Ohio University Alumni Association
2008 Alumni Awardees
Jeremy N. Foley, MED ’76
Medal of Merit
Mr. Foley is director of athletics for the University of Florida. He began his career in Gainesville in 1976 with an internship in the Gators Ticket Office and was promoted to numerous other positions in athletics before becoming director in 1992. He is the only director of athletics in NCAA Division I history to have supervised a program that won national titles in football and men's basketball. Ohio University's Sports Administration and Facility Management Program honored him with its Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1995.
Jeanne M. (BSHS ’82, MAHS ’84) and
Sedat (BSEE ’82, MA ’84) Gokcen
Medal of Merit
Dr. Gokcen is president of FutureCom Technologies. She became a licensed speech pathologist in 1985 and worked for Children's Hospital and, later, for Ohio University in the College of Health and Human Services. She earned a doctoral degree in speech science from The Ohio State University in 1988.
Mr. Gokcen is chief technology officer of FutureCom Technologies, a developer of speech and signal-processing software. He was formerly a computer engineer with AT&T and held similar positions for Lucent Technologies and Bell Laboratories.
Download the Gokcens' acceptance speech.
Joseph K. Jachinowski, BSEE ’79
Medal of Merit
Mr. Jachinowski is executive vice president for product development for IMPAC Medical Systems, the world's leading supplier of clinical and administrative data-management systems for cancer-care providers, which he co-founded in 1990. He earlier founded SEL, a manufacturer of digital-signal processors for electric power systems, with former Ohio University professor Dr. Edmund Schweitzer.
Larry M. Starr, BSED ’68, MED ’71
Medal of Merit
Mr. Starr was named assistant athletic director for sports medicine at Nova Southeastern University after 30 years as head athletic trainer for major league baseball's Cincinnati Reds and Florida Marlins. During his tenure, his teams won three World Series titles. A noted lecturer in sports medicine and athletic training, he has been honored with numerous awards by his peers, including induction into both the Ohio and Florida Athletic Trainers Halls of Fame. He began his career in 1968, as an assistant athletic trainer and instructor at Ohio University. Download Mr. Starr's acceptance speech.
Leon M. Harris, BSC ’83, HON ’99
Distinguished Service Award
Mr. Harris is an award-winning broadcast journalist who anchors the 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts and co-hosts Capital Sunday for WJLA-7 TV in Washington, D.C. He joined WJLA after 20 years at CNN, where he co-anchored CNN Live Today and Prime News and hosted CNN Presents and American Stories. He has also served on the Ohio University Foundation Board of Trustees. Download Mr. Harris' acceptance speech.
Datuk Shaik Sulaiman Ismail, AA ’69, BSED ’70
Distinguished Service Award
Mr. Ismail is the former executive director of World Communications Network Resources, an integrated public-relations and advertising agency working with multinational corporations and government clients. He is also past president of the Association of Malay Children's Services on Penang Island in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. Currently he serves as president of the Ohio University Penang Malaysian Association. Download Mr. Ismail's acceptance speech.
Jeffrey A. Miller, BSCE ’73
Distinguished Service Award
Mr. Miller is president of J. Miller Management. Previously he held a variety of senior-executive positions for Aqua Chem, Donnelly Corporation, Aeroquip Corporation, and General Electric. Currently he is a member of the Russ College Civil Engineering Advisory Board, the Russ College Board of Visitors and the Russ College Advancement Committee. Download Mr. Miller's award acceptance speech.
R. Budd Werner, BSCOM ’53
Distinguished Service Award
Mr. Werner is the former senior vice president for planning and development for Sealed Power Company, a world leader in the production and distribution of parts, components, engineered tools and instruments for the automotive service industry. He is a former executive-in-residence for the College of Business and a past recipient of the Medal of Merit. Download Mr. Werner's acceptance speech.
Matthew A. Rhodes, BSC ’94
Recent Graduate Award
Mr. Rhodes is a partner and producer for Persistent Pictures, Inc., which has produced several high-profile independent films. He has worked as an assistant to producers at Paramount Pictures and Warner Brothers and for an agent who represents "A-List" film crew members. He is active with the Greater Los Angeles Alumni Chapter. Download Mr. Rhodes' acceptance speech.
Barbara Schoonover
Honorary Alumna of the Year
Mrs. Schoonover is a registered nurse and president of Fitness World in Shreveport, Louisiana. In addition to speaking to Ohio University students about career exploration, she served recently as a panelist for the "Women Leaders in Communication" workshop at the Scripps College of Communication. The Schoonover Foundation also sponsors the Steven and Barbara Schoonover Professorship in Health Communication.
The Kermit Blosser Ohio Athletics HALL OF FAME
Jacqueline J. Conrad Visscher
(BSHC, 2001)
College of Health
& Human Services
Major: Dietetics
Download Ms. Visscher's acceptance speech.
Gene A. “Geno” Ford Jr.
(BSC 1997, MSPE 1999)
College of Communication
Major: Organizational
Communication
Health & Human Services
Major: Athletics Administration
Download Mr. Ford's acceptance speech.
Jennifer L. Morris
(BSSE 1999, MSA 2001)
Health & Human Services Major: Sport Management
Health & Human Services
Major: Sports Administration