UToledo Alumni Association Honors 2025 Distinguished Alumni

After his service, Graven attended The University of Toledo earning his Bachelor of Arts in History in 2009 and M.B.A in 2012. He became a founding member of The University of Toledo Campus Military Veterans Organization and was elected president of the organization from Fall 2006-Spring 2008. In 2009, the organization became the UToledo Student Veterans of America (SVA) chapter, one of the earliest chapters of the organization which now has almost 1,600 chapters nationwide.

After graduation, he accepted a position with The American Legion Department of Ohio. He won multiple awards from the National American Legion Press Association and co-founded the University of Akron American Legion Post 808, the first entirely student veteran led Post deemed an “evolution for The American Legion” in the national American Legion Magazine. Graven has continued his professional career improving military and veteran programs across the region, also working for Bowling Green State University and Owens Community College. Graven has been recognized for his incredible work, being inducted into the Anthony Wayne High School Alumni Association Hall of Fame and the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.

In 2016, Graven founded the nonprofit Task Force 20 providing Veterans with healthier options to deal with symptoms of PTSD and depression. Task Force 20 has assisted more than 300 Veterans with paid gym memberships, personal training, camaraderie building events and intramural sports, and works collaboratively with five different VA Hospital systems across Ohio and Michigan.

Graven attributes his passion for serving his fellow brothers and sisters-in-arms to his time with The University of Toledo Campus Military Veterans Organization during his undergraduate education. Graven was selected as the Chapter Advisor of the Year in 2021 by the SVA organization bringing his experience full circle.

Bradley received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a major in Accounting and a minor in Management from The University of Toledo. He is a graduate of Leadership Toledo, volunteers through the Rotary Club of Toledo and is a board member and immediate past chair of the Northwest Chapter of Prevent Blindness Ohio. He is the current treasurer of The University of Toledo Alumni Association and serves on the boards of UToledo Blue Crew Alumni Association, Regional Growth Partnership’s International Committee, Government Affairs Committee of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, and is a former board member of BeInstrumental.

When Bradley is not giving his time and energy to improving our community, he is leveraging more than 14 years of banking experience to support local organizations and community members with their unique needs and goals.

Bradley and his wife, Allison, have spent more than 20 years as involved members of the community and currently reside in Sylvania, OH where they are raising their two children, Henry and Aurora.

Baranwal earned her Ph.D. from The University of Toledo and currently serves as the Assistant Director of the Water and Pollution Control Department for the City of Ames, Iowa, where she leads critical efforts in sustainable water management and public service delivery.

Earlier in her career, she held research and technical positions in both the United States and India, laying the groundwork for her future as a changemaker in water quality, hydrology and environmental policy. Deeply committed to giving back, Dr. Baranwal mentors students from low-income and rural backgrounds, and delivers STEM talks and workshops for organizations empowering girls and underrepresented youth to pursue science and engineering careers. She also contributes to global research discourse as an editor for Springer Nature.

Dr. Baranwal’s work has earned national and international recognition. In 2025, she received the prestigious Water and Wastewater Equipment, Treatment and Transport Show Young Professional Award for her contributions to the water industry. She was also awarded the Google Career Certificate Scholarship, the American Water Works Association (AWWA) American Water Scholarship and the Ohio Section AWWA Award.

Gessner holds a Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering (Environmental) from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI, a Bachelor of Arts degree from The University of Toledo, as well as the Certified Safety Professional and Certified Hazardous Materials Manager credentials.

Supporting non-profit organizations from a philanthropic perspective is a passion of Gessner. She currently serves as the past chairman and board member of Women in Manufacturing (Cleveland, OH), vice chair and executive board member of the UToledo Alumni Association, board member of Toledo Public Schools Foundation, and Environmental, Safety and Occupational Health Advisory and Executive Board for the University of Findlay.

In her spare time, Gessner enjoys boating, hiking, horseback riding, photography, singing, traveling, attending college football games and seeing Broadway musicals.

Kinsey currently serves as the chief financial officer of Otto Aerospace, Inc., focused on revolutionizing aviation with the most aerodynamically efficient laminar flow design to dramatically reduce drag, slash fuel consumption and cut carbon emissions by up to 90%, thereby setting a new standard for sustainable flight. By achieving business jet performance with a fraction of the energy, Otto’s aircraft protects our planet without compromising performance, leading the industry’s progress toward net-zero aviation.

Known for tackling complex issues, Kinsey most recently served as chief financial strategy officer and senior advisor at the U.S. State Department, helping shape Executive Order 13959. He also led SEC regulatory initiatives addressing foreign stock market inequities. 

Kinsey founded The Kinsey Family Foundation and established a scholarship for students without father figures. He has been honored as a University of Toledo Pacemaker of the Year, and also in the University’s Neff College of Business and Innovation Hall of Fame.

Ainsworth was president and chief executive officer of Oiltanking Partners, senior vice president of refining at Sunoco, general manager of Shell’s Norco Refinery in Norco, Louisiana, director of process safety and business improvement at Shell Oil Products U.S., as well as vice president of technical assurance at Shell Deer Park Refining Co.

A Glass City native, she graduated cum laude from The University of Toledo with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering.  She received her Masters of Business Administration in Management from Rice University in Houston, where she also served as an adjunct professor for more than nine years.  She is also a graduate of the Institute of Corporate Directors at the University of Calgary’s Rotman School of Management. 

She currently resides in The Woodlands, Texas with her husband, Christopher Spiller.  She has four children and four grandchildren.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The University of Toledo, Dr. Scarbrough earned his medical degree from Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his dermatology residency at OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital. He went on to complete fellowship training in Mohs surgery and cutaneous oncology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

An accomplished clinician, researcher and educator, Dr. Scarbrough has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and holds a patent for transdermal drug delivery. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, the American College of Mohs Surgery, and the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.

A decorated military veteran, Dr. Scarbrough served as a Major and Flight Surgeon in the Ohio Army National Guard, including combat deployment to Iraq. He has also held leadership roles as Deputy Coroner of Hancock County and as chief executive officer of Scarbrough Pharmaceutical Innovations.

Schneider is the author of “Handbook for an Integrated Life: a Practical Guide to Aligning Your Everyday Choices with Your Internal Compass,” a #1 New Release on Amazon that helps individuals live their values the same way her consulting company helps organizations. She also created and hosted the limited podcast series “Socially Responsible Business”. 

Schneider co-founded the Executive Director Institute, a four-month bootcamp for philanthropy executives, providing targeted technical and experiential education to empower staff and create high impact nonprofits and social enterprises. She previously served as the executive director of the Telluray Foundation and was the founding Director of the Walton Personal Philanthropy Group.

Schneider was the co-founder and chief executive officer of Moxie Jean, a for-profit social enterprise which earned her a spot on the “Top 100 Innovator” list by the Chicago Tribune and a Chicago Innovation Award.  

Since moving to Denver in 2016, Sharon has been named a Colorado Governor’s Fellow, a member of Teach for America’s Champion’s Circle, and a “Who’s Who in Impact Investing.” She continues to serve on nonprofit and foundation boards and investment committees and is a member of the 2024 Aspen Institute Finance Leaders Fellowship and the Aspen Global Leadership Network. 

Elected to the state legislature in 1986, Judge Singer was a one-term state representative and a member of the Civil and Commercial Law, Education, and Judiciary and Criminal Justice House committees.
She held multiple titles following her service with the Ohio legislature.

Before her passing in summer 2025, Judge Singer was a mentor for many law students in the community. She worked with the Ohio Supreme Court Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring Program, Ohio Judicial College Mentor Training, the UToledo College of Law and the Toledo Women’s Bar Association.

She is a founding member of the Toledo Women Lawyers History Project at UToledo, which includes recognizing the history of women lawyers in the Toledo area; hosting a speaker series with past, present, and future women lawyers; and developing community outreach for women in law.

He received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Moravian University in 1972 and went on to earn his Ph.D. in Medical Sciences/Radiology and his M.D. from The University of Toledo (formerly Medical College of Ohio), where he also completed his residency in Urology. Dr. Clarke is certified by the American Board of Urology and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Clarke joined Emory University where he was responsible for Urologic residency training and served as the Principal Investigator on the multi-center National Institutes of Health Medical Therapy of Prostatic Symptoms, MTOPS trial. In 2002, Clarke joined the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) as a Professor of Urology and Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education where he was responsible for 1200 residents and fellows. In 2025, Dr. Clarke retired from academic practice at MUSC specializing in Urologic Oncology and Reconstructive Surgery and was named Distinguished University Professor of Urology and Radiation Medicine.

Clarke is grateful for his many loving and supportive sisters and brothers. He has been married to Jennifer Swain Clarke for over 50 years and has two sons, Harry, III (married to Marnie Higlett) and Joe (married to Katie Clarke). He is adoring grandfather to six grandchildren.

Dr. Richard has since led a professional career as an associate pathologist that has spanned over three decades in states including Indiana, Texas and Ohio. Currently, he serves as chairman for the department of pathology at ProMedica and as the chief medical officer for Consiltants in Labratory Medicine of Greater Toledo.
He is a Fellow of the College of American Pathologists, a member of The Academy of Medicine of Toledo and Lucas County, and member of the Ohio State Medical Association. Lastly, he is board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology by the American Board of Pathology.
Dr. Richard has had the results of his research efforts published as abstracts and articles in peer-reviewed medical journals.
Perhaps most importantly, Dr. Richard and his family are UToledo sports fans, especially of Lady Rockets basketball, and proudly support the advancement of science at The University of Toledo.

Dr. Li was trained in clinical medicine in Beijing, China, received her master’s degree in pharmacology at The University of Toledo, and completed her residency, fellowship and attending rotations at institutions on the Atlantic coast.

Li joined biopharmaceutical company Bristol Myers Squibb in 2014 before joining Seagen/Pfizer in 2019. During her time in biopharmaceutical industry, she successfully led many phase 1 to 3 clinical trials resulting in marketing approvals of several oncology medicines including immunome check point inhibitors nivolumab and ipilimumab, antibody drug conjugates Brentuximab vedotin and Enfortumab vedotin.

Dr. Li is currently conducting clinical research for the treatment of various cancers to address the unmet medical needs of patients and is passionate about finding better medicines that can meaningfully improve the quantity and quality of life for those faced with cancer.

Dr. Liu earned a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, his masters from The University of Toledo, and an M.D. from Beijing Medical University (Peking University School of Medicine).

Since 2022, Dr. Liu has served as the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at Nuvation Bio. Dr. Liu and his team developed taletrectinib which received FDA approval for the treatment of ROS1+ lung cancer in June 2025. From 2019 to 2022, Dr. Liu served as the CMO at 3D Medicines, a biotechnology company based in Shanghai, China. There, Dr. Liu and his team developed the world’s first subcutaneously administered PD-L1 antibody envafolimab that was approved in China.

Within both companies, Dr. Liu built and led clinical research and development, including global clinical research, global clinical operations, pharmacovigilance, biostatistics, programming and data management, clinical pharmacology, translational medicine and medical affairs. Leveraging his leadership and experience Dr. Liu spent his early career contributing to the development of new medicines for cancer treatment.

After moving to Toledo in 2000 and not finding any local Spanish-language radio programming, Parra was motivated to create one. By 2006, she had started the first radio program entirely in Spanish in the Toledo area.

In 2008, she founded Nuestra Gente Community Projects, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides health screenings and other services to Toledo’s Hispanic community. Using her nonprofit as a launchpad, Parra secured a low-power FM license from the FCC in 2014, WVZC 96.5 FM.

In 2016, Parra earned her bachelor’s degree from The University of Toledo and one year later launched the first, 24-hour Spanish-language radio station in northwest Ohio. The station broadcasts music, local and international news, and talk shows 24/7.

With more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit work, Parra focuses on delivering educational support, food security, and essential furnishings to provide a safety net and create stable, supportive home environments, as well as interpretation, translation and transportation. Parra’s work has provided critical resources to hundreds of families.

Smith spent over a decade with Walgreens, where she managed operations and launched a home delivery service in partnership with local assisted living facilities. Her early work emphasized patient-centered care and outreach, including immunization clinics and provider collaboration.

In 2012, Smith transitioned to The University of Toledo Medical Center (UTMC) as outpatient pharmacy manager, where she expanded services significantly. Her achievements include launching iMEDS transition of care services for hospital patients, integrating robotic technology into outpatient pharmacy workflow, and developing a pharmacy patient assistance foundation that ensures medication access for qualifying patients.

Earning her Executive M.B.A from UToledo in 2017, Smith completed international business studies in Estonia, Finland, and Russia. In 2018, she became director of ambulatory pharmacy services, overseeing four outpatient pharmacies and leading ambulatory care initiatives, 340B compliance, and the UToledo employee prescription benefit. Under her leadership, outpatient pharmacy operations soared to record highs in prescription volume, sales and patient impact.