Board of Trustees

Bill Miller is president of Galison | Mudpuppy, which specializes in stationery, gifts and puzzles that bring art into everyday life. Bill received a BS in business administration and communications from Wilkes University in 1981. He has been a member of the Board of Trustees since 1999 and became chair in 2020.

In addition to his role as a Trustee, Bill is an active member of the advisory commission of the Sordoni Art Gallery at Wilkes. The conference room which serves the Sordoni Gallery is named in recognition of Bill's decades of service to Wilkes. He resides in New York City.

Laura Barbera Cardinale most recently held the position of vice president of finance and business planning for Verizon in Boston before retiring in 2009. She received a BA in economics from Wilkes University in 1972.

Ms. Cardinale has served on the board of trustees since 2011.

Ray Dombroski has been with Comcast Corporation since 1999 and is currently senior vice president of product development and deployment for Comcast Business, a national provider of advanced, flexible communications solutions for small- and mid-sized businesses. After receiving his electrical engineering degree from Wilkes in 1978, Ray began his career at RCA Laboratories in Princeton, N.J. Always entrepreneurial by nature, Ray was part of a start-up long distance telephone and data communications company called Argo Communications in the early 1980s.

In 1987, Ray joined an early-stage cellular telephone company, Metrophone/Metromedia, as vice president of engineering and operations. After several successful years, the company was acquired by Comcast. Ray still has roots in the Wyoming Valley area and returns to Wilkes-Barre to visit his parents. He and his wife, Colleen DeMorat, live in Malvern, PA, and are the parents of two grown children, Allison and Ian.

Charles Cohen is managing director and third-generation owner of Benco Dental Company, based in Pittston, PA. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in English in 1989.

Mr. Cohen has served on the board of trustees since 2005.

Carolann Besler has enjoyed a long career as an entrepreneur in the child care industry. In addition to owning her own centers, she has served as past president of the NJ Child Care Association, a consultant to people who wanted to open daycare centers; past validator for the National Academy for accreditation certificate for existing child care centers; and past member of the governor's advisory council to set standards for child care centers receiving funds from the state government. Carol is a 1976 graduate of Wilkes University with a BS in Education.

Ms. Besler became a member of the Board in 2016.

Greg Cant, PhD was named the seventh president of Wilkes University on Dec. 12, 2019. A native of Australia, Cant has 30 years of experience as an educator and administrator in the United States and abroad.

Terrence Casey is president of Chancellor Financial Group, a financial investment advisory firm in Wilkes-Barre. Mr. Casey received an AAS in business administration and management from Rochester Institute of Technology and a BA in political science and government from Wilkes University in 1981.

Mr. Casey has served on the board of trustees since 2009.

Dr. Charnetski is a native of Kingston, PA and received her undergraduate degree in Psychology concentrating in Behavioral Medicine from Wilkes University. She received a Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Optometry from Pennsylvania College of Optometry. She has been in practice since 2001 and completed a fellowship at Bucci Laser Vision, then spent her next 20 years at Northeastern Eye Institute. She currently practices at Nanticoke Eye Specialists.

Dr. Charnetski has been involved in various research projects and pre-market studies for ocular pharmaceutical agents and contact lenses for companies including Allergan, Vistakon and CIBA Vision. She has co-authored several papers which have been presented at national Optometry and Ophthalmology meetings. She completed Contact Lens Innovations Training at the Vision Care Institute in Jacksonville, Fl. She has also been a Clinical Examiner for several years for the National Board of Examiners in Optometry.

Community involvement is extremely important to Dr. Charnetski. She serves on the Board of Trustees at Wilkes University and the Board of Directors for the Wilkes University Alumni Association and Step By Step, Inc. which provides support services to intellectually disabled individuals. She has held various executive positions on each Board, is a member of numerous committees, is a guest speaker and student mentor. Dr. Charnetski was the recipient of the esteemed Wilkes University Colonel Blazer which is presented to individuals in recognition of outstanding contributions to Wilkes University and the larger community. She also received the Times Leader 40 Under Forty award and is a proud lifelong member of the Kosciuszko Foundation which promotes and preserves Polish culture throughout the world. She is an advocate for animal welfare and adoption and has been a long-time volunteer for Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge in Dallas, PA. She resides in Shavertown with her husband, Paul Shiber and four rescue dogs.

Attorney Edward Ciarimboli graduated from Wilkes University with a dual degree in Political Science and Engineering and Applied Science. Attorney Ciarimboli became a named partner at Fellerman & Ciarimboli in 2005 where his practice focuses on truck and car crash litigation and medical malpractice. He serves on the Board of Governors for the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, the Board of Governors of the National College of Advocacy, the Board of Regents of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys and the Board of Governors for the Northeastern Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association.

Attorney Ciarimboli has been named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer since 2005. He was recently named one of the Top Ten Attorneys - Pennsylvania Trucking Trial Lawyers Association, The Nations Top One Percent, National Association of Distinguished Counsel and The National League of Renowned Attorneys.

Attorney Ciarimboli has been a member of the Board of Trustees since 2018.

Jeff Davidowitz is owner of Oldfield Company and Vice President of Penn Footwear Company, both based in northeastern Pennsylvania. He received a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Babson College in 1979.

Mr. Davidowitz has served on the Board of Trustees from 2007 to 2022 and rejoined in June 2023.

Susan Davis is currently a Vice President of Asset Management for Cascade Capital Group and oversees a large portfolio of healthcare facilities in over 20 states. Ms. Davis received her BS in Nursing from Wilkes University and her master’s in health care administration from the University of Maryland, University College. She is also certified in Rehabilitation Nursing (CRRN). Susan’s nursing career encompassed senior leadership roles as the Senior Vice President of Clinical Services for Harborside Healthcare Corporation, Chief Nurse Executive for the Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System, and the Vice President of Clinical Operations for Encore Health Care before she transitioned into operations and health care real estate. Today, Susan acts as primary property management, operations, and clinical oversight liaison to the owners of SMV Management Company and the properties they own or finance as well as other healthcare properties owned by Cascade.

Susan has been actively involved as a mentor to both nursing and business students at Wilkes since 2011. She has taught a class in PPD 101 for a number of semesters. She joined the Dean’s Executive Advisory Board for the Sidhu School of Business and Leadership in 2017 and became the chair of the Board in 2018.

Dr. Eggleston graduated with his PharmD from Wilkes University in 2014 and completed a fellowship in Clinical Toxicology at SUNY Upstate Medical University. He is an assistant professor at the Binghamton University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, where he also serves as the director for the Opioid Research Center for Central New York. His research has helped to identify strategies to reduce the harms of opioids and provide lifesaving resources for patients with opioid use disorder.

Dr. Eggleston also works as a clinical toxicologist at SUNY Upstate Medical University and with the Upstate New York Poison Center.

An internationally recognized expert in energy policy and global market access, Randa Fahmy Hudome has more than 25 years of legal and public policy experience, including service in the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government. Randa is president of Fahmy Hudome International, a strategic consulting firm, which provides advice and counsel to international and domestic clientele with an interest in international business transactions, global government affairs and energy policy.

Previously, she was appointed as the U.S. associate deputy secretary of energy, served as counselor to a U.S. senator, and practiced as an attorney with the law firm of Willkie, Farr and Gallagher. Ms. Fahmy Hudome's opinions on international diplomacy and energy policy have been published in the Wall Street Journal, and she appears frequently as an expert analyst on energy and national security issues on NBC's Today Show, MSNBC, Fox News, CNN and Al-Jazeera.

Anthony Fanucci graduated with his PharmD from Wilkes University in 2018 and his JD from Penn State Dickinson Law in 2021. Anthony is an Associate in Alston & Bird’s Healthcare FDA Group and a member of the Food, Drug & Device/FDA Team. Anthony leverages his dual degrees to advise pharmaceutical and medical device companies on complex FDA rules and regulations. During his time at Wilkes, Anthony served as Student Body President and as an active leader for Wilkes Adventure Education WAE).

Dr. Fanucci became a member of the Board of Trustees in June of 2023.

Lisa Golden has been the Chief Operating Officer of Geisinger Health Plan (GHP) in Danville, Pennsylvania since September 2016. Lisa earned an MHA in Health Administration from Kings College and a BSN in Nursing from Wilkes University. She holds a certification from the American Case Management Association (ACMA). She is also a Certified Healthcare Insurance Executive (CHIE) and an alumnus of the AHIP Executive Leadership program.

William J. Grant is the Founder of Hildebrandt Learning Centers, LLC, based in Dallas, PA, a provider of employer related early learning programs for colleges and universities, state and federal governments and corporations in the Middle Atlantic region.

Mr. Grant received a BS in Business Administration from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1975 and a MBA from Wilkes College in 1986.

Jason Griggs is owner and president of Griggs Properties, LLC, a land development and property management company in Montgomery County, PA. He is also a franchise owner of MaxOut Strength Studio, LLC. Mr. Griggs graduated from Wilkes University with a BS in business administration in 1990.

Mr. Griggs has served on the Board of trustees since 2005.

Ellen Hall graduated from Wilkes in 1971 with a degree in English and has served as a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors since 2010. She was elected to the role of President in March 2017 and previously served in leadership roles including Vice President and Secretary. In addition, Ellen chairs the Board's Homecoming Committee and has helped to mentor current Wilkes education students. Now retired, Ellen taught elementary school in the Northwest Area School District for 34 years.

Ms. Hall became a member of the Board in 2017.

Bill has more than 30 years of nonprofit executive management experience, including CEO roles with the Bermuda Tourism Authority, United Way National Capital Area, Destination DC, Visit Milwaukee and the Hilton Head, SC Chamber of Commerce. He is a Former Chairman of Destinations International and is a sought-after thought leader on executive management, organizational transition, and nonprofit operations.

Bill holds a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and a Bachelor of Arts, Wilkes University.

Fred Herrmann earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Accounting from Wilkes University in 1979. He received his Master’s degree from Seton Hall University in 1987. He is a CFA charter holder and a CPA.

Mr. Herrmann recently retired from the New York State Teachers Retirement System (NYSTRS) where he was responsible for the domestic and international public equity portion of NYSTRS’ $150 billion investment portfolio. He oversaw internal portfolio management, trade execution and the hiring and monitoring of external public equity managers. He was also a voting member of NYSTRS’ Internal Investment Committee which approved all new investments across all asset classes. Prior to joining NYSTRS in 2011, Fred was managing director and co-head of BlackRock’s active Quantitative Equity team responsible for a variety of domestic and international quantitatively driven equity strategies. Prior to joining BlackRock in 2003, he served as managing director, portfolio manager and co-head of the Quantitative Equities Group at Weiss, Peck & Greer in New York. Earlier in his career, Fred worked in corporate finance, accounting and taxation at Amerada Hess Corporation and AT&T.

Mr. Herrmann joined the Board of Trustees in June 2023. He has been a non- Trustee member of the Wilkes Investment Advisory Subcommittee since 2017, which he now chairs.

Seymour Holtzman graduated from Wilkes College in 1957 with a BS in Business Administration. He is the President and CEO of Jewelcor, Inc., which operated a chain of retail stores throughout the United States. He was previously the Chairman of the Board and CEO of Gruen Marketing Corporation, a company involved in the nationwide distribution of watches.

Holtzman also serves as Chairman and CEO of Jewelcor Management, Inc., which is primarily involved in investment and management services. He owns C.D.Peacock, Inc., a retail jewelry establishment in Chicago, Illinois, and the Rolex Boutique Luxury Swiss in Miami, Florida. Holtzman is Chairman of the Board of Destination XL Group Inc., the nation's largest specialty retailer of big and tall men's apparel. He is also the owner of Homeclick.com, Inc., an internet retailer specializing in luxury brands for the home.

Mr. Holtzman became a member of the Board in 2017.

John Kerr is managing principal of Bay Financial Associates, a comprehensive wealth management firm in Waltham, Mass. He is also a registered investment advisor and president of Bay Financial Advisors. He received a BS in business administration from Wilkes University in 1972.

Mr. Kerr has served on the board of trustees since 2009.

Gerard Jerry McHale is a CPA in Florida and New York and is certified in Financial Forensics. He has worked extensively in the Bankruptcy and Receivership area for the past 40 years in Southwest Florida. He maintains a professional firm which specializes in Bankruptcies, Insolvencies, Receiverships, Litigation Support and Mass Consumer Frauds. Mr. McHale has been a court-appointed Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Trustee on complex cases in Florida, Virginia, California and New York. He has had substantial success in recoveries under Ponzi schemes and mass consumer frauds.

Prior to this, Mr. McHale's experience included several directorships in various banks together being the Chairman of the Board of a NYSE company. Mr. McHale graduated from Wilkes University with a BS in Commerce and Finance in 1967.

Mr. McHale became a member of the Board in 2016.

Michael Noone ’97 graduated from Wilkes University in 1997 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Communications Studies/Political Science. He received his Doctor of Laws degree from Villanova University School of Law in 2000. He is partner in the law firm of Noone and Borger, LLC, located in West Chester, PA.

Attorney Noone is the Alumni Board Representative to the Board of Trustees and has served as President of the Alumni Association Board of Directors since June 2023.

Ali Qureshi '96 graduated from Wilkes University in 1996 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Environmental Engineering. He is the COO of NuAxis Innovations, located in Vienna, VA. In his position he is responsible for operations to support the execution for enabling high quality customer service, delivery, happiness of team members and organic business development. Mr. Qureshi has over two decades of experience assisting commercial and federal government clients in meeting their technology services needs through innovative solutions. Mr. Qureshi also had a tenure in the federal government where he served as the Senior Deputy Chief Administrative Officer at the U.S. House of Representatives from 2003 – 2011.

Mr. Qureshi became a member of the Board of Trustees in June of 2023.

After graduation from Wilkes, Ralston attended graduate school at Boston University. Post grad school, his professional career began with The Stouffer Corp. in Boston, The New England/New England Financial, and finally MetLife in Boston. As an officer and director with TNE/NEF/MET, a major world-wide financial services provider, he was responsible for the entire central united states regional agencies distribution system, focusing on marketing strategies, and tactics.

In 2007 after leaving his role as the director of Top Producer Support Services with MetLife, he was recruited to Bentley University in Waltham, MA to work with the advancement division, and alumni relations. He retired from Bentley in 2018 and currently volunteers and supports several non-profits in the greater Boston area.

Kayla Rooney is a litigation associate in the Los Angeles office of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, where she represents multi-billion dollar companies in complex commercial litigation and arbitration. She graduated summa cum laude from Wilkes University in 2015 and holds a BA in Political Science and International Studies, with minors in Economics, Spanish, and Women and Gender Studies.

During her time at Wilkes, she was an active student leader and received the Alumni Association Leadership In recognition of her contributions to the campus. Upon graduating, Kayla attended the New York University School of Law, where she received her Juris Doctor in 2018. She moved to Los Angeles in January 2023 and is authorized to practice law in both New York and California.

Joanne Schoonover has 15 years of experience as an educator and administrator in higher education and retired as the Vice President of Defense Acquisition University. Previously she served 26 years in the United States Air Force. She initially served as a flightline aircraft maintenance officer and later ran several major space programs, including the Inertial Upper Stage and the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System.

Ms. Schoonover earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Wilkes University in 1972. She holds a master’s degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering. She was also a fellow in the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government for Senior Executives.

Elizabeth A. Slaughter is a 1968 graduate of Wilkes College with a B.A. in Psychology. She went on to earn her Masters of Art from the New School for Social Research in 1970, a Master’s of Science/Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts/Amherst in 1972, and post-doctoral training from Harvard University in 1978.

Dr. Slaughter has close to thirty years of experience in business and education, holding a range of leadership responsibilities including, HR Director of Corporate Culture Initiatives and Diversity, Director of Marketing Training and Manager of New Product Development at Verizon/NYNEX; Survey Research Director at Opinion Research Corporation; Career Development/Career Transition Consultant at the Ayers Group International; Staff Psychologist and Administrative Officer at Harvard University, and Research Director at Effective Management Resources, Inc. She is the owner and sole proprietor of Start to Restart, a career transition consulting company.

Dr. Slaughter joined the Wilkes University Board of Trustees in 1982, serving with distinction for thirty-seven years. In June of 2019, she was honored with the title of Trustee Emerita. She rejoined the Board in 2021.

Tara Mugford Wilson is the President of Power Engineering Corporation, a family owned and operated Mechanical Construction and HVAC Service company based in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Ms. Wilson is graduate of Wyoming Seminary and Drexel University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.