Board of Directors

Lisa G. Smith

Transforming strategy into results and leading change management initiatives for a culture of high performance, quality, and excellence are cornerstones of Lisa Smith’s career. She has a proven track record of understanding key business drivers, cultivating relationships, and building consensus for organizational improvement. Lisa brings a process focus that allows individuals to see the interrelation of seemingly unconnected ideas, concepts, and principles.

During her career with Premier since 2002, she has worked behind the scenes in providing the systems, infrastructure, and support to move forward the organization’s Human Capital strategy. In her current role as Director of Corporate Human Resources and Diversity, she sets the strategic direction for promoting a positive and inclusive work environment enabling all individuals to maximize their potential, performance, and effectiveness.

Lisa is a graduate of Miami University. She has more than 20 years of leadership and management experience, with increasing scope and responsibility and has received numerous awards for outstanding performance which reflect this. Her “Best of the Best” Chairman’s award for Quality Improvement and “Fast Track” award recognizing her learning agility, business acumen, organizational effectiveness, and process improvement are indicative of her history of high performance and commitment to excellence.

Lisa brings compassion of humanity, understanding of others and diverse perspectives, and her ability to bring forward critical issues to her work leaving a positive imprint in the lives of those she touches.

Dr. Karen E. Rafinski

Dr. Karen Rafinski has been Clark State’s President for fourteen years. She has degrees from Minnesota State University at Moorhead; the University of Minnesota, the University of Washington, Seattle; and Harvard University in Cambridge.

Recently she was presented the Mary Martin Chief Executive Award in Fall 2008 as the country’s top CEO by the Association of Community College Trustees and has received the Outstanding Leader from Leadership Clark County, and Urban League’s Equal Opportunity Award. Dr. Rafinski has 24 years of experience in three community colleges as their CEO, and has served for 39 years in community college work in many roles including faculty, athletics, resource development, program development/strategic planning, academic affairs, and continuing education.

Dr. Rafinski has served on many local boards and currently serves on the Security National Bank Board of Directors, Dayton Development Coalition Board, Southwestern Ohio Council of Higher Education, City Schools Business Advisory Committee, Springfield Chamber of Commerce, and Springfield Regional Medical Center Foundation Board.
She has mentored eight community college presidents in her career, and has led Clark State’s growth to more than 5,000 students and added a successful new Center in a neighboring county.

Lawrence Burns

Lawrence J. Burns is The University of Toledo’s Vice President for External Affairs and Vice President for Equity and Diversity. He provides strategic leadership for the University’s enrollment efforts, as well as University marketing and communications, Web development, and diversity and entrepreneurial activities.

Among Mr. Burns’ enrollment responsibilities are financial aid initiatives, direct-from-high-school recruitment, adult and transfer recruitment strategies, and military and foreign student recruitment. He works closely with the University President, Deans and other academic leadership in preparation and implementation on marketing and brand initiatives on an ongoing basis for each academic year.

In his role as Vice President for Equity and Diversity, Mr. Burns works in tandem with numerous offices to foster a culture of diversity across UT’s campuses. His diversity team leads the Culture Ambassadors, a group of individuals made up of faculty, staff, and students focusing on creating a positive campus environment across colleges, divisions, and campuses where all feel welcomed and valued for their uniqueness. These efforts go beyond the UT borders, as Mr. Burns works to develop strategic relationships with minority leadership throughout the community, the state and, in some cases, the country.

These external outreach efforts continue for Mr. Burns through his role as Vice Chairman of University of Toledo Innovation Enterprises. He puts his entrepreneurial spirit to work to forge strategic relationships with emerging business leaders for designed-to-enhance economic development in the region and bolster The University of Toledo’s role as a primary driver of such efforts. He also works to support companies in the UT Minority Business Development Center.

A native of Detroit, Mr. Burns is a 1978 graduate of Central Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science degree in interpersonal communication.

Joe Cisneros

Joe Cisneros joined American Electric Power (AEP) in October, 2006. His present position with AEP is Director – Workforce Diversity. Joe and his staff have the responsibility of directing AEP’s HR activities related to: Diversity and Inclusion initiatives; development of EEO/Affirmative Action Policies and Procedures, compliance with EEOC and OFCCP regulations; and providing counsel to all levels of management on related issues. Prior to joining AEP Joe was employed by Kansas City Power and Light where he held the position of Director – Leader and Organizational Development. Joe has a strong background in various aspects of Human Resources (HR) such as Leadership and Organizational Development, HR Policy and Practices, Workforce Diversity and Affirmative Action. He earned a bachelors degree in Management from St. Mary’s University located in his hometown of San Antonio, Texas. Joe is married and he and his wife, LeAnn, have three children – Joe Jr., Erin and Matthew. Joe and his family reside in Westerville, OH.