Sara Persinger (2024), Chair
Associate Director, Finance and Business Services Technology Operations and Support
persinsc@MiamiOH.edu
Sarah Persinger has been in the FBS division for the span of her 16-year Miami career. She holds an Accounting degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and an MBA from Miami University.
Sarah Persinger (2024): Co-Chair
Associate Director, Finance and Business Services Technology Operations and Support
persinsc@MiamiOH.edu
Sarah Persinger is currently Associate Director, FBS Technology Operations and Support. She has been in the FBS division for the span of her 16-year Miami career. An Air Force ‘brat’, spouse and mom, she moved here from Biloxi, Mississippi with her husband and their young son in 2005 to fill a technology support position in the General Accounting office. Her husband, Scott, graduated from Talawanda in 1984 so this was a return home for him while being an intentional transplant north for both Sarah and their son, Curran. Sarah is an avid reader (typical bookworm while growing up, partly attributed to 4 years without TV while living in northern Italy in the late ’70s); enjoys puzzles (both crossword and jigsaw); loves to hike and enjoy the outdoors with husband Scott and trusty sidekick, Sandy Pancakes (a white Labrador mix) and is a prolific shutterbug with family, weather, and nature shots being her favorite.
She holds an Accounting degree from the University of Southern Mississippi (attending during two years of Brett Favre’s QB tenure as a USM Golden Eagle) and an MBA from Miami University (Class of 2015) and loves the Ohio changing seasons (especially the snow) much more than the hot, hotter, humid, and warm seasons of the Mississippi Gulf Coast where she lived from 1980 to 2005. Sarah finds her passion in helping others increase their knowledge, understanding, and efficient functional use of systems, technology, and a multitude of software programs while continuing to learn as much as possible on her own to stay up to date in a rapidly changing technology environment. If you get a chance, ask her about what it was like during the annual hurricane season.
Amy Lamborg (2023): Co-Chair
Grant Facilitator, College of Education, Health & Society
lambora@MiamiOH.edu
Tresa Barlage Zianno (2024): Secretary
Associate Director, Office of Residence Life
barlagtm@MiamiOH.edu
Tresa Barlage Zianno is an Associate Director in the Office of Residence Life and is responsible for the direct supervision of two Assistant Directors and indirectly supervises 21 full-time and graduate staff members, who work with approximately 4,000 of the 8,000 on-campus students. She also coordinates the hiring of professional staff for the department. Tresa holds two degrees in education (B.S. and M.A.) from Wright State University.
Current Members
Spencer Izor (2024)
Associate Director of Development for Annual Giving
izorsk@MiamiOH.edu
Spencer is currently the Associate Director of Development for Annual Giving. During her Miami career, she has spent time in the athletic department and as an adjunct professor in the Sport Leadership and Management (SLAM) program. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Sport Management (University of Dayton, 2004), a Master’s degree in Educational Policy and Leadership (University of Dayton, 2008) and a Juris Doctorate (University of Dayton, 2012). She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Culture, and Curriculum from Miami University where she hopes to focus her research on restorative justice practices in higher education.
Her time as a Division I softball collegiate athlete, studies, and career experience in athletics and as a professor has given her a great sense of how to cater to the educational needs of students. Identifying and acquiring resources and funding for students to have access to education has thus far been the most rewarding part of her career.
When she is not at work or spending time with her family, she is committed to serving her community. Service experiences include a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for abused, neglected, and dependent children in Montgomery County, the House of Bread soup kitchen, Habitat for Humanity, Tornado relief, and Germantown Gators. Spencer and her wife are licensed foster and adoptive parents in Montgomery County. They adopted Alexander in May 2018, Jay in April 2019, and Johnathan in August 2019.
She and her family regularly attend St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Oakwood, OH where she is a member of the Vestry, Altar Guild, assists with leading the Youth Mission Project each summer, and serves as a Lay Minister throughout the year.
They have four dogs, three hermit crabs, and two fish. Dogs: Raleigh (Chocolate Lab), Chloe (English Setter), Levi (English Setter), and Oliver (Goldendoodle). Hermit Crabs: Herman, Sherman, and Sauce. Fish: Jafar and Benny.
Jennifer Beardslee (2023)
Assistant Athletic Director, Wellness Services
beardsjm@MiamiOH.edu
Jennifer Beardslee, who is originally from St. Louis, Missouri, earned her BS in Exercise Science from the University of Missouri in 1994. She went on to earn her MEd. in Health and Physical Education from Wright State University in 1996. Jennifer oversees the Wellness Services Department within the Miami University Intercollegiate Athletics Human Performance and Wellness Services Department. Her main responsibilities include the day-to-day operations of the department which include overseeing healthcare for over 500 student-athletes, insurance claims processing, annual budget, and the Sport Psychology Team.
Lori Chapin (2024)
Innovation Spaces Manager, University Libraries
pheanila@MiamiOH.edu
Lori Chapin is the Innovation Spaces Manager for the University Libraries.
Bess Sprockett (ex-officio)
Director of Academic Personnel Services
sprocke@MiamiOH.edu
Stephanie Heitz (2024)
Treasury Operations Manager
heitzsd@MiamiOH.edu
Rachel Shellcroft (2024)
Senior Graphic Designer, Regionals Public Relations
rshellcroft@MiamiOH.edu
Amy Wentzell (2023)
Assistant Director of Catering
wentzeae@MiamiOH.edu
Amy Wentzell is the Assistant Director of Miami Catering and supervises 10 full and part-time staff and nearly 60 student employees. She started working at Miami in 1992 as a student employee and a GA while working on her graduate degree, and in 1994, began her full-time career at Miami. Since then, she has held both classified and unclassified positions twice. Most of her career has been in Campus Services (1994 – 2011; and 2017 – present). Amy also worked in the Office of the President from 2011 – 2017. She previously served on the CPAC Committee from 2009 – 2011 and the Strategic Priorities Taskforce from 2009 – 2010.
Amy holds bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Sport Organization (Miami University 1991) and a
master’s degree in Sport Leadership (Miami University 1993). She and her husband are a Miami Merger and have lived and worked in the Oxford community for nearly 34 years and has 3 children; 2 of whom are current Miami students, bringing her Miami journey full circle.
Eun Chong Yang (2023)
Associate Director of American Culture and English (ACE) Program
yange2@MiamOH.edu
Eun Chong Yang is the Associate Director of the American Culture and English (ACE) Program. She earned a master’s degree in Multicultural Literature for Children at Xavier University and a doctoral degree in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) from the University of Cincinnati (UC). She taught at UC for 14 years and came to Miami in 2014. Her expertise includes training preservice teachers/new instructors/faculty, teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) students, designing curriculum, and creating and administering assessments. She is the president of the International Faculty and Staff Association at Miami (IFSAM) and facilitates a Faculty Learning Community at the Center for Teaching Excellence to support international faculty and staff. She also serves on a Fulbright National Screening Committee selecting Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) semifinalists.