UOPX Alumni Luminary awards
Celebrating distinguished °®ÎÛ´«Ã½ alumni
The UOPX Alumni Luminaries program honors 76 exceptional alumni each year for their achievements in industry leadership, entrepreneurship and community leadership.
Hear from Provost Dr. John Woods about the UOPX Alumni Luminaries initiative.
The UOPX Alumni Luminaries program honors 76 exceptional alumni each year for their achievements in industry leadership, entrepreneurship and community leadership.
What makes a UOPX Alumni Luminary?Ìý
We call them the UOPX Alumni Luminaries because they are the brightest examples of how a °®ÎÛ´«Ã½ education can ignite lasting impact. These distinguished UOPX alumni illuminate the path for others as innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders in their fields, and set a standard for success.
Since the University was founded in 1976, each year we will recognize 76 alumni for their outstanding contributions to society.Ìý
2025 UOPX Alumni Luminaries
Get to know the very first class of distinguished UOPX alumni honored for their outstanding achievements in community leadership, industry and entrepreneurship.
BEHIND THE SCENES:
Choosing the UOPX Alumni LuminariesÌý
Learn more about the nomination process, selection panel and how honorees are chosen each year.
Lori R | MSN/FNP
Reyes MÌý| BAM
Lisa L | DNP
Nomination processÌý
°®ÎÛ´«Ã½ invites all alumni as well as their leaders, friends, mentors and peers to nominate individuals for this distinguished alumni award. Anyone may nominate an individual who exemplifies the spirit of UOPX alumni excellence.
Selection processÌý
Each year, a dedicated panel selects 76 UOPX alumni whose leadership and impact stand out among the broader alumni community. Honorees will be featured on this site, awarded digital credentials and celebrated at special events.
Meet the 2025 UOPX Alumni Luminaries selection panel
Drawing on their extensive experience in higher education and career development, the 2025 selection panel reviewed over 600 nominations to identify the most exceptional UOPX alumni.
John Woods, Ph.D
Chief Academic Officer & Provost
°®ÎÛ´«Ã½
Dr. John Woods leads academic strategy, innovation and quality across °®ÎÛ´«Ã½â€™s programs, overseeing a team of academic leaders and 2,500+ practitioner faculty. With over 15 years of experience as a CAO and a background in teaching, he holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Bowling Green State University and degrees from Carleton University.
Andrea Smiley, MS, APR
VP, Public Relations
°®ÎÛ´«Ã½
Andrea Smiley oversees strategic communications and public relations for °®ÎÛ´«Ã½, including media relations, stakeholder communications, issues management, crisis communications, executive communications, content marketing and corporate social responsibility.
Jay Titus
VP & GM of Workforce Solutions Group
°®ÎÛ´«Ã½
Jay Titus leads strategy and operations for workforce development and upskilling solutions nationwide. A recognized thought leader in employer-sponsored education benefits, Jay’s insights have been featured in outlets including Forbes, CFO.com, Human Resource Executive, INC, HRMorning, and FOX Business.
Christina Neider, EdD
Dean, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
°®ÎÛ´«Ã½
Dr. Christina Neider is the associate provost of colleges, and her career spans more than 30 years with military service and leadership roles. She is committed to excellence, teamwork and fostering a collaborative environment that values both academic achievement and inspiring insights. The colleges under her leadership are dedicated to preparing students for impactful roles across all disciplines offered by the University.
Hinrich Eylers, PhD, PE, MBA
Vice Provost, Academic Operations and Doctoral Studies
°®ÎÛ´«Ã½
Dr. Hinrich Eylers oversees academic operations and leads the College of Doctoral Studies at °®ÎÛ´«Ã½, including responsibility for the Registrar’s and Admissions offices. His earlier career spans 15 years in civil and environmental engineering, sustainability consulting, teaching and program management across business and technology disciplines.
Kathryn Uhles, MIS, MSP
Dean, College of Business and IT
°®ÎÛ´«Ã½
Currently overseeing the business and IT programs at °®ÎÛ´«Ã½, Kathryn Uhle’s has held roles across student services, operations, curriculum, and academics. As Associate Dean, she’s developed 13 new IT degree and certificate programs and expanded partnerships with CompTIA and EC Council. Her leadership has consistently earned the University EC Council’s Circle of Excellence award during her tenure.
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The Luminaries refer to an exclusive group of 76 alumni recognized for significant success in their industry, in entrepreneurship or through community leadership. In acknowledgement of their status as Luminaries, they receive:
Digital credentials they can share on networking and social media platforms,
Recognition on the °®ÎÛ´«Ã½ website, and
An invitation to an annual celebration hosted by the University.
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°®ÎÛ´«Ã½ was founded in 1976. By selecting 76 Luminaries every year, we honor our legacy of serving adult students.
Note: Not all 76 Luminaries are listed here.
Anyone can nominate an alum for the Luminaries by visiting the landing page.Ìý Nominations are open annually from September through mid-December. Admittance to the UOPX Alumni Luminaries is determined by a rotating committee of university leadership.
Luminaries must:
Have graduated from the °®ÎÛ´«Ã½
Have impacted their industry or organization’s productivity in a measurable way, OR
Have launched, grown and led their own successful business or franchise for more than a year, OR
Have demonstrated a meaningful commitment to improving their community through service, awareness or financial contributions.Ìý
Nominees will not be contacted unless they are selected as Luminaries. If you are not selected this year, you can be nominated next year.
You may be nominated and selected in future years, although it is not guaranteed.
All Luminaries will receive a digital badge they can share on social media (e.g., LinkedIn and other platforms) to highlight their achievement and recognition. Inductees who attend the celebratory weekend may be photographed, and those images may be used in select marketing materials.
To ensure impartiality, the selection committee consists of university leaders. Alumni are recognized but not part of the selection committee.
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Nothing. Luminaries will be notified of the honor and invited to attend a celebratory weekend event.Ìý
They will also receive digital credentials they may choose to share on social platforms. They are under no obligation to share, attend or otherwise participate.Ìý