Meet the Team
Donna Chrobot-Mason, PhD
Thornburgh Academic Director
4130-J Edwards 1
Donna Chrobot-Mason is an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Cincinnati College of Arts and Sciences. Her research and consulting work has spanned two decades and centers on leadership for creating organizations that support diversity, equity, inclusion and intergroup collaboration. Chrobot-Mason has published over 40 articles and scholarly works in journals such as the Journal of Management, Leadership Quarterly, Journal of Organizational Behavior, and Group and Organization Management. She has served on the editorial review board for the Journal of Management, Personnel Psychology and the Journal of Business and Psychology. Additionally, Donna co-wrote the book "Boundary Spanning Leadership: Six Practices for Solving Problems, Driving Innovation, and Transforming Organizations."
Chrobot-Mason’s dedication to service has remained steadfast throughout her career. She’s addressed numerous audiences with the Brookings Institute, FBI, EPA, IRS, Catholic Health Partners and the International Leadership Association. Chrobot-Mason has consulted with various organizations, including Fifth Third Bank, Briggs and Stratton, Dayton Public Schools, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Emory University, Milacron and Forest City Enterprises.
She serves as a member of the Inclusion & Reconciliation board for the Cincinnati Art Museum, as a founding board member of non-profit Lead Beyond and is the director for UC Women Lead, an executive leadership program for high-potential women at UC.
Chrobot-Mason holds a PhD and a master’s degree in Applied Psychology from the University of Georgia.
Marianne Lewis has earned numerous teaching and research awards throughout her academic career. An international expert on organizational paradoxes, her research explores tensions and competing demands surrounding leadership and innovation. She applies her renowned paradox lens across such diverse contexts as strategy, product development, organizational change, governance and technology implementation. Lewis' work appears in such top journals as the Harvard Business Review, Academy of Management Journal and Organization Science.
Lewis earned her PhD from the University of Kentucky.
Student Team
- Alex Mason, Student President, A&S ’23, mason2ac@mail.uc.edu
- Matthew Toigo, Student President, BBA ’23, matt toigomj@mail.uc.edu
Academic Liaison Group
The Academic Liaison Group is for faculty and staff engaged in leadership development efforts that benefit UC students. The mission of the group is to engage faculty and staff passionate about student leadership development to play a role in creating a leadership movement at UC in which all students develop leadership skills and clarify their leadership journey (i.e., a Bearcat Leadership Promise).
- Marjorie Aaron, Professor of Practice and Director of Center for Practice, UC Law
- Jessica Ashcraft, Assistant Director, SALD
- Mary Barbara Boat, Associate Professor and Director, School of Education
- Ann Black, Associate Dean, Associate Professor, DAAP
- Lieutenant Colonel Dominic Black, Professor, UC ROTC
- Andrew Cullison, PhD, Director, Ethics Center
- Kristin Ford, Director, SALD
- Whitney Gaskins, CEAS-Inclusive Excellence & Communication, Assistant Dean
- Adrian Hall, PhD, Provost-Undergraduate Studies, Assistant Vice Provost, Curricular Operations
- Stacey Furst Holloway, PhD, Associate Professor, Graduate Program Director, A&S-Psychology
- Fran Larkin, SA-Community Engagement, Director
- Krista Maddox, Sr. Assistant Dean, Nursing
- Nicole Mayo, Assistant VP, Student Affairs
- Megan Church Nally, PhD, Assistant Professor- Educator, A&S Psychology
- Nancy Rogers, PhD, A&S-Psychology, Professor-Educator, Director UG Prog-OLHR
- Eugene Rutz, CEAS-Graduate Studies, Assistant Dean, Manager of MEng Programs
- Stephanie Schlagel, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Director of Graduate Studies; Associate Professor of Musicology, CCM
- Michael Sharp, Career Education, Associate Professor, Director Service-Learnis
- Jenelle Sobotka, Program Director, MS in Pharmacy Leadership, Pharmacy
- Jennifer Sturm, Associate Athletics Director, Director of Leadership & Learning
- Jon Weller, Director, International Enrollment & Strategic Partnerships
Interested in joining the Academic Liaison Group? Email WBLI Academic Director Donna Chrobot-Mason, PhD.
Friends and Family of Warren Bennis Circle
The Friends and Family of Bennis Circle seeks to formally gather those who knew Warren Bennis and were inspired by his life’s work to gather in remembrance and to continue to contribute to his legacy at UC. Bi-annual meetings will provide an opportunity to learn about updates from WBLI leaders and continue to help shape the future of the WBLI.
- Nick Albers, Bus ’23, former student director of the Warren Bennis Leadership Experience
- John Bennis, owner of Pacific Wealth Partners
- Kate Bennis, founder, Kate Bennis Studio
- Will Bennis, academic staff, Prague University of Economics and Business
- Jay Chatterjee, Dean Emeritus of DAAP
- Gail Fairhurst, PhD, Distinguished University Research Professor of Organizational Communication at the University of Cincinnati
- Bruce Hopple, Bus ’75, Law ’80, senior vice president, Avison Young Global
- Tom Humes, Bus ’71, A&S ’77, Hon ’16, president and founder, Traditions Building & Development Group
- Lou Langen, Bus ’22, former student director of the Warren Bennis Leadership Experience
- Bill Mulvihill, President, Bus ’70, The Mulvihill Advisory Group
- Charles Matthews, PhD, Distinguished Teaching Professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategy at the University of Cincinnati
- Neal Novak, A&S ‘73, Law ’77, Novak Law Offices
- Myron Ullman, Bus ’69, Hon ’06, former chairman and CEO of JCPenney
Support the Warren Bennis Leadership Institute
Honor a legacy of leadership and help develop the leaders of tomorrow by contributing to the Warren Bennis Leadership Institute Fund.