Rita K. Adeniran, DrNP, CNHP '11

Healthcare Equity and Equality Advocate
President & CEO, Innovative and Inclusive Global Solutions
Born in Nigeria, Dr. Adeniran has a compelling record as a leader and fearless advocate for the vulnerable and culturally disenfranchised. With an infectious passion for social justice, ethics of inclusion and spirit of graciousness, she is shaping solutions to the long-standing disparities in health and healthcare. Having served as the Global Nurse Ambassador of Penn Medicine, she brought recognition to the institution as a leader in cultural competence education and inclusive practice environments, as well as becoming a global resource center for nurses worldwide. Currently, her consulting firm helps organizations leverage the total capacity of their diverse workforce for enhanced productivity and optimal patient outcomes.
Jun 2017

Alfred Altomari, BS, LeBow '82

Successful Pharmaceutical Executive and Entrepreneur
Chairman, President & CEO, Agile Therapeutics
After a distinguished career with Johnson & Johnson, Mr. Altomari serves now as Chairman, President and CEO of Agile Therapeutics. He previously served as CEO of Barrier Therapeutics where he began blazing his own trail in pharmaceuticals, launching successful companies that developed and commercialized innovative women's healthcare and dermatology products. Active with Drexel, he serves on the President's Leadership Council, is Vice Chair of the LeBow College Dean's Advisory Board and serves on the advisory board of the Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship. Additionally, he serves on the board of directors of Insmed Inc., Recro Pharma, Inc., and TASK (Trenton Area Soup Kitchen).
Jun 2017

Christine McKendry Andrade, BS, CoAS '90

Pioneering Sports Journalist
ESPN Anchor
For 20 years, Ms. McKendry was a familiar presence anchoring ESPN's SportsCenter shows. Shifting her focus to tennis, a sport she played at Drexel, she now hosts the network's Grand Slam coverage including the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open. Ms. McKendry holds the distinction of being the first woman to work as a television sports anchor in the Washington D.C. market and has been the recipient of multiple Sports Emmy Awards.
Jun 2017

Michael Baum, BS, CCI '85

Promoter of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Chairman & CEO, FOUNDER.org
Mr. Baum is an innovator, entrepreneur and investor in early stage companies with the potential for positive impact. He supports young innovators around the world through FOUNDER.org, an investment fund for university students with world changing ideas in industrial automation, transportation, healthcare, sustainability, food and agriculture and space technology. More than 100 new ventures from 15 countries and 50 universities have benefited from FOUNDER.org's funding and street smarts Silicon Valley experience. His own entrepreneurial journey spans 25 years and six startups, including the IPO of Splunk and acquisitions by AT&T, Disney, IBM, Reuters and Yahoo!. Mr. Baum's projects have created more than $10 billion in shareholder value. Along with his computer science degree from Drexel, Mr. Baum has an MBA from Wharton and is the inventor of several patents in big data, machine learning and transaction management.
Jun 2017

Kathleen Chimicles, BS, LeBow '83

Engaged Civic Leader for Education and Juvenile Justice
President & CEO, GlenDevon Group, Inc.
Ms. Chimicles has served as a Drexel trustee for nine years, serves and is past chair of the LeBow College of Business Dean's Advisory Board and is a member of the advisory board for the Thomas R. Kline School of Law at Drexel University. She serves on the board of directors, the finance committee, executive committee and chairs the strategic planning committee of the Juvenile Law Center; the investment committee of the Archbishop Lakovos Leadership 100 Endowment Fund Inc.; and the board of directors of the Philadelphia Orchestra where she serves on the finance, collaborative learning and strategic planning committees. She was a long serving member of the WHYY Board of Directors, and with WHYY, she helped produce a series of high impact short films and an interactive website to provide career resources, encourage technological literacy, and promote student engagement and teacher development in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
Jun 2017

Lisa Anne Forsyth, MS, CoAS '91

Devoted to Serving Her Country
Colonel, US Army, Retired
Prior to her retirement from the US Army in March 2016, Colonel Forsyth served as director of the Concepts and Requirements Division at the U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School based at Fort Sam Houston in Texas. During her 26-year military career, she held various positions in the science and medical fields and received numerous awards including the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star in recognition for her distinguished service. She is also a member of the Order of Military Medical Merit.
Jun 2017

Joseph Grimes, BS, CoE '79

Versatile Energy Expert
Executive Vice President & Chief Generation Officer, Tennessee Valley Authority
Mr. Grimes is a top executive of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and leads all power operations along with generation construction. In his previous role as chief nuclear officer of TVA, Mr. Grimes led seven active nuclear plants and was instrumental last year in bringing the nation's first new plant in the 21st century online. Mr. Grimes has more than 35 years of experience in power plant management and has supported nearly all technologies of generation. He has shared his energy expertise with his alma mater as a member of the President's Energy and the Environment Council.
April 2015

Leonid Hrebien, BS, MS, PhD, CoE '72, '75, '80

Distinguished Academic and Scholar in Aerospace Medicine
Drexel Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Following graduation, Dr. Hrebien served as Manager of the Environmental Effects Research Branch at the Naval Air Development Center in Warminster, PA where he oversaw research on the effects of stressful physical environments on human performance. Dr. Hrebien joined the faculty of the Drexel College of Engineering in 1989 where he is currently Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and a Fellow of both the Aerospace Medical Association and Aerospace Human Factors Association. He has held numerous administrative and academic positions at Drexel and continues research in measurement and mitigation of military environmental effects on physiological and cognitive functions and analysis, modeling and estimation of large, complex and noisy biological signals and data arrays in the pharmaceutical industry.
Jun 2017

Clifford Hudis, MD, CoM '83

Warrior Against Breast Cancer
CEO, American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
Dr. Hudis is among the world's most recognized experts in breast cancer treatment and prevention. Prior to becoming CEO of ASCO, Dr. Hudis served for nearly two decades as the Chief of the Breast Medicine Service and Attending Physician at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Professor of Medicine at the Weill Cornell Medical College. He led a team that developed new agents for metastatic disease, improved chemotherapy dosing regimens for early stage breast cancer, established a clinically meaningful role for targeting the androgen receptor in metastatic triple negative disease, and explored the molecular mechanisms that underlie the association of obesity with breast and other cancers, among many other projects. At ASCO he leads the world's largest professional society for cancer care providers.
Jun 2017

Henri Levit, BS, CoE '68

Incomparable Volunteer
Chairman, Simon Miller Paper & Packaging
While leading a successful multi-generation family business, Mr. Levit has always found the time to serve the community and his alma mater. Mr. Levit has chaired the Mid-Atlantic Region Friends of Boys Town Jerusalem, is a Vice President of the National Board of Boys Town Jerusalem Foundation of America, and served as president of the Suburban Jewish Community Center — B'nai Aaron. At Drexel, his roles have included vice chairman of the Drexel University Alumni Association Board of Governors, chairman of the advisory board of the Judaic Studies Program, member of the Drexel Hillel Board of Directors, and member of the College of Engineering Advisory Council.
April 2015

Thomas Matthews, BS, LeBow '72

Courageous Military Leader
Colonel, US Army, Retired
Colonel Matthews served 28 years in the US Army, retiring in 2001, and was present in the Pentagon on 9/11. In 1993, in the battle of Mogadishu, Somalia, he served as the Air Mission Commander of the Black Hawk Helicopters of Task Force Ranger and later served as the technical advisor for the movie “Black Hawk Down.” Colonel Matthews commanded the 160th Special Operations, “Nightstalkers,” and the 101st Aviation Brigade, “Screaming Eagles,” comprised of 9 battalions, 3,400 soldiers and 300 helicopters. He continues to work at the Pentagon as a Civilian Senior Executive in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence.
Jun 2017

Richard A. Rose, Jr., BS, LeBow '84

Multi-Faceted Businessman
Owner and President, Petroleum Service Company, Inc.
Mr. Rose is the Owner, President and CEO of Petroleum Service Company (PSC), based in Wilkes-Barre, PA. PSC is a multi-dimensional petroleum wholesaler as well as a nationally recognized e-commerce supplier of petroleum products. Mr. Rose's career at PSC has spanned 30 years during which time the company has achieved significant growth. In addition, Mr. Rose is a Director of Mountain Productions, the largest staging company in North America, based in Wilkes-Barre and family owned for over 30 years. Mr. Rose has served on a variety of boards in industry and within the community including Geisinger Health System Foundation, Wyoming Valley Health Care Systems, Wyoming Seminary Preparatory School, Pennsylvania Enterprises, PG Energy and the Westmoreland Club. He is currently a Director of the Black Horse Foundation.
Jun 2017

Craig Sabatino, BS, Goodwin '84

Hands-On Entrepreneur
Principal and Co-Founder, Intech Construction, Inc.
Mr. Sabatino's award winning company, Intech, is one of five top construction companies in Philadelphia, having evolved from its humble beginnings to become a major Philadelphia presence, constructing many prominent projects in the region. It serves the area's major academic and cultural institutions, the healthcare, hospitality, and business sectors, and private development. Mr. Sabatino is recognized by the business community as a man with a powerful work ethic and great tenacity who takes an active, hands-on approach to his projects, visiting job sites regularly.
Jun 2017

Libby Fleisher Wilson, MD, CoM '63

Life-Changing Surgeon
Program Director, Craniofacial/Cleft Palate Program at Orthopaedic Institute for Children
A trip to Nepal in the mid-1980s was the beginning of an ongoing project where Dr. Wilson assists Nepalese doctors develop a cleft and burn care treatment center for the children of Nepal. The Nepalese Cleft Program is modeled on standard cleft programs internationally and is similar to the program she directs in Los Angeles. The Nepalese team, trained during Dr. Wilson's repeated visits to Nepal, includes doctors, nurses, dentists, therapists and community workers. With their unique outreach services in the remote areas of Nepal, they are helping more than 500 patients overcome their disabilities each year.
Jun 2017