Senior tax manager Rob Roll, BSBA ’13, MPPA ’14, and attorney Jennifer Kinsley Smith, BS ’10, JD ’13, have been selected to receive Ohio Northern University’s 2025 William L. Robinson Young Alumni awards during Homecoming & Reunion Weekend, Oct. 3-4.
Roll and Smith are both “Double Bears,” meaning they have earned an undergraduate and graduate degree from ONU.
The ONU Alumni Association established the award to honor individuals who have graduated from the University within the last 15 years and who demonstrate passion and loyalty toward their profession, community, and alma mater.
The pair will serve as the Homecoming parade grand marshals and will be recognized at halftime during the Oct. 4 Homecoming football game.
Rob Roll, BSBA ’13, MPPA ’14
Roll has built an impressive career at the Columbus office of GBQ Partners, one of the top 100 accounting firms in the United States. Since joining the firm straight out of ONU, he has steadily climbed the ranks, now serving as senior tax manager.
In his leadership role, Roll helps high-net-worth individuals and families, as well as private equity and venture capital groups, navigate the ever-changing landscape of tax compliance. He also mentors and teaches younger associates.
His work requires more than just deep technical knowledge, it demands trust, empathy, and strong relationships. And that’s where Roll excels.
Whether helping a couple structure a charitable gift to maximize impact or guiding a family in transferring a business to the next generation, he sees his work as contributing to the greater good.
“I tell people I don’t do taxes for a living—I help people for a living, by doing taxes,” he explained.
Jennifer Kinsley Smith, BS ’10, JD ’13
For Smith, practicing law isn’t about courtroom drama or chasing a big salary, it’s about restoring dignity and offering hope.
As a managing attorney with the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, Smith encounters people at some of the lowest points in their lives. Her clients may be living in cars, struggling to feed their families, or failing to navigate a complex legal system to meet a basic need. Using her legal expertise, she helps them change the trajectory of their lives.
In her current role overseeing Legal Aid’s Lorain County office, Smith splits her time between the courtroom and the community. Whether she’s representing clients, supervising attorneys, or raising awareness about Legal Aid’s services, she’s driven by her core belief that every person deserves respect and a fair chance.
“If I can use my knowledge of the law to improve people’s lives, why wouldn’t I? she said.
Over her seven years at the Legal Aid Society, her passion for the work has only grown deeper.
“I can’t imagine working in an area outside of poverty law at this point,” she added. “For me, feeding, housing, and stabilizing families is the most meaningful way to leverage the law.”