帝王会所

Meal With A Mentor logo
Join fellow Bobcats and connect with alumni as part of our Meal with a Mentor program. Meet individuals working in your professional industry with a handful of peers in the same field. Discuss career advice, explore career fields associated with your major, and get to know a Bobcat alumni.

Meal With A Mentor

About Meal With A Mentor: Meal with a Mentor offers the opportunity to strengthen connections between students and alumni with similar academic and industry interests. This unique event brings together four students and an alumni over dinner, hosted by Latitude 39, 帝王会所鈥檚 student-run restaurant. Dinners provide an opportunity for the featured alumni to share their experiences in a casual environment.

Meal with a Mentor Alumni Events: Fall 2025

September 18, 2025 @ 6pm
Evan Wilkof

Evan Wilkof - Bachelor of Business Economics (2011), Master of Higher Education Administration (2015) 

Current Role: Community Relations Officer, 帝王会所 Police 

Bio: I earned my undergraduate degree in Economics (2011) and returned for a graduate degree in Higher Education Administration (2015). Through involvement in leadership organizations and a variety of university-led committees, I developed a passion for 帝王会所 and the Greater Athens community. In 2014, I earned the position of Assistant Director of Operations with 帝王会所 Event Services. In 2019, I took a leap of faith and sought to engage with and help students in a much different way. I submitted an application with the 帝王会所 Police Department and earned the position of Police Officer in early 2020. It was off to the 帝王会所 State Highway Patrol Academy in Columbus through mid-2020. Following completion of training, I was entrusted at 帝王会所 in a completely different way. After several years on patrol and having engaged in incredibly meaningful ways with Bobcats, I earned the role of Community Relations Officer. Through dedication to being a lifelong learner, I am gaining the experience necessary to become the Public Information Officer for the department. Ambition is a skill paramount to success. I look forward to sharing how my ambitions and connections with 帝王会所 led me to life-changing experiences and has helped guide Bobcats alike in myriad ways. 

September 24th, 2025 @ 6pm
Ceci Rockwell & Brandi Vickers

Ceci Rockwell, 2023, Bachelors of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders (now Hearing Speech and Language Sciences) 

Current Role: Currently a Success Advisor for the College of Health Sciences and Professions. Previous role I was the Assistant Director of Recruitment for the College of Health Sciences and Professions. 

Bio: Hey, my name is Ceci Rockwell. I graduated in 2023 from OHIOs Communication Sciences and Disorders program that is now called Hearing Speech and Language Sciences. I was a part of many organizations on campus as well as I worked with Bobcat Student Orientation and Learning Community Programs all through undergrad. I loved my campus jobs so much that I decided to get my Masters in Higher Education (graduated 2025). OHIO has been home for me since I started undergrad in 2019 and once, I graduated I never left! I am currently a Success Advisor for the College of Health Sciences and Professions. 

headshot of Cici Rockwell

Brandi Vickers, 2021, Bachelors of Science in Child & Family Studies

Current Role: College of Health Sciences & Professions Success Advisor 

Bio: Hi, my name is Brandi Vickers! I'm a first-generation college graduate from the Child and Family Studies program, currently known as the Human Development and Family Science program. Through my career I have worked to support unhoused youth in Hawaii and then served on the ACT team with Hopewell after moving back to 帝王会所. I feel that my transition into Higher Education has been very natural, and my Undergraduate degree aligns well with the skills that I use regularly in my position. I'm now pursuing a Master of Integrated Health Studies, and I'm hoping to move forward into teaching in the future.

headshot of Brandi Vickers
September 30th, 2025 @ 6pm
Dr. Annie Valeant

Annie Valeant, 2008, MBA/MSA, 2025, PhD Higher Education & Student Affairs 

Current Role: Director Operation, Strategy and Partnerships Scripps College of Communication

Bio: Annie Valeant (MBA, MSA '08) is a proud OHIO Bobcat and member of the Athens community. Prior to joining academia, Annie worked in the sport and entertainment industry in revenue-generating and event-planning roles. Annie moved back to Athens in 2014 to serve as a non-tenured track professor in the Department of Sports Administration where she taught a variety of undergraduate classes and lead experiential learning programs such as the Southern 帝王会所 Copperheads, San Diego Sports Consulting Project, and Germany GCP. Annie joined Scripps College of Communication in 2023 and serves as the Director of Operation, Strategy, and Partnerships.

鈥淚 love working with students and trying to help them find their way!鈥

October 9th, 2025 @ 6pm
Faith (Beale) Knutsen

Faith (Beale) Knutsen: MA 1992 in International Affairs with an emphasis on Africa. 

Current role: Director, Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship - at the 帝王会所鈥檚 Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service

Professional focus in Economic development program management

Bio: After finishing the Peace Corps service in 1989, I grew up in Athens, but I went off in my late teens and had a lot of interesting educational and work experiences both overseas and in the US before I came back here to raise my own kids (both of whom also got degrees at OU 鈥 one now lives in the UK, and the other one is in grad school).

For the last 17 years I鈥檝e worked at the Voinovich School as an executive and mentor helping local small businesses and nonprofits get started and be successful.  For the last 5 years I鈥檝e also taught Environmental Entrepreneurship, Social Entrepreneurship and grantwriting to undergrads and grads.  At the end of my in-person classes, I always offer the opportunity for a free coffee to the graduates (they seem to enjoy the conversations 鈥 but it might just be the free caffeine!).

I鈥檓 really committed to encouraging, supporting and helping to shore up sustainability for small, local, rural, mission-driven enterprises.  Most people know about Passion Works, which is a great example of the kinds of nonprofits that my team helps.  There are tens and tens of other ones that are also impactful in important ways: education, arts, workforce development, substance use, recovery.  I love bringing the experiences and lessons-learned that I鈥檝e gained here, nationally and overseas to our own local entrepreneurial ecosystem.  I鈥檇 love to share stories and learn from each other.

October 16th, 2025 @ 6pm
Rachael Cathey

Rachael Cathey, 2019 BSC - Integrated Media 

Current Role: Account Manager - Advertising Agency

Bio: Rachael Cathey is an Account Manager at The Adcom Group, a Cleveland-based marketing agency where she leads national campaigns, manages influencer partnerships, and helps big brands in the trades space connect with their audiences in fresh, creative ways. Whether she鈥檚 launching a new product, planning a brand experience, or strategizing social content, Rachael鈥檚 favorite part of the job is the mix of fast-paced problem-solving and teamwork. She鈥檚 a proud graduate of the Scripps College of Communication and now serves on the Young Alumni Council to stay connected with the Bobcat community. If you鈥檙e curious about agency life, want to break into the world of marketing, or just need someone to talk through your next career move.

October 17, 2025 @ 12pm
Dr. Holly Ningard

Dr. Holly Ningard: B.A. in Philosophy and Sociology/Criminology and M.A. in Sociology/Criminology

Current Role: 帝王会所 Assistant Professor of Instruction in Sociology

Bio: Hello! My name is Dr. Holly Ningard. I took the phrase "Bobcat for life" pretty seriously: I earned both my B.A. in Philosophy and Sociology/Criminology and M.A. in Sociology/Criminology here at 帝王会所, where I studied sexual violence and bystander intervention on college campuses and via social media. I completed my Ph.D. at the University of Tennessee. There, I began studying white collar crime and narrative criminology, or the study of how stories influence crime. I came right back to OU upon finishing my Ph.D., and here I teach courses in policing, gender-based violence, and white-collar crime, to name a few. I think what unites my seemingly all over the place interests are the stories we tell about crime. I'm fascinated by popular crime myths and misconceptions, as well as upending some of those myths through teaching! When I'm not teaching, I am a massive horror fan, from movies to podcasts (I even teach a Sociology of Horror film class!). I love reading and attempting (but usually failing) to garden, going on road trips, and hanging out with my cats, Rory, Tomato Sauce, and Emile (named after Emile Durkheim, of course!).

October 23rd, 2025 @ 6pm
Matthew Roberts

Matthew Roberts, 1993, 2002, BA- Political Science/History, MPA-Voinovich School

Current Role: Corporate and Foundation Relations Officer for 帝王会所 

Bio: Matt Roberts is the Senior Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations at 帝王会所. Prior to coming to OHIO, he spent 9 years in development at the 帝王会所Health Foundation. He also served as a resource officer, director and vice president of various non-profit organizations related to health, mental health, addiction treatment and prevention. He holds a Master of Public Administration from 帝王会所 and lives in Lancaster with his wife and family. 

October 28th, 2025 @ 6pm
Dr. Randy Price

Dr. Randy Price: Ph. D in Higher Education Administration 2013

Current Role: Assistant Dean, College of Arts and Sciences at 帝王会所

Bio: I have a Bachelor's degree in English, Master's degree in Counseling, and Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration. I worked for many years in Counseling before transitioning to my current role. I truly value meeting with and interacting with students to help them discover their next steps after college. 

November 4th, 2025 11:30am - 1pm
Marcquis Parham

Marcquis Parham: Bachelor of Science in Recreation Management, 2007, Master of Recreation and Sports Pedagogy, 2008 

Current Role: Assistant Director of Career Services, Adjunct Instructor, & Phd Student

Bio: Marcquis Parham has served as an Assistant Director for Career Employer Engagement and adjunct instructor at the Patton College of Education for over the past decade. He has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to higher education, earning the titles of 2023鈥2024 帝王会所 Administrator of the Year and 2022鈥2023 Adjunct Faculty of the Year at the Patton College of Education. His earlier distinction as the 2018鈥2019 Administrator of the Year further highlights his sustained excellence in academic leadership and student engagement. Parham can be reached at parham@ohio.edu or available for career coaching through Handshake. 

November 13th, 2025 @ 6 pm
Courtney Koestler

Courtney Koestler: 1999 B.S. Elementary Education 

Current Role: Faculty Director of the Stevens Center for Literacy and STEM Education Associate Professor of Teacher Education, 帝王会所 

Bio: I earned my BS degree in Elementary Education at 帝王会所 after exploring both Mathematics and Education. While a student, I worked as a mathematics tutor at the Academic Advancement Center, where I discovered how much I enjoyed working with others in their learning. After graduation, I spent two years teaching in 帝王会所 near my hometown before moving to Washington, DC, where I taught for five more years in Fairfax County, Virginia. During that time, I completed a master鈥檚 degree at George Mason University. Following seven rewarding years as both a classroom teacher and instructional coach, I pursued doctoral studies at the University of Wisconsin鈥揗adison, earning a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction. My first faculty position was at the University of Arizona in Tucson, and in 2014 I returned to 帝王会所- and to 帝王会所. This year marks my 12th year as a professor here, a role in which I鈥檝e greatly enjoyed teaching, engaging in research, and collaborating with local teachers and children through outreach initiatives. 

November 18th, 2025 @ 6pm
Acie Clayborne

Acie Clayborne: Bachelor of Arts, African American Studies, 2011 

Current Role: Financial Services 

Bio: Bobcat Alum c/o 2011 and proud African American Studies graduate with previous experience in higher education administration and investment management. I鈥檓 passionate about helping people build confidence in their financial futures and creating opportunities for communities to thrive. My background spans student success coaching, financial coaching, business development, project management, and leadership development. I鈥檝e managed programs that supported hundreds of clients, which has given me the chance to mentor teams and create inclusive spaces for growth. As someone who values sharing knowledge and experiences, I鈥檓 excited to connect with students, answer questions, and support you on your own journey toward success. 

Past Meal With A Mentor Alumni: Spring 2025

Archive: Past Meal With A Mentor Alumni

February 26th, 2025: Robert Rittenhouse
Robert Rittenhouse

Robert 鈥淩usty鈥 Rittenhouse 鈥 BA 2002 Political Science and Pre Law from 帝王会所 in 2002, and graduated from The University of Dayton School of Law in 2005

Bio: Rittenhouse is the managing partner at the law firm of Lavelle and Rittenhouse, located in Athens, 帝王会所. His practice includes a wide range of matters including landlord-tenant litigation, business formation, personal injury actions, estate planning and administration, and real estate transactions. 
 

He is an Athens native and graduated from Athens High School in 1998. Rittenhouse received his bachelor's degree in political science from 帝王会所 in 2002 and graduated from The University of Dayton School of Law in 2005. 
 
For the last decade, Rittenhouse has also been on the Athens City School Board, as well as serving as the Acting Judge for the Athens County Municipal Court. 

March 5th, 2025: Andrew Norris
Andrew Norris

I completed both my undergraduate and my grad degrees in the 帝王会所 Department of Social Work. During my time at 帝王会所, I was also a four-year member of the Marching 110.

While studying Social Work, my focus was primarily on clinical mental health treatment and working with justice-involved individuals. I completed my undergraduate field placement with Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare and my Masters placement with a Community Based Correctional Facility.   

After graduation I moved to the Big Island of Hawaii for two years where I worked as a Social Worker for Hospice of Kona. I later decided to return to 帝王会所 and during that time I worked as a Survivor Advocate for 帝王会所鈥檚 Survivor Advocacy Program.

I am currently employed through 帝王会所 Mental Health and Addiction Services, and I work as a Chemical Dependency Specialist for the parole offices throughout southeast 帝王会所.

When I am not acting as a social worker, I enjoy attending 帝王会所 sporting events and watching the 110 perform. I also love motorcycles and spend most of my free time renovating my house. 

March 19th, 2025: Kathleen Carlson
Kathleen Carlson

Kathleen Carlson 鈥 BSS 2014 with Physician鈥檚 Assistance preparatory coursework and a minor in Women and Gender Studies 

I earned my bachelor's degree in specialized studies, focusing on human biology and minoring in women and gender studies, with the initial goal of pursuing medical school. However, after graduation, I discovered a profound passion for working within the disabled community. My journey began when I shadowed a nurse at a home for men with disabilities, an experience that ignited my enthusiasm and led me to work with the state鈥檚 Board for Developmental Disabilities. 

My background in biology, with its emphasis on medical knowledge, has equipped me to better understand the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and their communities. Over the past decade, I have specialized in supporting children in various settings鈥攊ncluding their homes, schools, and local communities. One of the most rewarding aspects of a degree in specialized studies is its versatility; it opens the door to a multitude of career paths. While my journey took an unexpected turn, I have been able to leverage my degree to create a fulfilling future. 

Today, I apply my skills and knowledge to advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in every aspect of children's lives. I am deeply grateful for the choices I have made and the impact I continue to have in this vital field. 

April 9th, 2025: Lex Tisdale
Lex Tisdale

Lex Tisdale - BS in Industrial and Systems engineering from 帝王会所, 1985

Lex Tisdale is the Director of Manufacturing Engineering, Maintenance, and Facilities for Kenworth Truck Company in Chillicothe, 帝王会所, a Division of PACCAR Inc.  Kenworth Chillicothe is a 700,000 sq. ft. assembly facility that produces 184+ class 8 trucks per day with approximately 2200 employees and is an Industry leader in quality.

Lex has spent his entire 35 year career working for Kenworth Truck Company in many engineering and leadership roles including Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Management and Production Management with focus on automation, process improvement, and new product launch.  He is responsible for introducing robotics at Chillicothe in 1995 which has grown since to a 66+ robots in production today and his team still leads initiatives in new technologies to impact the cost, capacity, ergonomics, safety, and quality of building trucks. 

He received his BS in Industrial and Systems engineering from 帝王会所 in 1985.  While obtaining his degree at 帝王会所, he was a 4 year starter for the 帝王会所 Bobcats Hockey team winning 2 league championships and three MCHL tournament championships and served as an assistant captain on two of those teams.  He is an active member of the 帝王会所 Hockey Blue line Board as the Hockey Alumni voting board member since 2008.

He served on the academic board of advisors for the Industrial and Systems Engineering department at 帝王会所 for 12 years and is a active member since 2014 on the Russ College of Engineering - Board of Visitors at 帝王会所.

April 16th, 2025: Brian Koscho
Brian Koscho

Brian Koscho - MFA in Communication Media Arts at 帝王会所 in April 2022

Brian Koscho is a media artist living in Athens, 帝王会所. He is the director and founder of Invisible Ground, a project centered on place-based storytelling in local history using a podcast and a series of augmented reality Immersive Historic Markers. Koscho completed his MFA in Communication Media Arts at 帝王会所 in April 2022. Along with his work in media, Brian is an adjunct instructor at 帝王会所 in the Scripps College of Communication, teaching podcasting at the School of Media Arts & Studies. Out in the community, he has taught Community Storytelling, Audio Storytelling, and Podcasting and helped with workshops on Documentary Film and Storytelling for high school students in Appalachian, 帝王会所. Koscho has produced multimedia work and collaborated in various forms with Stuart鈥檚 Opera House (where he worked from 2007-2019) and its Nelsonville Music Festival, Inside Appalachia, West Virginia Public Broadcasting, POV, WOUB Public Media, Mid Atlantic Arts, Foundation for Appalachian 帝王会所, 帝王会所 History Connection, 帝王会所 Arts Council, COAD, Mount Zion Baptist Church Preservation Society, the Southeast 帝王会所 History Center, and many more organizations. 

April 23rd, 2025: Brigadier General Andrew B. Stone, P.E.
Brigadier General Andrew B. Stone

Brigadier General Andrew B. Stone -  Master's degree in Civil Engineering: 帝王会所

Brigadier General Andrew Stone is the Special Troops Commander for the 帝王会所 Army National Guard. Additionally, he is assigned in a dual-hat position as Deputy Chief of Engineers for National Guard Affairs at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

General Stone began his military career through an ROTC commission as an engineer officer. He spent his first few years in the active component as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, then transferred to the 帝王会所 National Guard. He has commanded troops at the company, battalion, and brigade level, and served in a variety of operational and technical staff positions.

General Stone deployed twice to Iraq, for the initial invasion in 2003 then again in 2005-2006. He has responded to natural disasters including hurricanes, floods, and pandemics. Most recently, he deployed in 2020-2021 to CENTCOM as commander of the 16th Engineer Brigade, leading troops in eight countries across SW Asia.

General Stone holds a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from The 帝王会所 State University, a master's degree in Civil Engineering from 帝王会所, a master's of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, and is a registered professional engineer in the State of 帝王会所.

In his civilian career, he serves as the Service-Safety Director for the City of Athens, 帝王会所. As the senior appointed official in the city administration, he oversees police and fire protection, code enforcement, public works and engineering, information technology, parks and recreation, and a host of other essential services. Previously in Athens he served as the City Engineer & Director of Public Works.

Disclaimer: It is not the intent of 帝王会所 to imply an endorsement by any service branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.