The president-elect of the American Bar Association, a distinguished professor emeritus of pharmacy, and a retired U.S. Navy captain who broke barriers for women in the military, are Ohio Northern University’s 2026 Commencement speakers.
Barbara J. Howard will be featured at the Pettit College of Law ceremony scheduled for Saturday, May 16, at 10 a.m.; Dr. Vincent Mauro, BSPh ’82, will speak at the Raabe College of Pharmacy ceremony to be held on Sunday, May 17, at 9 a.m.; and Captain Barbara Bowyer, BA ’76, will address undergraduate/MSA ceremony guest and graduates on May 17 at 2 p.m.
All three commencement ceremonies will be held at the ONU Sports Center Field House.
Barbara J. Howard – Law Commencement Speaker
Barbara J. Howard is principal of the Barbara J. Howard Law Firm in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the president-elect of the American Bar Association (ABA), where she will begin her term as president in August 2026.
A board-certified specialist in family relations law, Howard has built a distinguished career focused on complex family law matters and collaborative practice. A veteran leader in the legal profession, she served as Chair of the ABA’s policymaking House of Delegates from 2020 to 2022 and previously served as president of both the Ohio State Bar Association and the Cincinnati Bar Association.
Howard’s commitment to service extends to higher education and community governance, including a five-year tenure as Chair of the Xavier University Board of Trustees and her current role as Chair of the Ohio Bar Liability Insurance Company.
Howard graduated magna cum laude from Xavier University with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Cincinnati College of Law.
Dr. Vincent F. Mauro – Pharmacy Commencement Speaker
Vincent F. Mauro, BSPh ’82, PharmD, FCCP, is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Toledo and a highly respected freelance pharmacy educator. During his distinguished tenure at Toledo from 1985 to 2021, he served as Department Vice Chair and College Advocate, specializing in cardiology, internal medicine, and pharmacokinetics.
A Fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, Dr. Mauro has contributed 56 peer-reviewed publications to the field and has provided annual continuing education for the Ohio Pharmacists Association for 35 years. An Ohio Northern University alumnus, he remains a dedicated supporter of the University as a Lehr Society donor, a member of the Polar Bear Club, and a frequent guest lecturer in the Raabe College of Pharmacy.
Dr. Mauro holds a Bachelor of Science in pharmacy from ONU and a Doctor of Pharmacy from Ohio State University. He completed a PGY1 residency at the University of Illinois Chicago Medical Center.
Captain Barbara Bowyer – Undergraduate/MSA Commencement Speaker
Captain Barbara Bowyer, BA ’76, is a retired U.S. Navy veteran who dedicated over 30 years to military service and national intelligence. Throughout her distinguished career, she broke numerous barriers, notably becoming the first woman to serve as Director of Intelligence for the Pacific Fleet and the first woman from any military branch to command the Joint Intelligence Center Pacific. In these roles, she led teams of up to 1,500 personnel while responding to major international crises, including natural disasters and acts of terrorism.
After retiring from the Navy in 2006, Bowyer served for seven years as a senior executive with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. She has lent her expertise to Girl Scouts of the USA, assisting on the national level with conflict resolution. A committed philanthropist, she is Life Member of the Lehr Society at ONU and a supporter of ONU Athletics, having played basketball as an undergraduate. An avid traveler who has visited more than 35 countries, she also established the Captain Barbara Bowyer Endowed Fund for International Travel to support ONU students studying abroad.
A recipient of the ONU Distinguished Alumni Award, Bowyer’s naval honors include the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and the Navy Commendation Medal. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in history and economics from ONU and a Master of Science in computer systems management from the Naval Postgraduate School.