Russ College Board of Visitors

Mark Arnold is a member of the Russ College of Engineering Board of Visitors.

Currently working as a manufacturing engineer for Lockheed Martin Aeronatics, Allie Bell regularly leads and executes root causes analyses with efficient corrective action plans. In her free time, she serves as a mentor to first year college interns at Lockheed Martin and coaches youth soccer at the YMCA.

Dr. Angie Bukley is Principal Engineer/Senior Scholar for the Center for Space Policy and Strategy, Defense Systems Group, at the Aerospace Corporation. She provides expertise in policy analysis for the civil and commercial space sector. She is also an instructor for Aerospace University. With nearly 40 years of professional experience, Dr. Bukley’s career has spanned a broad range of defense and space systems research, analysis, design, and technical management. She holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering, specializing in Control Theory, from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, having completed her MS (EE) and double-BS (EE & Biomedical Engr) degrees at Mississippi State University. She is also a graduate of the International Space University Space Studies Program, specializing in Space Business & Management. She served as Associate Dean then Dean of ISU from 2009-2014. Dr. Bukley was a civil servant at the NASA Marshall Spaceflight Center from 1990-1997. She worked with The Aerospace Corporation from 1998-2003 in Albuquerque, NM in the Airborne Laser Program Office. In late 2003 she joined Ohio University as the Stocker Visiting Professor. After spending over 10 years in academe, she re-joined The Aerospace Corporation in late 2014 as a member of the Civil Systems Group. Dr. Bukley has over 100 technical publications to her credit, including four books, and has received nearly 30 awards for teaching and technical merit. Dr. Bukley actively promotes STEM studies to K-12 students.

Debbie Burke is a 1985 chemical engineering graduate of Ohio University’s Russ College of Engineering and Technology. While a student, she was actively engaged in the Society of Women Engineers, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, New Student Orientation and Residence Life.

Debbie currently serves as one of three women on the Russ College’s 20-person Board of Visitors, where she previously served as chair. She was part of the Russ College Dean Selection Committee in 2019, which resulted in the hiring of the college’s first female dean.  Debbie served on the Ohio University Alumni Association Board of Directors from 2004 to 2009.

Debbie was the first female promoted to engineering manager for NiSource/Columbia Gas of Ohio and Columbia Gas of Kentucky, and she firmly believes that the greatest influence she has had in mentoring and encouraging other women has come through her numerous volunteer activities.  

Cynthia Calhoun is a member of the Russ College of Engineering Board of Visitors.

Gretchen Dietrich is a member of the Russ College of Engineering Board of Visitors.

A 1970 Russ College Chemical Engineering graduate, Jim is retired after a forty-one-year career in industry, government, and private practice. He was with Burgess and Niple, for thirty-eight years where he managed the architectural, industrial, structural, mechanical, and electrical engineering groups. He was an owner of the firm for twenty-two years and served two terms as Managing Partner

Jim serves on the Russ College of Engineering Board of Visitors, the Ohio University Inn Board of Directors and is an emeriti Trustee of the Ohio University Foundation. He is managing partner for Jasmine Avenue Holdings, LLC. He was a founding director of the Worthington Christian Schools Endowment Fund, the Fostoria, Ohio Learning Center and Finish Line Ministries, International. He has served on the Board of Directors for Lower Lights Ministries and Lakeside Chautauqua.  

In May 2012 Jim was inducted into the Ohio University Russ College Academy of Distinguished Graduates. He holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Ohio University. He has been a registered Professional Engineer in Ohio, Michigan, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Texas.

Jim and his wife Sharon live in Westerville, Ohio. Sharon is a 1969 Ohio University graduate. Their son, Mike is an EMMY award winning film producer who owns the 5Stones Group in Columbus, Ohio. Mike’s wife Tiffany is an interior designer. Mike and Tiffany have three children and reside in Columbus. 

Paul Gydosh is a member of the Russ College of Engineering Board of Visitors.

Iden graduated from Ohio University’s Russ College of Engineering in 1969 with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He started his work career with Koppers Co doing process development, frequently tapping a mentor relationship with an OU Chemical Engineering professor to guide his efforts. He also completed an MBA at the University of Akron while working.  After several years, he moved on to Ashland Chemical in Columbus, OH, where he was involved with the company’s efforts to develop novel petrochemical processes. His Ashland career evolved increasingly towards business functions, when he filled roles in purchasing management, business analysis, strategic planning and eventually business unit management.

In 1994 Iden joined the US arm of Rὕtgers Ag where he assumed responsibility for their line products business, focused on hydrotropes and specialty surfactants.  In 2005, when the business was purchased by private equity, International Chemical Investors GmbH (ICI), Iden was named President and CEO of the new company, Nease Performance Chemical. Under Iden’s leadership, the mid-sized company’s revenue more than doubled and profits grew exponentially through his retirement in 2013. The company found success in a market place dominated by multi-billion dollar competitors by reducing costs for its core products, developing niche specialty products and by expanding internationally.

In retirement Iden remains active in volunteer activities and travel. He and his wife, Cindy, reside in West Chester, OH, a Cincinnati suburb. They have one daughter who lives in Lexington, KY and works in legal aid, concentrating on immigration and public services.

Iden is appreciative of the education and relationships developed in his time at Ohio University. He feels his OU experience was a strong foundation for his professional growth and career development.  Since his graduation, he has been an annual donor and, since his retirement, has participated in the Russ College of Engineering BOV and has expanded his financial support of the university.

Dr. Jerome Lavelle is the associate dean of academic affairs in the College of Engineering at North Carolina State University. As associate dean of academic affairs, Lavelle leads the development, implementation and growth of various programs targeted toward student success, and extension and engagement. Additionally, he is responsible for leading proposal efforts and strategic thrusts for increased access and pathways to engineering for students across the University of North Carolina System and the North Carolina Community College System.

Tom Moehring is the Quality Assurance Manager for Swagelok Company, an industry-leading manufacturer of fluid system components. In this role, he is responsible for the efficiency and effectiveness of the quality system for a global, multimillion-dollar product line.

Since graduating from Ohio University in 2006 (BSME), Tom earned his Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati (2009) and his Professional Engineering License from the State of Ohio (2013).

With experience in industrial, consumer and aerospace products, Tom has enjoyed an exciting career delivering product designs and manufacturing processes. After OU, the journey started at GE Aviation where he advanced through the Edison Engineering Development Program to become a Lead Design Engineer with design and manufacturing responsibilities for aircraft engine turbine blades. In 2014, he and his family moved back to hometown, Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked for 2 years as a Product Development Engineer at Moen before joining Swagelok.

Tom is a husband to Ashley (OU BS Communication, 2005) and dad to daughters Avery and Emerson. When not with the family, he enjoys golfing, tinkering with his 3D printer and working on home projects. Tom has served as a member of the Russ College Board of Visitors since 2013.

Jack was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended Ohio University and graduated in June of 1973 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology.

He spent his entire working career at Parker Hannifin Corporation, a Fortune 500 company located in Cleveland, Ohio. While employed at Parker he went on to complete his MBA at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

He started at Parker as a first line supervisor and had positions in production control, purchasing, inside sales administration and materials management. In 1982 he assumed a corporate position in physical distribution and in July of 1983 became a Division General Manager.

In March of 1989 he was promoted to Vice President of Operations in charge of multiple divisions of the company. In July of 1997 Jack was named President of the Fluid Connectors Group giving him worldwide responsibilities. He became an officer of the company in 1998.

In 2001, Jack was promoted to Corporate Vice President. He finished his career as an Executive Vice President and member of the Office of the President, in charge of worldwide marketing, sales, information technology and manufacturing services. He retired in 2008 after 35 years with the company.

Jack served on the boards of the Great Lakes Science Center for 16 years, is a life-time board member of St Martin de Porres High School and served for 8 years at Notre Dame College of Ohio. He continues to serve on the boards of the Engineering Technology and Management department and The Russ College of Engineering at Ohio University.

In 1997, Jack was awarded the Outstanding Industrial Technologist Award from the National Association of Industrial Technology, in 2008 he was inducted into the Russ College Academy of Distinguished Graduates and in 2014 he was awarded the Medal of Merit from Ohio University.

Jack and his wife reside in Highland Heights, Ohio.

Squiller presently serves as the CEO of the Aquam Corporation in San Diego, California. He has extensive international operational, business development and supply chain experience, notably in Asia and Europe. Additionally he has a deep functional expertise in engineering, operations, product management, marketing, sales, and business development.

Chuck Stuckey is a member of the Russ College of Engineering Board of Visitors.

Lex Tisdale is the retired Director of Manufacturing Engineering, Maintenance, and Facilities for Kenworth Truck Company in Chillicothe, Ohio, a Division of PACCAR Inc. Kenworth Chillicothe is a 600,000 sq. ft. assembly facility that produces 184+ class 8 trucks per day with approximately 2200 employees and is an industry leader in quality class 8 trucks.  

Lex 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 was responsible for over $500M of investments in facilities and process improvements that more than doubled the output of the facility and cut labor hours by more than 60%. He introduced robotics in 1995 which has now grown to 66+ robots in operation and his team led initiatives in new technologies to impact the cost, capacity, ergonomics, safety, and quality of building trucks.

April Welshans is a member of the Russ College of Engineering Board of Visitors.

In addition to an assistant professor of instruction in the Aviation Department, Philip Yoder is a member of the Russ College of Engineering Board of Visitors.