A tradition begun in 1949, the Alumni Citation is the highest honor Denison bestows upon alums. In the 75 years since the program’s inception, 573 individuals have earned this recognition based on demonstrated professional accomplishment, service to one’s local community and beyond, and service to Denison.
This year’s Alumni Citation recipients span the classes of 1964 to 2005 and represent pioneers in fields as varied as the performing arts, telecommunications, law, and more.
The Denison community will celebrate the Alumni Citation recipients on campus in May during Reunion Weekend. Those interested in celebrating their classmates and friends are invited to register for the Alumni Citation Dinner on May 30.
Please join us in congratulating the esteemed Alumni Citation recipients for 2024.
Beverly G. Baker ’64 — Having spent the majority of her career at the Federal Communications Commission, Baker anticipated several changes in technology and helped the FCC adjust policies related to public safety radio frequencies and the creation of a new Emergency Alert System, which went into effect in 1997. Baker was the first woman to serve as a Bureau Chief at the FCC and had a tremendous impact on those who followed her.
Dr. John E. Brewer ’70 — Brewer has dedicated his career to providing quality health care to medically underserved people. His career has taken him to Nigeria, the Congo, Mozambique, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti as a missionary or volunteer physician. He taught and mentored many medical students and doctors at Michigan State University and the University at Buffalo, inspiring them to provide medical care in underserved areas regionally and abroad. Brewer received a Humanitarian Award from the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry in 2011.
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Steve J. Carell ’84 — Now known for his illustrious TV and film career, Carell got his start in improvisational comedy as a member of Denison’s Burpee’s Seedy Theatrical Company. He performed in The Second City troupe in Chicago and was a correspondent on The Daily Show before appearing in films such as Bruce Almighty and Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. His first leading role was in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, a box-office hit he co-wrote. He starred as Michael Scott on the popular television series The Office, which earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Comedy in 2006. Following his role in The Office, Carell continued to appear in many successful films and earned an Oscar nomination for his role in Foxcatcher in 2015. Carell spent much of his time at Denison as a member of the Burpee’s and the ice hockey team and continues to support both organizations.
Nicholas C. “Nic” Covey ’04 — Covey has built a career centered on building strategic partnerships to advance the missions of the organizations he serves. As the vice president of strategic relationships and corporate development for Cincinnati Children’s, he is responsible for domestic and international collaborations that advance the system’s highest priorities. Prior to joining Cincinnati Children’s, he led consumer-facing partnerships at Kroger and co-founded America’s largest grocer’s corporate venture capital fund. Earlier in his career, Covey spent more than a decade in corporate development and global strategy roles at Nielsen. Outside of his career, Covey is an active and steadfast volunteer for Denison. While he currently serves on the campaign executive committee, he has also served as a volunteer for the Alumni Council, Annual Fund, Admission, and Reunion.
Jason S. Dozier ’05 — Dozier has prioritized service to his community and his country throughout his career, which began with the United States Army. He served as a reconnaissance officer in Iraq and Afghanistan and earned the Army Commendation Medal and Bronze Star. Following his military service, he returned to his hometown of Atlanta and has held several positions at Hire Heroes USA, a national nonprofit supporting U.S. military members and veterans in the civilian workforce. He also represents District 4 on the Atlanta City Council. Dozier contributes to the City of Atlanta’s growth and well-being through board positions with Invest Atlanta, Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, among many others.
Rex H. Elliott ’84 — Throughout his career as a trial lawyer, Elliott has been passionate about fighting for the underdog and making the world a safer place. He is the co-founder of Columbus-based law firm Cooper Elliott, and he has represented the families of Stone Foltz and Collin Wiant, who were both killed in hazing events at two Ohio universities. Elliott went on to help pass Collin’s Law, Ohio’s anti-hazing statute, and is now a frequent speaker at universities (including Denison) about the dangers of hazing. A member of Denison’s football team, Elliott was inducted into the Denison University Athletic Hall of Fame and previously served as president of the Varsity D Association for more than a decade.
Erik S. Farley ’03 — As the Chief People, Equity, and Inclusion Officer for the YMCA of Central Ohio, Farley works across teams to transform the organization’s approach to human resources, risk management, DEI, and anti-racism through systems, structures, and processes. He also serves as an instructor in the African American and African Studies Department at the Ohio State University, where he teaches courses on African American History and the Black Urban Experience. Prior to his current position at the YMCA of Central Ohio, Farley worked in student development at Denison for more than 12 years.
Amy Sibert Lovett ’84 — Lovett became passionate about philanthropic and service leadership in high school, and those themes guide her to this day. With her husband, she co-founded Keystone Montessori School in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2013 and enthusiastically supported the new Ann & Thomas Hoaglin Wellness Center at Denison. Continuing with her service leadership, Lovett has been an active contributor to causes related to early childhood education, breast cancer awareness, women’s collective giving, eradicating homelessness, and adolescent mental health. She began her professional life with Oracle Corporation during the early days of Silicon Valley, ultimately serving as director of customer experience and advisor to the CEO.
Elizabeth Stewart “Lisa” McKnight ’90 — McKnight oversees all of Mattel’s toy categories and global brands and was recently recognized by Forbes as one of the top brand marketers in the world for 2023. She has held several senior leadership positions at Mattel over nearly 25 years with the company. McKnight led the critical effort to further contextualize the Barbie brand for the next generation, partnering closely with Warner Bros, Atlantic Records, and the filmmakers of the Barbie movie to bring the record-breaking film to life. She spearheaded the award-winning best-in-class marketing campaign for Mattel, bringing the story of the Barbie brand to life through a new lens. The film grossed more than $1.44 billion at the worldwide box office, breaking the record for the highest-grossing film from a female director, the highest-grossing film in Warner Bros’ 100-year history, and the biggest film of 2023.
Dr. Gill Wright Miller ’74 — Miller discovered her love of dance at Denison University as a student and became the program’s strongest advocate, serving as chair of the dance department for more than 40 years. She developed the fledgling dance department into a nationally recognized center for dance education, with a focus on diverse movement practices. Her decades of research in somatics have afforded her opportunities to present on the topic around the world and earn the highest honor from dance’s largest service organization, the National Dance Education Organization.
Carl B. Moellenberg ’74 — Moellenberg has been involved in more than 100 theatrical productions on Broadway, the West End, Australia, and national tours, and his 13 Tony awards for producing Spring Awakening, Death of a Salesman, Pippin, Dear Evan Hansen, and Oklahoma, among others, are evidence of an incredibly successful career. Those not familiar with Moellenberg’s story might be surprised to learn that he first spent nearly two decades ascending the corporate ladder at banking and investment firms, ultimately serving as a senior executive chief of staff to the president of Chemical Bank. That all changed when he determined that his banking lifestyle and a life-threatening health situation were no longer compatible. Today, Moellenberg continues theater production and has branched into film production.
R. Scott Trumbull ’70 — Trumbull was awarded the Alumni Citation in 2020. Unfortunately, Trumbull passed away before he could receive his citation in person. The Trumbull family will accept his citation and celebrate his legacy during the 2024 citation presentations.