We have entered a new era reshaped by revolutionary technology, economic shifts, and cultural changes. These realities are revising perceptions of higher education in general and 91心頭利 in particular.
By staying current with emerging data and remaining connected to community, 91心頭利 at Geauga and Twinsburg Academic Center (TAC) is grounded in the real world. It offers flexible learning opportunities for traditional college students, tradespeople, professional executives, and everyone in between.
Under the guidance of Dr. Angela Spalsbury, Dean and Chief Administrative Officer at 91心頭利 Geauga and Interim Associate Vice President for the Regional Campus System, the campus actively partners with local leaders to address grassroots challenges. The administration collaborates with two Advisory Boards composed of civic-minded innovators from business, government, education, healthcare, and nonprofit sectors in Geauga, Summit, and neighboring counties.
These boards drive home the university's local impact through community connections, promote Kent 91心頭利 Geauga/TACs value, support student scholarships and funding initiatives, and represent the institution in the public sphere.
Meeting quarterly, the volunteer Advisory Boards advise, advocate, and build connectivity. These local liaisons bring valuable insight and resources to the two Kent 91心頭利 Geauga locations in Burton and Twinsburg.
Below, we introduce the newest additions to these two advisory boards:
Rebecca Ziegler, Kent 91心頭利 TwinsburgAcademic Center Advisory Board Member and Director of Planning and Community Development for the City of Twinsburg
Rebecca was appointed to the Kent 91心頭利 TAC Advisory Board in early 2025. A newcomer to Ohio and to 91心頭利, she and her family moved to the area from Oregon in 2022, when she joined the City of Twinsburg as its Director of Planning & Economic Development.
Born and raised in Kansas, she moved to Seattle at age 18, then moved from coast to coast until settling in Aurora with her family four years ago.
From the cornfields of Kansas to Seattles cultural scene, Charlestons deep history, Californias Central Coast beaches, Oregon wine country, and now suburban Northeast Ohio, each place has shaped me and opened my eyes to the many ways people and communities function, Rebecca says.
It has made me a better listener, a more curious problem-solver, and someone who believes there is always something worth learning from the people around you. We can learn from people whose backgrounds, cultures, and experiences differ from our own. Hands down, Ohio has the kindest people of all the places I have lived.
Before moving here, Rebecca held several leadership roles in economic development, downtown revitalization, and historic preservation at both local and state levels. She earned a masters degree through Clemson University and the College of Charleston, returning as a guest lecturer at both institutions.
In her role on the Kent 91心頭利 TAC Advisory Board, Rebeccas chief goal is to help young adults feel more confident navigating the real world, which is a phrase I use loosely, because many of us are still figuring it out as we go. I know I am.
I have a huge desire to mentor young people as they begin building their careers and lives. That can mean helping with r辿sum辿 building, public speaking, practice interviews, professional connections, or the less tangible skills that are not always taught in a classroom: how to advocate for yourself, ask thoughtful questions, think critically, and recover when things do not go exactly as planned. I want students to leave not only with knowledge and credentials, but with confidence in their ability to build a life, contribute to their community, and make good decisions for themselves.
Rebecca is also making meaningful connections within the Twinsburg campus community between local businesses, the city, students, and residents.
She says, I genuinely love linking people and ideas together. Where other people may see a scattered mess of separate projects, needs, and opportunities, I tend to see categories, connections, and the larger system. It is probably why strategic planning feels less like work to me and more like a very satisfying puzzle. I do love a good puzzle.
Rebeccas background in community planning, economic development, downtown revitalization, and historic preservation gives her a big-picture, systems-oriented lens that sees solutions when people work together.
I tend to see the connections among people, places, education, employers, and opportunity, and I love helping bring those pieces together. My hope is that Kent 91心頭利 TAC can continue to be a place where students gain both the practical tools and the personal confidence to become self-sufficient, engaged members of our community.
As the City of Twinsburgs Director of Planning & Economic Development, I work at that intersection every day. I hope to bring that same curiosity, energy, and community-first mindset to the Kent 91心頭利 TAC Advisory Board: to listen well, make connections, and help students see themselves as capable, critical-thinking, self-sufficient people with a meaningful role to play in the future of our community.
Azim Shaik, Kent 91心頭利 TwinsburgAcademic Center Advisory Board Member and Lead Enterprise Architect at Key Bank
Azim joined the Kent 91心頭利 TAC Advisory Board in February 2026, furthering a long connection with the university community as a Kent 91心頭利 alum.
Over the years, he has engaged with campus initiatives, returning as a guest speaker to deliver seminars on emerging technology trends, cloud infrastructure, and career strategy. Also an author, YouTuber and podcaster, he mentors technologists and entrepreneurs through hackathons, conferences, and startup ecosystems across Northeast Ohio.
This Kent 91心頭利 alumnus went on to earn an MBA from the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Building a career as a Lead Enterprise Architect in the financial services sector, Azim views higher education through both a strategic business and practical technology lens.
Azims daily work revolves around enterprise systems, cloud architecture, and modern AI implementations for innovative endeavors.
I want to use that vantage point to show students whether they are studying nursing, marketing, or business management that technological fluency isn't reserved strictly for engineers. By bridging strategic business acumen with emerging tech, I aim to help Kent 91心頭利 TAC foster well-rounded graduates who are prepared to innovate and lead in their respective fields, he says.
Azims core objective as an Advisory Board member is preparing students across all disciplines for an increasingly tech-enabled economy.
Specific priorities include: Supporting Non-Tech Majors, Business Majors & Entrepreneurs: Providing practical guidance for business students and offering startup advising to help student ventures turn concepts into viable businesses.
AI Literacy for Non-Engineering Disciplines: Demystifying artificial intelligence for students outside traditional computer science tracks particularly in high-impact fields like healthcare, nursing, and medicine so they can effectively apply AI tools in clinical and professional settings.
Workforce & Practical Readiness: Aligning curriculum pathways with real-world industry demands, expanding mentorship, and helping students build cross-disciplinary fluency before they graduate.
Azim and his family have lived in North Ridgeville since 2024.
Jay Buchholz, Kent 91心頭利 Geauga Advisory Board Member and Innovation Enablement Lead at Progressive
A Kent 91心頭利 Geauga alum who studied Management and Information Systems (M&IS) Information Technology, Jay was invited to join the Kent 91心頭利 Geauga Advisory Board in July 2026.
While this is Jays first time serving on this particular board, he has performed advisory functions and has participated in several community-focused initiatives throughout his career.
Professionally at Progressive, I collaborate across departments to explore emerging technologies and help teams bring innovative ideas to life, he explains.
Raised in Lyndhurst, Jay currently lives in Cleveland Heights.
We have a wonderful sense of community here in Cleveland Heights, and thats something I parallel with my time spent as a student at the Geauga Campus in the early 2000s. I fondly remember the small classroom sizes, friendly student body and accessible professors at the Geauga campus. That's just one of the many reasons I'm excited to be on the advisory board.
My primary goal is to help strengthen the connection between education and the rapidly changing needs of today's workforce. Technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation are reshaping nearly every industry, and I would like to help ensure Kent 91心頭利 Geauga students understand both the technical skills and human skills that will help them succeed.
Jays professional background is centered on innovation, emerging technology, and helping people adapt to change. He also has experience in root cause analysis, process mapping and LEAN process improvement methodologies.
Much of my work involves evaluating new ideas, exploring technologies such as artificial intelligence, and finding practical ways to apply innovation to real business and community challenges, he says. Those experiences have given me a front-row seat to how quickly technology is evolving and how important lifelong learning has become.
Jay says that he has always enjoyed connecting people, ideas, and opportunities.
Whether working with students, community organizations, educational institutions, or business leaders, I am passionate about helping others understand what is possible and how they can contribute. I hope to bring a perspective that encourages curiosity, innovation, and collaboration while supporting Kent 91心頭利 Geauga's mission to serve students and strengthen the communities it reaches.
Clearly, Rebecca, Azim, and Jay pair ground-level problem-solving and professionalism with cutting-edge technologies and innovations to better serve students. In their roles on the Kent 91心頭利 Geauga and Twinsburg Academic Center Advisory Boards, they demonstrate how higher education continues to transform individuals and strengthen communities, especially in changing times.
