ACES 2025 DIRECTORY

2025

YROTCERID

TABLE OF CONTENTS 03.

ACE SCHOLARS OVERVIEW

04.

ACE SCHOLARS

18.

EMERGING ACE SCHOLARS

19.

LIFETIME ACE SCHOLAR RECIPIENTS

22 GET IN TOUCH WITH OUR ACES

2

WHO ARE THE ACES? Akron (ACE

Community Scholars

or

Engaged ACES)

is

Scholars a

way

to

engagement story by being active users of the Collaboratory data system.

formally affiliate with the EX[L] Center

Scholars

are

connected

for

passion,

and

convene

Community

those

full-

or

Engaged

Learning

for

part-time

faculty

who

demonstrate

a

impact

connecting

by

commitment

to

campus

community

through

scholarship,

and/or

significant

ACES

mindful

of

are

public

their

and

by

for

a

ACE

shared

professional

development, to share best practices, to mentor

others,

and

to

innovate

in

community engagement.

teaching,

best

service.

practices,

striving to create partnerships based on mutual

benefit,

trust, and equity.

reciprocity,

authenticity,

They actively support a

culture of engagement on campus and contribute to telling UA's community

SU TUOBA

Lifetime ACE Scholar is a title reserved for faculty when they move on from UA. Throughout were

their

instrumental

career,

these

in

building

ACES and

supporting a strong culture of community engagement through their support of The EX[L]

Center

and

with

their

teaching

and scholarship. Emerging Scholars are faculty who are early in their journey who are paired with mentors as they develop their work.

Together, the ACES represent

some of the very best of UA as we work to fulfill our vision as a public research anchor

institution

with

an

unsurpassed

commitment to community engagement.

3

OUR ACE

SCHOLARS

Dr. Henry Astley

Dr. Mehmet Baysal

Assistant Professor

Professor of Practice

Department of Biology

Department of

hastley@uakron.edu

Mechanical Engineering

Robotics Education, Biomimicry

mmbaysal@uakron.edu

Michelle Banis Director of Alumni Relations & Coordinator of UA Mascot Program Alumni Relations/Advancement mnb33@uakron.edu Volunteerism, Social Justice/Advocacy, Arts

MET Senior Capstone Projects, Hands- & Culture, Neighborhood Improvement, on Learning, Workforce Development

Animal Welfare

Dr. Suzanne Bausch

Dr. Jennifer L. Bazar

Marcia Belcher-Christine, PE

Vice President for Research &

Assistant Director

Professor & Program Director

Business Engagement

Cummings Center for the

Civil Engineering

Office of Academic Affairs

History of Psychology

mcbelcher@uakron.edu

sbausch@uakron.edu

jbazar@uakron.edu

Sustainability, Biomimicry, Adult

Military, neuroscience, business,

Museum, Archive, History of

chemistry, research & research

Psychology, History of Mental

funding

Education, Workforce Development, Apprenticeship Training

Health Care

4

Donray Bennett, M. Ed

Dr. Jennifer Bozeka

Jordan Brlan

Director, Strategic

Senior Lecturer

Associate Director -

Engagement & Recruitment

LBJFF School of Education

Retention & Recruitment

BCAS - Office of the Dean

jb3@uakron.edu

School of Engineering &

dbennett@uakron.edu

Education, 21st Century Skills,

Polymer Science Dean's Office

College Access, Financial Literacy,

Social-Emotional Learning,

jbrlan@uakron.edu

Health Equity, College Readiness,

Informed Citizens, Diversity, Equity

Education, Academics, STEM,

Wholistic Services

Outreach, Readiness

Theron Brown

Dr. Aimee Budnik

Julie Cajigas

Assistant Professor of Practice

RDN, LD, Senior Lecturer

Professor of Practice,

School of Music - Jazz Studies

Exercise & Nutrition Science

Advisor, The Buchtelite, &

teb10@uakron.edu

abudnik@uakron.edu

PRSSA Chapter

Arts, Youth Arts, History,

Health Equity, Quality Improvement,

School of Communication

Art Economics

Co-design, Program Implementation,

julieca@uakron.edu

Public Health, Community Nutrition, Assessment, Evaluation

Social Media, Assessment, Public Relations, Marketing, Special Events, Copywriting

5

OUR ACE

SCHOLARS

Dr. Kevin Cavicchi

Dr. Piya Chatterjee

Christopher Coles

Professor

Assistant Professor of Practice

Professor of Practice

School of Polymer Science

School of Education

Music

& Polymer Engineering

pc48@uakron.edu

cjcoles23@uakron.edu

kac58@uakron.edu

Opportunity, equality, inclusion,

Arts Advocacy, Arts Equity,

STEM Education, Outreach

Intervention Programs

Sustainable Arts Programs for Youth

Dr. Sydney Chinchanachokchai

Dr. David Cohen

Juan Eduardo

Director - Applied Politics Program Contreras Barberena

Associate Professor

Professor - Department of

General Manager - Z-TV

Department of Marketing

Political Science

Professor of Practice - School

schinchana@uakron.edu

dbcohen@uakron.edu

of Communication

Marketing, Social Media Marketing,

Civic Engagement, Political Efficacy,

jec37@uakron.edu

Digital Marketing, Advertising,

Community, Media Outreach

Storytelling, Media Production/

Communications

Literacy, Cultural Diversity, Citizen Diplomacy

6

Julie Cortes, J.D.

Andrew C. Costigan,

Assistant Clinical Professor

J.D.

School of Law jcortes@uakron.edu Community development, small business and entrepreneurship, income and wealth inequality, and access to justice

Assistant Dean School of Law

Dr. Sandie Crawford Interim Director Academic Achievement Programs sandiec@uakron.edu

acc142@uakron.edu

Diversity, Pathways to student

Servant Leadership, Higher

success, Equity, Inclusion,

Education, Resilience,

Social Justice

Incarceration/Reentry/Recidivism, Emotional Health & Grief

Jennifer Davis

Dr. Aimee

Dr. James Diefendorff

Assistant Professor of

DeChambeau

Distinguished Professor

Dean

Psychology

University Libraries

jjdiefen@uakron.edu

Practice University Libraries jlc16@uakron.edu Information Literacy, Education, Exploratory Learning, Visual Arts, Collaboration

acc142@uakron.edu K-12, sustainability, technology, feminist

Emotion Regulation, Work Motivation, Leader Humility

pedagogy and collaboration

7

OUR ACE

SCHOLARS

Alison Doehring

Dr. Shanon Donnelly

Melissa Dreisbach

Senior Director, ZipAssist &

Associate Professor

Visiting Assistant Professor

Student Affairs Development

of Instruction

School of Exercise &

aer15@uakron.edu

Department of Geosciences

Nutrition Sciences

Food Insecurity, Basic Needs, Financial

sd51@uakron.edu

mdk24@uakron.edu

Literacy, Placemaking, Collaborative Mapping, Data Collection, Analysis,

Health, Physical Activity, Sport,

Projects, Strategic Partnerships

& Visualization, Geography, Food

STEM, Special Needs, K-12

Dr. James M. Eagan

Dr. Rebecca Erickson

Dr. Amber Ferris

Assistant Professor

Professor & Chair

School of Polymer Science

Department of Sociology

& Polymer Engineering

rericks@uakron.edu

eagan@uakron.edu

Health, Mental health, Public Safety,

Sustainability, Polymers, Recycling, Carbon Utilization, Biodegradable

Interim Director & Professor School of Communication aferris@uakron.edu Media Literacy, Survey

Workplace Well-being,

Research/Assessment, Data

Non-profits, Education

Visualization, Social Media

Plastics, Green chemistry

8

S. Victor Fleischer,

David R. Flynn

Karen Fitzgerald

M.A., M.L.I.S

Professor of Practice

MSN, APRN-BC, PMHS

University Archivist & Head

Graphic Design

Professor of Instruction

flynn1@uakron.edu

School of Nursing

Graphic Design, Typography,

fkaren@uakron.edu

Advertising & Publication Design,

Compassionate Care, Health

svfleis@uakron.edu

Branding & Corporate Identity,

Promotion, Disease Prevention,

Public History, Ohio History, Local

Creative Thinking, Ideation,

Child Welfare

History, Museums and Archives,

Storytelling, Short Fiction, Poetry

Archives and Special Collections, Professor of Bibliography Archives and Special Collections of University Libraries

Information literacy, Primary Source Literacy

Dr. Joseph Fox Assistant Professor Department of Management jfox1@uakron.edu Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Angel Investing, Venture Capital, Startups

Dr. Elisa Gargarella Director - Arts LIFT & Art Bomb Brigade Associate Professor

Tom Hammond, M.A. Lab Support Specialist Technical Support Services

Myers School of Art

tjh1@uakron.edu

gelisa@uakron.edu

Makerspace, Stem, Steam, 3D

K-12 Art Education, Creative

printing, Maker Faire, Community,

Placemaking, Public Art & Arts

Digital Fabrication

Programming, Social/Cultural Responsive Leadership, Social Justice

9

OUR ACE

SCHOLARS

Dr. Gary Holliday

Dr. Daniela Jauk-Ajamie

Dr. Kara Kvaran

Director/Professor

Associate Professor,

Associate Professor

LBJFF School of Education

Certified Clinical Sociologist

of Instruction

gh30@uakron.edu

Department of Criminal

Women’s Studies

STEM Education, Informal Learning

Justice & Sociology

kkvaran@uakron.edu

Environments, Out-of-School Time,

djauk@uakron.edu

Women's Rights, Feminism,

Intersections of gender,

Reproductive Justice, Film,

environmental, reproductive and

Popular Culture, Art

Museums, Science Communication

criminal justice, clinical sociology

Dr. Jodi Kearns

Jeff Klemm

Matthew Kolodziej

Associate Research Professor

Senior Director - Prof.

Distinguished Professor of Art

of Bibliography

Development & Strategic

Myers School of Art

Director - Institute for

Engagement

mattk@uakron.edu

Human Science & Culture

College of Business Dean's

Arts, Entrepreneurship,

jkearns@uakron.edu

Office

Interdisciplinary, Environment,

Libraries, Archives, Museums,

jklemm@uakron.edu

Hands-On Humanities, Education and Information Literacy

Communication

Servant & Relational Leadership, Financial Literacy, Food Insecurity, Cross-Cultural Awareness, Global Competency, Civic Engagement

10

Willy Kollman

Dr. Susan Kushner Benson

Dr. Brant Lee, J.D.

Associate Vice President,

Associate Professor

Professor - School of Law

Alumni & Constituent Relations

LBJFF School of Education

Assistant Dean - Diversity and

Office of Alumni Relations;

snk@uakron.edu

Social Justice Initiatives

Office of the President

K-12 Urban Education, Education

btlee@uakron.edu

System, Systemic Racism, Poverty

Racial Equity, Systemic

Systems, Juvenile Justice,

Discrimination, Housing Policy,

Health Care

Community Education

wrk1@uakron.edu Economic Development, Workforce Development, Education, Community Engagement and Reciprocity, Literacy

Dr. Seungbum Lee

Dr. Iris Luo

Dr. Nidaa Makki

Professor

Assistant Professor

Professor

Department of Management

Criminal Justice Studies

LBJFF School of Education

sl65@uakron.edu

xluo@uakron.edu

nm32@uakron.edu

Sport Business, e-Sports, and

health equity, incarceration,

Science & STEM Education, K-12

community outreach through

sustainability, criminal justice, victims

Outreach, Youth Mentoring,

sports

Educational Equity

11

OUR ACE

SCHOLARS

Maeve Marino, RPA Assistant Professor Department of Anthropology mam377@uakron.edu Archaeology, Indigenous People, Historical Preservation,

Dr. Timothy Matney

Dr. Andrea L. Meluch

Professor

Associate Professor and

Department of Anthropology

Graduate Coordinator

matney@uakron.edu

School of Communication

Archaeology, Historic Preservation,

alm133@uakron.edu

Anthropology

Health Disparities/Risks, Community

Public Archaeology

Crises, Organizational Culture, Cancer Care, Health Promotion, Career Advancement

Dr. Randy Mitchell

Dr. Jenny Naidu

Distinguished Professor,

Senior Lecturer

Faculty Directory

LBJFF College of Education

Department of Biology,

jnaidu@uakron.edu

University of Akron Field

Teacher Education, Full Inclusion,

Community Science, Data Gathering,

Station

Evaluation, Special Education

Natural history

rjm2@uakron.edu

Dr. Chelsea Miller Assistant Professor Department of Biology cmiller@uakron.edu Sustainability, Conservation,

Ecology, Biology, Nature

12

Dr. B. Audrey Nguyen-

Russel Nichols, J.D.

Dr. Fedearia

Rudy

Director, Expungement Clinic

Nicholson-Sweval

Assistant Professor of Practice

and Inmate Assistance

Vice Provost for Student Pathways

Biomedical Engineering

Program

and Dean of the Williams Honors

anguyen@uakron.edu

School of Law

Biomedical Engineering, STEM,

rtn3@uakron.edu

Outreach, Engagement, Active Learning

Dr. Stacey Nofziger Professor Department of Sociology sn28@uakron.edu Community Health, Resilience, Victimization, Skill Development, Food Security, Environmentalism

College fn@uakron.edu Fundraising, student retention, K-12

Reentry, Incarceration, Collateral Consequences, Access to Justice

Dr. Hillary Nunn

Dr. Insun Park

Professor

Associate Professor

Department of English

Department of Criminal Justice

nunn@uakron.edu

Studies & Sociology

Gender & Social Equity, Access to

ipark@uakron.edu

Arts, Information Literacy

Crime Prevention, Successful Reentry, Safety and Well-Being of Asian Americans

13

OUR ACE

SCHOLARS

Dr. Robert L. Peralta Director - Center for Conflict Management Professor - Sociology rp32@uakron.edu Interpersonal & Intimate Partner Violence, Substance Use/Abuse, Returning Citizen Reintegration, Social Inequalities/Justice

Dr. Jordan M. Renna Associate Professor, Interim Chair Biology jrenna@uakron.edu Neuroscience, Health, Biology

Dr. Jeffrey L.

Myrissa Powell, MSW, LISW

Pellegrino, MPH

Associate Lecturer School of Social Work

Associate Professor Disaster Science &

& Family Sciences

Emergency Services

mab268@uakron.edu

jpellegrino@uakron.edu

Health Equity, Sustainability, Access

Resiliency, Emergency Preparedness,

to Resources, Transportation,

First Aid, Undergraduate Research,

Reaching the Hard to Reach

Public Health

Mark Rittenour, J.D.

Dr. Lara Roketenetz

Director, Executive

Field Station Director

Communication & Special

Department of Biology

Projects

ldr11@uakron.edu

Office of the President

Environmental/Outdoor Education,

mritten@uakron.edu

Place-Based & Problem-Based

Legal Advocacy, Business & Its Diversification, Communication,

Learning, Biomimicry, Nature, Natural Resources

Education, Socioeconomic Inequities, Civil Liberties

14

Dr. Christine Schneider

Dr. Pamela Schulze

Senior Lecturer

Director -

Department of Sociology

Center for Family Studies

cschneider@uakron.edu

Professor - School of Social

Disparities, Inequities, Food Access,

Work & Family Sciences

Homelessness, Special Needs,

schulze@uakron.edu

Poverty, Gardening

Dr. Jennifer Stanley Professor & Chair Department of Psychology jstanley@uakron.edu Aging, Citizen Science

Child Development, Parenting, Sustainability, Equity, Infant/Child Care

Dr. J. Cherie Strachan

Dr. Mary Triece

Director - Ray C. Bliss Institute

Director - The Women's

of Applied Politics

Studies Program

Professor - Department of

Professor - School of

Crime Analysis, Intelligence Analysis,

Political Science

Communication

National Security, Policing

jcw39@uakron.edu

mtriece@uakron.edu

Civic Engagement, Youth Political

Women and Girls, Health Disparities,

Participation, Civility, Deliberation

Food Insecurity, Incarceration

Dr. Sarah St. George Assistant Professor of Practice Criminal Justice Studies sstgeorge1@uakron.edu

15

OUR ACE

SCHOLARS

Kim Trowbridge

Arnold Tunstall

McKenna Vietmeier

Director - ARI-AHEC

Director - University Galleries

Professor of Instruction

College of Health & Human

Myers School of Art

Communication

Sciences

Dept. Arts Administration

mvietmeier@uakron.edu

kmg27@uakron.edu

tarnold@uakron.edu

Internet Safety, Effective Digital

Health literacy, Health equity, Rural Arts Advocacy, Placemaking, Arts & health, underserved populations,

Culture, Equity

Communication, Nonprofit Outreach, Experiential Learning

veteran populations

Dr. Lia Wiley Professor of Instruction Sociology lmc73@uakron.edu Family Violence/Abuse, Drug and Alcohol Use and Misuse, Inside-Out

Dr. Sheldon Wrice

Dr. Gregory Wilson Distinguished Professor Department of History gwilson@uakron.edu

Special Assistant to the Provost Office of Academic Affairs swrice1@uakron.edu

History, Heritage, Preservation,

Higher Education, Literacy,

Stewardship, Environment

Diversity, Equity

Prison Exchange Program

16

Stephanie Yuhas, J.D.

Dr. Matthew Wyszynski

Dr. Juan Xi

Sr. Associate Dean -

Professor

The Williams Honors College &

Department of Sociology

Professor - Department

jx@uakron.edu

of Modern Languages

Community Health and Wellbeing

wyszynski@uakron.edu Cross-Cultural Communication

Dr. Baomei Zhao, CFLE

Professor of Practice Department of Criminal Justice Studies syuhas@uakron.edu Off-Campus Safety, Housing, Crime, Crime analysis

Dr. Julie Zhao

Professor

Assistant Dean

Department of Social Work

College of Engineering &

& Family Sciences

Polymer Science

bzhao1@uakron.edu

zhao1@uakron.edu

Family/Child Development,

STEM Education, Strategic

Social Welfare Resources, Healthy

Planning, Partnership

Consumption, Homeless, Service Learning

17

EMERGING ACE SCHOLARS

Dr. Travis Hreno

Kimberly Hufgard

Dr. Elena Popa

Associate Professor

Associate Professor of Instruction

Assistant Professor of

Philosophy

Department of Political Science

Instruction

th34@uakron.edu

kjl9@uakron.edu

Anthropology

Justice, Law, Human Rights,

Human Trafficking, Incarceration, Law

epopa@uakron.edu

Equality, Democracy

Enforcement, Forensic Science,

Migration, Displacement,

Investigations

Marginalization

Eli McCormick

Dr. Sanuallah Khan

Dr. Melanie Kautzman

Senior Lecturer

Professor

Philosophy

Anthropology

smccormick@uakron.edu

skhan@uakron.edu

bioethics, public health ethics, mental

health inequity, incarceration,

health, disability, health equity,

substance use, structural inequality,

environmental ethics, sustainability

conflict, medical uncertainty

Assistant Professor School of Counseling mkautzma@uakron.edu mental health, wellness, counseling, supervision, advocacy

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2025 LIFETIME RECIPIENT

Bill Lyons is a brother and son, husband and father, dog lover and gardener. In his spare time, he is also a Professor of Political Science and Associate Dean for Faculty Support in BCAS. His first book, The Politics of Community Policing: Rearranging the Power to Punish, was published by the University of Michigan Press in 1999. In 2006, (with Julie Drew, same press) he

SNOYL LLIB .RD

published Punishing Schools: Fear and Citizenship in American Education. In 2010, (with Julie Drew and Lance Svehla) he published Sound Bite Saboteurs: Public Discourse, Education, and the State of Democratic Deliberation with SUNY Press. His final book was a seven-year collaborative effort (with Carolyn Behrman, Jim Slowiak, Donna Webb and Pat Hill) resulting in the Akron Story Circle Project: Rethinking Race in Classroom and Community, UA Press, 2016.

Bill is a life-long Red Sox fan, who loves to play pickleball, volleyball, ping-pong, basketball, ultimate frisbee, card games, body surf, garden, hike and bike, juggle, and cook (because of the direct connection to eating).He was selected by students as Faculty of the Year for 2003 and by his peers as Outstanding Teacher of the Year in 2009.

19

Bill worked with Ian Swarber, Jeff Hoffman, a[nd more than a dozen UA faculty from across campus to create the EX[L] Center and serve on its initial Faculty Advisory Council. Bill also served as the Director of the Center for Conflict Management (CCM) for twenty years. Working with amazing colleagues at the CCM and the EX[L] Center has been the absolute highlight of his career. He is deeply appreciative to have had these opportunities.

He earned a BA in Economics and Chinese Language from the University of Massachusetts, an MALD from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and a PhD from the University of Washington. After completing his doctorate he was hired as Director of the Research & Grants Division at the Seattle Police Department. In 1980 Bill was part of the first cohort of Americans to study in China after the US recognized Beijing and he ended up staying for three years in the 1980s, living in Beijing, Xian and Nanjing and playing two years of college basketball!

In 1992 Bill taught in Pecs, Hungary as a Soros Fellow and in 2000-2001 he spent a fourth year in China with his

wife and two teenage sons at Beijing Foreign Studies University as a Fulbright Scholar.

20

LIFETIME RECIPIENT 2025 LIFETIME RECIPIENT

LIFETIME ACE

SCHOLARS

Dr. Carolyn Behrman

Dr. Parizad Dejbord

Dr. Kathryn Feltey

Professor Emeritus,

Professor Emeritus,

Professor Emeritus,

Anthropology

Modern Languages

Sociology

Past EX[L] Co-Director

parizad@uakron.edu

felteyk@uakron.edu

behrman@uakron.edu

Anoo Vyas, J.D. Dr. Matthew Lee Professor Emeritus

Sociology mathew_lee@fas.harva

Dr. Richard Steiner Professor Emeritus,

Visiting Professor,

School of Law,

Statistics

Past EX[L] Co-Director,

rps@uakron.edu

annal.vyas@uakron.edu

rd.edu

Dr. Barry

Dr. Deborah Owens

Mulholland

Professor Emeritus,

Professor Emeritus,

Marketing

Finance

deb@uakron.edu

bmulholland@uakron.edu

Dr. John Green Past Interim UA President Professor Emeritus, Political Science, Director Emeritus, Bliss Institute green@uakron.edu

21

DID YOU

KNOW? 75%

Of 48 academic units at The University of Akron, more than half have at least one ACE Scholar (36/48) and every College is represented.

Our cohort includes

part-time instructors, non-tenure and tenure-track faculty,

staff &

contract professionals, and university administrators.

22

HCUOT NI TEG All of UA's ACE Scholars have consented to sharing their interests and contact information. them

directly,

or

you

can

Feel free to reach out to

contact

Dr.

Christin

Seher

to

facilitate an introduction at:

THE EX[L] CENTER FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGED LEARNING EMAIL

WEBSITE

exl@uakron.edu

www.uakron.edu/exl

INSTAGRAM

LINKEDIN

@uakronexlcenter

@uakronexlcenter

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