Empowering Education and Celebrating Excellence

This year's Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges (OFIC) Spring Trustee Meeting and Awards Luncheon marked significant milestones and recognized exemplary contributions in service and philanthropy. Barb Britenriker, OFIC Board Chair, opened the meeting by taking inspiration from Margaret Thatcher's famous quote, "Plan your work for today and every day, then work your plan." Barb continued by stating that OFIC is actively implementing this philosophy, driving forward with our three-year strategic plan initiatives and exciting trustee updates.

A New Board of Trustees Structure

Following months of planning, surveying and collaboration, the Board approved a significant structural update aimed at enhancing governance efficiency and engagement which was undertaken with the guidance of OFIC President Bill Spiker. “The new OFIC Board of Trustees structure reflects our commitment to maximizing effectiveness in supporting member institutions and students in 2024 and beyond,” said Spiker. He noted that OFIC will continue to benefit from a large Board of Trustees of 70 comprised of a mix of state-wide campus presidents and members primarily representing corporate Ohio.

Two of the notable changes to highlight:

The creation of a new Governing Committee comprised of 16 representative Trustees evenly divided between campus presidents and corporate Trustees. This group will make meeting-to-meeting governing decisions on behalf of the larger Board.
Another significant change is the creation of a Strategy Committee which will take up actions which align with OFIC’s strategic themes. “It’s this new Strategy Committee that will help fulfill the goal of Trustee engagement in the furtherance of our strategic goals,” said Spiker.

Words of Support

Eddie Taylor, Jr., President and CEO of Taylor Oswald in Cleveland and an OFIC Truste serving on the Executive Committee, praised the staff's work and thanked the many Trustees who engaged in statewide discussions, both in person and through Zoom. He highlighted how these efforts, including written materials, enabled nearly all Trustees to participate in the discussions, endorsing the proposal and changes to OFIC’s governing documents.

Sue Hasseler, President of Muskingum University and Collegiate Vice Chair of the Board and a member of the Executive Committee, offered words of endorsement prior to the vote to accept the proposed changes to structure as well as changes to OFIC’s governing documents. She strongly endorsed the changes citing they were thoughtful and important updates fit for 2024 and beyond.

Following a discussion by the members participating in the meeting, a unanimous vote to accept the proposed changes to both Board structure and OFIC governing documents was made. The changes will be put into motion in the coming months and fully implemented at the start of the new fiscal year on July 1, 2024.

Three-Year Strategic Plan Update

Updates on OFIC's three-year strategic plan were also shared, highlighting three themes:

Next Level Fundraising – includes new gift packaging opportunities that align with student needs and donor priorities
Evidence in Action – demonstrated the success of a new scholarship application process, not only in terms of application numbers but also the number of "Thank You" letters submitted by OFIC student scholars and delivered to their OFIC scholarship supporters. This and other initiatives will allow student scholarship selections to align more closely with donor selection criteria and with the donors themselves.
Talent for Ohio - efforts to enhance student career readiness while on campus and also address workforce needs through collaborations with Ohio businesses, advanced AI tools, and innovative internship strategies.

This strategic plan underscores OFIC's commitment to leveraging data and technology to drive organizational effectiveness, ensuring alignment of initiatives for greater success. At the foundation of OFIC’s 3-year strategic plan is a new Salesforce database which is customized to our needs of relationship building, fundraising, scholarship administration, Talent for Ohio efforts, and marketing and communication efforts. The success of each strategic theme will be tracked and measured via robust Salesforce tools.

Spring Awards Luncheon

The Earl F. Morris Trustee Award was presented to Attorney John "Jack" Newman, an Ursuline College trustee, by Sister Christine De Vinne, Ursuline College President. The award’s namesake, Mr. Earl F. Morris, was a faithful and dedicated OFIC Trustee, volunteer, supporter, and an early inductee himself in the OFIC Hall of Excellence. Established in 2010, the award recognizes long and extraordinary trustee service to an OFIC member campus.

Newman's extensive tenure of 29 years as an Ursuline College trustee and 14 years as its chair exemplifies his unwavering commitment and leadership. His strategic vision and forward-thinking approach were evident in his remarks during the acceptance speech, where he expressed deep gratitude, saying, "I am deeply honored to receive this award and to have had the opportunity to contribute to Ursuline College's growth and success over the years." Newman's role in transformative initiatives, such as the introduction of new academic programs and significant campus renovations, has been instrumental in shaping Ursuline College's trajectory and enhancing the student experience.

**John “Jack” Newman, 2024 Earl F. Morris Trustee Award Honoree**

Jack was born in Youngstown and attended Ursuline High School, experiencing the principles of Ursuline education early on. He earned his B.A. from Georgetown University in 1966, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and later received his J.D. from Harvard University in 1969, serving on the Law Review and Legal Aid Society. Following this, he clerked for US District Court Judge Irving Hill in Los Angeles and later became an Assistant US Attorney in the Criminal Division until 1975.

Married in 1969 to Charlotte, they raised four children in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, appreciating its family-friendly atmosphere. They now have five grandchildren living in various cities. Jack joined the Jones Day Law Firm, specializing in securities litigation, before retiring as a partner in 2018. Since then, he has been dedicated to supporting Ursuline College's mission in Pepper Pike, a suburb of Cleveland.

“Without fanfare, without headlines, he has dedicated thirty years of his life and career to making a difference for our students. He has gone above and beyond in his service, and all of us at Ursuline College are the richer for it.””

— Sister Christine DeVinne, President, Ursuline College.

Apart from his professional contributions, Newman is known for his passion for baseball. As a dedicated participant in a northeastern Ohio league, Newman's favorite position as a catcher is perhaps a metaphor for his professional, volunteer, and recreational life. He believes that the teamwork, strategy, and resilience learned on the baseball field translate seamlessly into his roles at Ursuline College and within the OFIC community. Newman's dedication to excellence and his love for the game reflect his approach to leadership and community engagement, making him a beloved figure both on and off the field.

Adding to the significance of this recognition is Jack's personal connection as a friend and professional colleague of the award's namesake, Earl F. Morris. Jack's leadership has played a pivotal role in guiding Ursuline College through transformative initiatives.

“Jack's contributions go far beyond the financial, though. His commitment of time and effort across the years is marked by profound intellect and unquestioned integrity. In an era when Ursuline College faces the same headwinds that beset almost every small, liberal arts college, in the midst of a declining college-age population in the Midwest, and at a moment when Ursuline needs to introduce its first lay president in 150+ years, Jack has been the steady, confident, committed leader that we need. Without fanfare, without headlines, he has dedicated thirty years of his life and career to making a difference for our students. He has gone above and beyond in his service, and all of us at Ursuline College are the richer for it,” shared Sister Christine DeVinne, President, Ursuline College.

**Bill Spiker, Alivia Rovder, Sr. Christine De Vinne**

Next, Alivia Rovder, a student from Ursuline College, was honored as the recipient of the OFIC Staff Scholarship. In recognition of Mr. Newman’s selection as an Ursuline nominee, OFIC selected a deserving Ursuline student for the scholarship. Alivia’s heartfelt remarks underscored the profound impact of an OFIC scholarship. Her words of thanks instantly turned to words of inspiration and emotion as she shared her authentic, meaningful message, leaving most in the audience moved with a mix of pride and tear-filled eyes.

In his closing remarks, Jim Carulas, CEO of Meaden & Moore with headquarters in Cleveland, and the Corporate Vice-Chair of OFIC Board of Trustees, spoke about OFIC's mission as a partnership organization between Ohio's independent campuses and generous supporters. He highlighted the structural changes for the OFIC Board which were approved earlier and how they were aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of this partnership for the benefit of students. Looking ahead, Jim mentioned that the traditional annual fundraising campaign at OFIC will undergo a revitalization, focusing on increasing support for Ohio’s independent students and campuses. Additionally, OFIC plans to launch an awareness campaign, showcasing Ohio’s independent graduates as they seek internships and job opportunities within the state, thereby contributing to making Ohio an attractive place to live and work