51±¬ÁÏÍø

Dr. Nick Abu-Absi is an executive in the biopharmaceutical industry with over 25 years of biologics process development experience for both clinical and commercial programs. During that time, he has worked for Chiron Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb and AbbVie. He has developed microbial and cell culture processes for the manufacture of plasmid DNA vaccine candidates, recombinant proteins, fusion proteins, and monoclonal and multi-specific antibodies. From this work, dozens of molecules have entered clinical trials for a variety of indications spanning immunology, oncology, neuroscience and virology disease areas. He has made significant contributions to ensuring robust supply of on market products including Skyrizi, Emrelis, Orencia, Nulojix, Opdualag, and more. He currently is leading a global team of scientists and engineers responsible for the development, tech transfer, scale up, and support of cell culture manufacturing processes at AbbVie where he has been for the last 10 years.

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He is an author on over 15 peer-reviewed publications on topics including understanding and control of glycosylation profiles of therapeutic proteins, application of Raman spectroscopy as a cell culture process analytical technology (PAT) tool, flow cytometric evaluation of cell cultures, and multi-omics profiling of cell cultures. He is a recognized expert in the field and is on the organizing committee for the Cell Culture Engineering XX conference. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toledo.

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Dr. Susan Abu-Absi is a seasoned biopharmaceutical executive with more than 20 years of leadership experience spanning technical development, manufacturing, quality, and global operations. Most recently, she serves as Chief Operating Officer at Aura Biosciences where she leads operational strategy and execution. Prior to that, she was at Be Biopharma, where she also served in the Chief Operating Officer role. She was Chief Technology Officer at 2seventy bio, leading technical development, supply, and quality, and supporting the commercialization of Abecma as well as the advancement of multiple cell therapy programs. Previously, Susan held senior leadership roles at bluebird bio, where she played an integral role in the approvals of Zynteglo and Skysona, and at Bristol Myers Squibb and Bayer Healthcare. She holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toledo.

Dr. Donald B. Anthony has 45 years of executive and technology management experience from energy, chemical, engineering, construction and manufacturing industries. He has worked for large multi-national corporations, including Standard Oil, BP, Bechtel, Bailey Controls, and ABB; small entrepreneurial companies, including NineSigma and GreatPoint Energy; and a nonprofit, the Council for Chemical Research. His roles have included President, CEO, COO, CTO, and Vice President, and his career has taken him to seven different states and Singapore.

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The unifying theme of his career was a strong focus on technological and commercial innovation. His work included a novel carbon-based material, an oil tanker optimization program, a novel automotive fuel, horizontal drilling for gas and oil, gas gathering centers, low-cost liquefied natural gas and delayed coking technologies, the engineering, procurement, and construction standard plant concept, proprietary open innovation tools, an econometric model confirming the value of fundamental chemical research, and a third-generation catalytic coal gasification process. Dr. Anthony received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from The University of Toledo and his S.M. and Sc.D. from MIT. He currently lives in North Venice, Florida, enjoying golf, travel, and photography.

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Tim Cassidy received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from The University of Toledo in 1989. Rather than follow a conventional engineering path, he stayed at Toledo for law school and earned his J.D., cum laude, in 1992. He remains grateful to the Chemical Engineering Department for a technical education that still shapes how he approaches difficult problems, and he is honored to be included in the Alumni and Friends Academy.

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After law school, he joined Dority & Manning, then a seven-attorney intellectual property firm in South Carolina. For over thirty years, he helped shape and build the firm, which now has more than 70 attorneys in three offices. Although beginning his career in patent litigation, his work over the past two decades has centered on patent portfolio strategy, client counseling, and intellectual property due diligence for clients in polymer chemistry and compounding, paper technology, pharmaceuticals and biologics, textiles, and semiconductor processing, including representation of a Fortune 500 chemical company in its $11 billion acquisition of a polymer business that included a significant nylon portfolio. Patents he drafted and prosecuted later became the subject of five separate patent infringement suits for different multinational clients. Each case ended favorably for the client, leading to multi-million-dollar settlements and royalty streams.

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Away from work, he spends as much time as he can on Lake Keowee with his family. He is especially proud of his three daughters.

L. Robert (Bob) Deardurff began his engineering career during his senior year at 51±¬ÁÏÍø, joining Owens-Illinois at the recommendation of Professor Millard Jones. That opportunity launched nearly a decade at O-I focused on polyethylene terephthalate package and process development.

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Bob then transitioned to Plastic Technologies, Inc., where he spent 35 years working with an exceptional team to advance PET technology and pioneer PET recycling innovations. After a long tenure as Executive Vice President at PTI, he served 14 years as CEO of PTI subsidiary Phoenix Technologies International, LLC, which manufactures recycled PET pellets from post-consumer plastic flakes. Bob retired in 2019, leaving a legacy of innovation and sustainability in the plastics industry.

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Dr. Ron Fournier received his B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering with honors from The University of Toledo in 1976 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army through the ROTC program. He worked for two years as a process engineer at SWS Silicones. He then returned to The University of Toledo and received an M.S. and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering.

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After that, Dr. Fournier served as a Captain in the U.S. Army at Edgewood Arsenal in Maryland, working in research and development on chemical weapons demilitarization. After the Army, he returned to The University of Toledo to serve as a professor in Chemical Engineering. During his career at the University, he was also the founding chair of the Department of Bioengineering and served as Dean of the College of Engineering.

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His research interests focused on biotransport, with applications geared toward bioartificial organs and bioprocessing. He has numerous research publications, several million dollars in research grants, six patents, and a textbook, Basic Transport Phenomena in Biomedical Engineering, now in its fourth edition.

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He also enjoys playing the oboe, painting, fly fishing, amateur radio, and he wrote two novels, Once Upon a Year and The Sun Never Sets.

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Tony G. Howell has built an impactful career spanning research, sustainability, and operational leadership. His published graduate work included a highly cited theoretical boundary layer study and an experimental plume impingement project at NASA Glenn Research Center. After earning his graduate degree, Tony began his career in R&D at Owens-Illinois, starting with numerical modeling and later driving ISO-9001 certification for Global Glass Technology and leading sustainability initiatives.

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He earned Lean Six Sigma Green and Black Belt certifications and developed a Life Cycle Assessment tool, validated by AMR Research, to compare carbon footprints of aluminum cans, PET bottles, and glass containers. He presented those findings globally. As O-I North America Continuous Improvement Manager, he led a $10 million project installing hot-end inspection systems across 15 facilities.

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Tony's leadership continued in production and operations roles at Fresenius, Ferro Corp, and Ultimate RB as Plant Manager, and most recently as VP of Manufacturing and VP of Operations at Formlabs Ohio, Spectra Photopolymers. At Spectra, he improved quality and efficiency, implemented advanced automation, and pivoted resin production during COVID to swab production to support critical healthcare needs. Through Spectra, Tony has also supported the 51±¬ÁÏÍø Chem-E-Car team for the past three years, donating engineered resins and 3D printing hardware to help students design and compete at the highest level.

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Dan Kimmel is Vice President of Supply, Trading, and Origination at Marathon Petroleum Company. He began his career with Marathon in 2000 as an engineer with Marathon Ashland Pipe Line Company in Findlay, Ohio. In 2007, he joined Marathon Petroleum’s Supply Distribution & Planning (SD&P) organization as a Refinery Feedstock Coordinator and advanced to Crude Oil Trader in 2010. He moved into leadership within SD&P in 2014, serving in several leadership roles.

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After Marathon Petroleum acquired Andeavor in 2018, creating the largest refining company in North America, Mr. Kimmel was appointed Vice President of Crude Supply and Trading. In 2021, he oversaw the relocation of the Crude Supply & Trading team from Findlay, Ohio, to Houston, Texas. He was promoted to his current role as Vice President of Supply, Trading, and Origination in 2025.

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Mr. Kimmel holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Findlay, an M.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toledo, and is a registered Professional Engineer in Ohio.

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Donald King, P.E., is a Chemical Engineering graduate from The University of Toledo and President of DHK Engineers, Inc. With over 40 years of experience and licensure in three engineering disciplines, Mr. King offers a unique interdisciplinary approach that consistently delivers practical, high-impact solutions to complex environmental challenges in the water, wastewater, chemical, and renewable energy sectors.

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Rooted in The University of Toledo figure-it-out mindset, Mr. King has tackled issues ranging from odor and noise mitigation to high-risk environmental hazards. One standout project was leading a joint technical, military, and State Department team to eliminate a toxic air hotspot near an overseas U.S. airbase, restoring safe air quality for families and earning a Department of Defense International Award.

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When not solving complex environmental challenges, Mr. King enjoys raising service dogs and backpacking.

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Dr. Steven E. LeBlanc earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from The University of Toledo in 1976 and an M.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1977. After three years at Toledo Edison, he rejoined 51±¬ÁÏÍø as an instructor in 1980 and taught full-time while completing his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1985. He has been a registered professional engineer in Ohio since 1982.

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His academic career at 51±¬ÁÏÍø spanned 38 years. He rose to Professor of Chemical Engineering and served 10 years as Department Chair. In 2003, Dr. LeBlanc became Director of Academic Affairs, followed by service as Associate Dean, Senior Associate Dean, Executive Associate Dean, and two stints as Interim Dean of Engineering. He was also named Interim Vice Provost for Student Success for the 2017-2018 academic year and served as chair of the Campus Beautification Committee for 17 years.

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Dr. LeBlanc co-authored two influential textbooks: Strategies for Creative Problem Solving, which received the 1996 Meriam-Wiley Distinguished Author Award from the American Society of Engineering Education, and Process Systems Analysis and Control, which has had a lasting impact on Chemical Engineering education. He also served as PI or co-PI on grants totaling more than $4 million and was recognized with the University of Toledo Outstanding Teacher Award in 1982 and the ASEE North Central Section Outstanding Teacher Award in 2001.

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He co-authored the 1992 AIChE National Design Contest Problem, advised the national championship team from 51±¬ÁÏÍø in 1999, and was elevated to AIChE Fellow in 2010. A dedicated leader in accreditation, Dr. LeBlanc served as an ABET program evaluator beginning in 1998, with 33 visits through 2025, and one term as an ABET commissioner and team chair from 2017 to 2022. He retired from 51±¬ÁÏÍø in 2018, leaving a lasting legacy in Chemical Engineering education and leadership.

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Dr. Jennifer Long is a laryngologist and Professor of Head and Neck Surgery at the University of California-Los Angeles. She also serves as the department’s Vice Chair of Research, an Affiliated Faculty of the Department of Bioengineering, the founding director of UCLA's R25 Mentored Research Pathway for Residents and Medical Students in Otolaryngology, and as a physician and principal investigator at the Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System. Previously, Dr. Long earned her M.D. and Ph.D. degrees at the University of Minnesota, studying Chemical Engineering as part of the Medical Scientist Training Program and as a Whitaker Foundation Fellow. She then completed residency in Head and Neck Surgery at UCLA, followed by UCLA’s fellowship in Laryngology and Voice Disorders. She was a first-generation college student at the University of Toledo.

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Dr. Long’s clinical interests include all facets of voice, airway, and swallowing disorders. Her translational research lab advances a tissue-engineering approach to vocal cord reconstruction after injury or laryngeal cancer. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Veterans Affairs, American Laryngological Association, American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF), and the Broad Stem Cell Research Center. She serves on executive committees for the Triological Society’s Neely Mentoring Network and the American Laryngological Association, and she is a 2026-27 fellow in Drexel University’s Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) program.

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Melissa Monich (B.S. ‘84) graduated with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toledo in 1984. She was recognized as a University of Toledo Distinguished Alumna.

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Melissa is a retired Senior Vice President of Research & Development at Procter & Gamble. She led global, end-to-end research and development teams with laboratories in Asia, Europe, and the United States. These roles included responsibility for $100–300-million-dollar yearly budgets and teams of 400–700 global employees. Her skills include innovation strategy, leading multifunctional teams, technical talent development, platform development, and productivity improvement/cost savings. She was recognized for her leadership in the advancement and retention of women in research and development with a CTO Pathfinder Award.

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Melissa has served as the Mayor of Wyoming, Ohio since 2021. She enjoys working with city council and the city employees to improve the quality of life for all residents.

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Dr. Felecia M. Nave brings more than two decades of leadership experience in higher education. Dr. Nave serves as the President and CEO of the 1890 Universities Foundation, effective October 1, 2025. Prior to this appointment, she served as Division Director for the Division of Equity for Excellence in STEM within the Directorate for STEM Education at the National Science Foundation, where she guided a $212 million national investment to broaden participation and drive innovation in STEM.

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She has also served as President of Alcorn State University, Provost and Vice Chancellor at North Carolina Central University, and held senior administrative roles at Prairie View A&M University. A chemist and chemical engineer by training, she is recognized for expanding student access and building partnerships that strengthen Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

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L.D. Pierce has built a distinguished 34-year career across diverse industries, including oil refining, chemical production, environmental engineering consulting, tire and rubber, and consumer goods manufacturing. In 2014, he earned an M.S. in Environmental Engineering, followed by an Executive MBA in 2015, both from the University of Maryland.

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Early in his career, Mr. Pierce focused on environmental compliance with major corporations such as BP Oil and ExxonMobil. Over the past decade, his work has centered on sustainability. At The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, he developed a Zero Waste to Landfill model that transformed waste disposal into a revenue stream and diverted millions of tons of waste from landfills.

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Today, L.D. serves as Head of Environmental and Sustainability for Henkel of America, overseeing supply chain manufacturing and distribution across North and South America. His initiatives in circular economy recycling, energy and water efficiency, and factory decarbonization have delivered measurable results, eliminating over 150,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions and saving more than 230 million gallons of drinking water in the past five years.

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Beyond his industry leadership, L.D. actively supports the College of Engineering through committee service, the Dean's Advisory Council, and guest lectures for student organizations such as AIChE and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He was honored as the 2018 Department of Chemical Engineering Outstanding Alumnus and continues to invest his time and expertise in shaping the next generation of engineers.

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Dr. Michael T. Ponting is currently the Chief Scientific Officer at Peak Nano and has over 20 years of experience leading government and commercial R&D programs focused on advanced materials technologies for optics, energy storage, packaging, and broader applications of micro- and nanolayered polymer systems.

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He has co-authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications and holds 14 patents related to the production and structure-property relationships of multilayered polymer films. Beyond his technical contributions, Dr. Ponting has a Northeast Ohio focused entrepreneurial history that includes translating co-invented technology from Case Western Reserve University to the commercial market with Peak Nano.

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A Cleveland native, he earned dual bachelor degrees in Chemical Engineering and Chemistry from The University of Toledo and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University.

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Sami Rahman is Chief Executive Officer of CleanFiber, a cellulose insulation manufacturer built around a proprietary technology. Under his leadership, CleanFiber operates a production facility in Buffalo, NY and is expanding the company’s reach into new markets.

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Sami brings more than 20 years of experience across Supply Chain, Product Management, Marketing, Sales & General Management in the building materials industry. His career reflects a steady progression through senior operating and commercial roles, including Senior Vice President of Product Management, Chief Commercial Officer, and Executive Vice President & General Manager, at organizations including James Hardie and ICP Group. Across each of these roles, he built and led teams spanning innovation, commercialization, and profit-and-loss management for major building products platforms.

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A common thread runs through Sami's career: a passion for innovation that delivers real value & sustainability for the built environment. That thread led him to CleanFiber, where he joined in early 2025 as President & General Manager and was promoted to Chief Executive Officer shortly thereafter. He now leads the company's growth as it scales carbon-negative cellulose insulation made from recycled cardboard, including its production facility in Buffalo, NY and a second facility under construction in Washington.

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He holds a B.S. and M.S. in Chemical Engineering from The University of Toledo and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

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Dr. Patricia A. Relue graduated with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from The University of Toledo in 1988 and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1993. She was hired as an Assistant Professor in Chemical Engineering at 51±¬ÁÏÍø, and in 1997 she transferred to the Department of Bioengineering as one of the founding faculty members.

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As a faculty member, she has served in a variety of departmental roles, including Undergraduate and Graduate Program Director for Bioengineering and Graduate Program Director for the College of Engineering online M.S. degree programs. Within the University, Dr. Relue is a long-time member of the Graduate Council and chaired the council in 2006 during the University of Toledo and Medical University of Ohio merger. She has also served multiple terms on the Faculty Senate, Research Council, and the University Assessment Committee.

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In 2017, Dr. Relue was appointed Associate Dean for Research, and in 2018 her role was expanded to include Graduate Studies. In 2025, she was appointed Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the College, where she oversees recruiting, admissions, student retention, and student success initiatives for graduate and undergraduate students in the College of Engineering. At the undergraduate level, her efforts focus on curriculum modernization, pedagogical best practices, and implementation of AI as a learning tool.

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During her 32 years at 51±¬ÁÏÍø, Dr. Relue's research has included photodynamic therapy for cancer treatment, medical imaging for melanoma detection, tissue engineering of skin, and most recently conversion of biomass to fuels, chemicals, and polymer precursors. She has been an investigator on over $8.8 million in research grants. She has received University and College Outstanding Teaching awards and was inducted into the Tinora High School Academic Hall of Fame in 2024.

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Karl P. Ronn is the Founder and CEO of First Mile Care, a Silicon Valley-based preventive health company that provides affordable, scalable, and sustainable solutions for reversing conditions associated with obesity and diabetes. First Mile Care was spun out of Health2047, the Silicon Valley venture studio launched by the American Medical Association to drive healthcare innovation.

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Beyond First Mile Care, he advises Health2047 on venture investments, collaborates with entrepreneurs, and serves on multiple startup boards. He is also an active advisor to CEOs and top management at Fortune 500 companies, helping them build billion-dollar growth engines.

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Previously, Karl spent over 30 years at Procter & Gamble, where he served as Vice President of R&D and General Manager of New Business and Healthcare. In this role, he led global R&D for pharmaceuticals and OTC healthcare, spearheading the company's disruptive innovation capabilities. His team created iconic brands including Swiffer, Febreze, and Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, each growing to over $1 billion in annual sales through strategic insights into consumer behavior.

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He is also the author of The Reciprocity Advantage, a book on transforming disruption into growth through partnerships. Elizabeth Ronn, a retired P&G marketing VP, and Karl live in Palo Alto, California.

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Dr. Yu Shi earned her doctorate from The University of Toledo Polymer Institute and has since built a distinguished career in global research, innovation, and operational leadership. She began her industry career as a Polymer Scientist at The Coca-Cola Company, where she spent seven years advancing packaging and material technologies.

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After spending eight years and various leadership roles in Colgate-Palmolive, she returned to The Coca-Cola Company and held several leadership roles in research, leading global strategies for ingredient and flavor innovation, life sciences, food safety, and external technology acquisition. Her work included forging strategic partnerships with academia, research institutes, suppliers and startups to drive competitive advantage and long-term leadership.

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Recently, Dr. Shi served as Vice President of Technical, Innovation and Supply Chain for Japan and Korea Operating Units at The Coca-Cola Company, overseeing end-to-end innovation execution, supply chain strategy, scientific and regulatory affairs, quality, safety, and environmental sustainability.

Scott Steele is an innovation leader with over 45 years of experience solving plastic packaging problems and developing new products. He was a member of the team that launched the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) beverage container at Owens-Illinois directly out of his graduation for the University of Toledo Chemical Engineering program.

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Later, he was an early employee of Plastic Technologies, Inc. (PTI), a local company specializing in the development of new technology. When Coca-Cola sought to launch the first shaped plastic beverage bottle that mimicked the shape of its trademark glass design, Scott led the team at PTI to create a workable design at an efficient weight. He also has extensive processing experience and led the development of online measurement of plastic material distribution in blow-molded PET containers. In 2012, he was appointed President of PTI, a position he held until his retirement from the company in 2017. He is a named inventor on 12 U.S. patents covering product design, process improvements, and process control technologies.

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Since retiring from PTI, Scott has maintained contact with the blow molding industry and has helped transfer his knowledge to the next generation through training and participation in the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE). He has served on volunteer boards for the SPE Blow Molding Division, his local schools foundation, the Perrysburg Litter Prevention Board, and the United Way affinity group Continue United. His honors include SPE Honored Service and a Distinguished Alumnus Award from his alma mater, the University of Toledo. He is an expert on sustainable packaging and has helped commercialize numerous products with bioderived materials and recycled materials.

Brigadier General Lance A. Talmage, M.D., is retired with an appointment as Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences. After earning a degree in Chemical Engineering from The University of Toledo and his M.D. from the University of Michigan, Dr. Talmage pursued parallel careers in medicine and the U.S. Army, ultimately achieving the rank of Brigadier General.

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His military service included assignments in Germany, multiple command positions of hospital units in the Reserve, and service as Brigade Commander in the Ohio National Guard. His highest awards include the Legion of Merit, the Order of Military Medical Merit, and induction into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame in 2001.

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In his medical career, Dr. Talmage served as President of the Toledo Hospital Medical Staff, the Lucas County Academy of Medicine, the Ohio State Medical Association, and District V of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. He served on the Medical Board of Ohio and went on to serve as Chair of the Board of the Federation of State Medical Boards. Dr. Talmage has received multiple awards for service from 51±¬ÁÏÍø, ACOG, Army National Guard, Ottawa Hills, the State of Ohio, and others.

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Today, Dr. Talmage remains active as President of the University of Toledo Retirees Association and Commander of Post 335 of the American Legion. He resides in Ottawa Hills.

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