Ohio Northern University celebrated six exceptional graduates during its 2026 Homecoming & Reunion Weekend, presenting them with Distinguished Alumni Awards in recognition of their outstanding professional achievements and dedicated service to their alma mater. The Alumni Service Award will be bestowed at a later date.
University Distinguished Alumni Award: Hanley Wheeler, BSPh ’82
Hanley Wheeler has dedicated himself to a successful career as a healthcare executive, to his family, and to helping future generations through his unwavering support of Ohio Northern University.
Throughout his career, he served in executive leadership roles at Revco Drug and CVS, retiring in 2018 as the Senior Vice President of Store Operations, a role in which he oversaw more than 8,000 stores and 160,000 employees.
His leadership extends beyond the pharmaceutical field to higher education, most notably at his alma mater. Hanley has served on ONU’s Board of Trustees since 2015 and he provided outstanding leadership as chair of the Forward Together campaign, the largest fundraiser in the University’s history. He and his wife, Mary, BSPh ’82, contributed generously to all four pillars of the campaign.
Getty College of Arts & Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award: Angela Phares, BS ’08
Angela Phares owns the consulting firm, Modern Medical Physics, based in Cleveland. A nationally recognized, certified radiation expert and entrepreneur, she ensures the precision, safety, and regulatory compliance of X-ray equipment at healthcare, industrial, and high-security facilities across the United States. Her work spans the country, evaluating critical equipment to ensure high-quality imaging and adherence to strict state and federal safety standards.
Passionate about mentorship, Angela actively educates others on radiation technology and offers advice to the next generation of science professionals. At ONU, she serves on the College of Arts & Sciences Alumni Advisory Board where she provides invaluable industry perspectives.
Dicke College of Business Administration Distinguished Alumni Award: Josh Barrickman, BSBA ’97, CFA
As Principal and Senior Portfolio Manager at Vanguard, Josh Barrickman oversees more than $1.5 trillion in fixed-income assets, the largest portfolio of any bond manager in the world.
Josh joined Vanguard in 1998, building a distinguished 28-year career across taxable and tax-exempt strategies, active and index mutual funds, and ETFs.
Steadily rising through the ranks, Josh has managed Vanguard’s flagship Total Bond Market Index Fund, the world’s largest bond fund, since 2013, while leading a team of 30 investment professionals.
His innovative approach has reshaped fixed-income investing, earning accolades from The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and the Financial Times, with The Wall Street Journal even famously naming him the new “Bond King.”
Pettit College of Law Distinguished Alumni Award: Judge William Zimmerman, BA ’75, JD ’79
A proud “Double Bear,” who earned both his undergraduate and law degrees from Ohio Northern University, Judge Zimmerman has built a distinguished 40-plus year career upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice across the state of Ohio.
Judge Zimmerman began practicing law in 1979. In 2016, and again in 2022, voters elected him to the prestigious Third District Court of Appeals, where he reviews decisions from lower courts across 17 counties in northwest and west-central Ohio. He has twice served as Presiding Judge, playing a pivotal role in bringing oral arguments to communities across Ohio.
A veteran of more than 100 jury trials, Judge Zimmerman has earned a widespread reputation for integrity, wisdom, and fairness.
Judge Zimmerman also has contributed his time and resources to support the Pettit College of Law, including frequently bringing the Third District Court of Appeals to campus for live oral argument sessions to educate and inspire current law student.
Raabe College of Pharmacy Distinguished Alumni Award: Dr. Karen Kier, BSPh ’82
Karen Kier has taught and mentored more than 4,000 future pharmacists over a distinguished 40-year career at Ohio Northern University’s Raabe College of Pharmacy.
Joining the faculty in 1986, Karen also directed the Drug and Health Information Center and authored countless health-related articles for regional, national, and international publications.
Beyond the classroom, Karen is an active leader in professional pharmacy organizations, and she was the first pharmacist in Ohio to receive the highest award from both the Ohio Pharmacists Association and the Ohio Society of Health-System Pharmacy.
She’s also an exemplary member of the Ada community and a passionate advocate for young women through her involvement with Soroptimist International of Kenton/Hardin County, the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, and the Midwest Region Board of Soroptimist International of the Americas. She and her husband, Tom Kier, BSPh ’82, established the Kier Fund at ONU to help educate pharmacy students about addiction, and they fund two Honors Day awards for pharmacy students.
T.J. Smull College of Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award: Doug Leuthold, BSCE ’76
Doug Leuthold launched his career at the Bechtel Group, an international engineering and construction firm, which afforded him opportunities to live across the country and work on high-profile projects ranging from the Space Shuttle program to nuclear plants and defense facilities.
In the early 1990s, Doug forged his own path as an entrepreneur by founding Advanced Fiber Technology in Bucyrus, Ohio. The cornerstone of his business was an eco-friendly innovation that converts waste paper for industrial applications worldwide. Through hard work and ingenuity, he grew the company to annual revenues of approximately $18 million. He sold the business in 2018.
In retirement, Doug has become a devoted philanthropist, volunteer, and mentor. At ONU, he and his wife, Renee, have been generous supporters and are Life Lehr Associate members. Doug has served on the College of Engineering’s KEEN Program Working Group, and on the campaign steering committee for the Forward Together Campaign.