Thiel College Trustees adds four new members including second young alumni representative

Posted January 04, 2023 Print

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- Thiel College has appointed four members to its Board of Trustees: Matt Hughes ’92, Robert Burns ’74 H’22, Nicholas Romano ’18 and Robert Rogalski.

Burns, who previously served on the board from 1991 to 2000, 2002 to 2011, and 2012 to 2021, is returning for his fourth stint. A native of Ashland, Ohio, Burns graduated summa cum laude from Thiel College in 1974 with a degree in chemistry. As a student, he was a member of the American Chemical Society Student Affiliates and Beta Beta Beta biology honorary, sports editor of The Thielensian, and co-captain of the swim team. After graduation, Burns moved earned his medical degree from The Ohio State University School of Medicine in 1978. During his clinical rotations, he earned special honors in pediatrics, genetics, and pharmacology. Burns received the Mosby Scholarship Book Award for his efforts during rotations. He completed his residency in pediatric medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Following his residency, Burns returned to Ohio and entered private practice. In 1981, he founded Mansfield Pediatrics, which has grown to the largest pediatric practice in north central Ohio.
Rogalski is the current President of the Sharon Regional Medical Center. Rogalski has over 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry, where he served for more than a decade as CEO of Excela Health in Greensburg, Pa. He has also held leadership roles at Allegheny General Hospital and UPMC. Rogalski earned a Bachelor of Arts from Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa., and then received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
Hughes, a healthcare IT executive, is serving his first three-year appointment. He is the Chief Operating Officer for HealthAxis Group, LLC. Before joining HealthAxis, Hughes served as the Chief Financial Officer of HealthEdge Software, Inc after the successful merger of Click4Care. He was responsible for all accounting, finance, corporate development, FP&A, HR, audit, legal, tax, and administrative functions. Hughes has led multiple debt and equity refinancing activities, including the successful exit of one company to a large private equity firm.
Romano, an environmental scientist for Kimley-Horn, is serving his first appointment. Romano is the second young alumni representative to the Board of Trustees. He will serve a three-year term as a full voting member of the Board of Trustees. At Kimley-Horn, he conducts wetland delineations, various site assessments, and soil and groundwater sampling. Romano has worked on a wide variety of projects from large-scale solar farms, warehouses, and industrial complexes, and local municipal infrastructure projects. He is also a member of the Virginia Association of Wetland Professionals. Romano graduated from Thiel College in 2018, earning a bachelor’s degree in environmental science with chemistry and wildlife biology minors.

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the oversight of Thiel College. The Board adopts rules, regulations and policies governing Thiel College and has authority over curricular development, use of property, development of facilities and fiscal and human resources management. The Board of Trustees meets formally three times a year on campus.