Walsh University honored its 2023 Outstanding Alumni during Homecoming weekend with a special ceremony that included the presentation of the Outstanding Achievement Award, Professional Achievement Award, Distinguished Service Award and Young Alumni Leadership Award.
This year’s Outstanding Alumni honorees include:
Outstanding Achievement Award
Theresa Rizzo-Novak ’95
Intervention Specialist, Woodridge School District
Professional Achievement Award
The late Dr. Kylee Marie Dawson ‘13
Rheumatology Fellow, Alleghany Health Network
Tim Mead ‘81
Head Coach, Baseball, Walsh University
Distinguished Service Award
Janet Howard ’92 ‘96
Retired, Walsh University
Young Alumni Leadership Award
Dean Miller Jr. ‘15
CEO, Clearview DSI
The Outstanding Achievement Award honors alumni for their achievements, leadership and contributions to their professions, their communities and their alma mater.
Theresa Rizzo-Novak ’95, has dedicated her life to teaching. From her time at Walsh, where she is remembered for being an outstanding student and classmate, to a career serving individuals with exceptionalities with passion and care for the past 30 years, to her current role as an intervention specialist and Special Olympics Coordinator at Woodridge High School, she is an inspirational advocate for her students. The love she has for her students goes beyond the classroom. In December of 2022, she became a living organ donor for a former fourth grade student who needed a liver transplant and a shining example of Walsh’s mission in action.
“Walsh is a special place. It’s where I was able to explore my calling in life,” she said as she accepted the award and expressed her gratitude for her Walsh mentor Dr. Jeannie Defazio and for her family’s unconditional support.
The Professional Achievement Award, established in 2017, recognizes alumni who have experienced a significant achievement in a profession or career.
The late Kylee Marie Dawson D.O. ’13, who passed away from cystic fibrosis in December of 2021, graduated from Walsh magna cum laude in only three years with a biology degree, a chemistry minor, and an emphasis on theology. Dr. Adam Underwood, who presented her award, recalled her impressive laboratory work and the lifelong friendships developed as a result of the close-knit community at Walsh. Fulfilling her greatest passions in life, medicine and serving others, she continued her education at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. There, she graduated magna cum laude with a Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine. Dawson completed her three-year internal medicine residency at UPMC Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh. There, she worked tirelessly caring for patients and assisting with rheumatology research. Throughout all of Dawson’s academic and professional life, she displayed endless tenacity and astonished others with her intellect and compassion. Several weeks prior to her death, Dawson passed the American Board of Internal Medicine examination and achieved her dream of becoming a board-certified internal medicine physician.
“Walsh unexpectedly became an important fixture for Kylee and our family. Some of her best years were spent here,” said Kylee’s sister Geri Dawson-Cosma ’16, who accepted the award and spoke on behalf of their family. Walsh imparted certain lessons and values that took us beyond the classroom, beyond all the research, and beyond our campus home and into the real world. Kylee’s faith and commitment to serve fueled her pursuit to heal the sick. She came to Walsh with one purpose in mind, she was determined to become a doctor, to provide care for, and to ease the suffering of the sick, suffering she knew all too well.”
Tim Mead ’81, a standout student-athlete who was added to the Walsh Athletic Wall of Fame in 1983, is now the all-time winningest coach in Walsh history, with 912 wins. Although most modern-day alum may know Coach Mead as the Head Coach for baseball, his history and influence on athletics at Walsh University spans four decades and two successful programs. His love for soccer and baseball led him to coach both programs until his retirement from soccer in 2010. His record of accomplishment is impressive and his program highlights extensive, but it’s his character, coaching philosophy and love for Walsh that are most significant.
“I love Walsh University, and I love coaching. I have been blessed to coach with so many incredible people in both soccer and baseball,” he said. “To all of the former and current players, thank you for your trust and thank you for your loyalty. Our baseball family is strong. We’re in a great place because of you and the foundation set by you older guys. Our baseball program is special. It’s so much fun to watch these men excel academically, athletically and as men. Anything that’s needed in terms of community service, our guys come through, and I am so proud of all of them. They’re making a difference, and I can’t thank you enough.”
The Distinguished Service Award, established in 1994, recognizes alumni who have provided exemplary service to the Walsh University Alumni Association.
Janet Howard ’92, ’96, arrived on campus in 1989, and instantly connected with students, colleagues and the Brothers of Christian Instruction. For more than 30 years, she coached, taught, mentored, and supported thousands of Walsh students, going the distance for them, even as she was at times a student herself. In addition to being a champion for the students, she was a dear friend to the Brothers of Christian Instruction whom she cared for in their later years and final days.
“I’ve held a lot of titles over the years, but what mattered most was supporting everyone at Walsh University, the students, the faculty and staff, and the Brothers of Christian Instruction,” she said. “The Brothers are so close to my heart. I was the beneficiary of so much of their life stories, of their passion, of their love for their Walsh and of their philosophy.”
The Young Alumni Leadership Award, established in 2017, recognizes alumni who are 35 years old or younger and have experienced exemplary professional achievement, focus on service to the community, and uphold a relationship with Walsh University through engagement and/or philanthropy.
Dean Miller Jr. ’15, is the CEO and Founder of Clearview Developmental Services, a Stark County organization focused on providing adults with disabilities with day support, homemaker personal care, non-medical transportation and vocational habilitation. Although his company was founded in 2017, he began laying the groundwork, leveraging his professors’ expertise and class projects to create his business plan while he was a student at Walsh. Since then, he’s poured his heart and soul into operating the company, giving individuals opportunities they may not otherwise have, and often transporting clients from 5 a.m. until 10 p.m., as needed.
“The first experience I had with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities was my job in college,” he said. “It was a job that I fell in love with instantly. Helping a population that society often forgets about accomplish everyday tasks is so rewarding.”
