mental health, college transition, sexual assault response and financial literacy.
He has served as a member of graduate faculty in the Education Administration program.
Messina also holds an M.B.A. and a B.S. from Rider University and an M.S. in Instructional Leadership from Robert Morris University. He completed his doctoral degree in 2011 at The University of Akron and his dissertation showcased the impact of participation in living-learning communities on student academic performance and persistence.
He holds memberships with the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators and Association of College Personnel Administrators.
Messina is a certified spinning instructor and instructs weekly very early morning classes at the Shaw JCC of Akron. He also serves as a Trustee of the JCC, serves on the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army, and is involved in a number of community events. He shares his groovy 1970’s “Brady Bunch” style home in Akron with his rescue dog, Gypsy, and is an avid supporter of Doberman rescues.
Dr. Sheldon Wrice
Vice President of Inclusion and Equity and Chief Diversity Officer
In this critical position within the University administration, Wrice will provide strategic leadership for campus diversity, program oversight, diversity advising and mentoring, community relations and outreach, and policy duties that result in a learning and workplace environment that is welcoming and supportive to all.
As chief diversity officer, Wrice supervises the Office of Inclusion and Equity, Office of Multicultural Development, Multicultural Center and the Women's and Gender Resource Center. The Office of Accessibility has dual reporting lines to Student Affairs and the Office of Inclusion and Equity.
Wrice earned his Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration in 1995, Master of Science in Technical Education and Master of Arts in Multicultural Education in 1994, Master of Arts in Urban Studies in 2013 and Master of Public Administration in 2014, all from UA. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from South Carolina State University in 1988 and a Master of Library Science from Clark Atlanta University in 1990.