Every year during commencement ceremonies, Kent State University at Geauga honors a dedicated supporter of this local institution of higher learning with the Friend of the Campus Award. On May 9, 2025, this distinction will go to Geauga County luminaries, Richard and Christie Frenchie.
This couple has made significant contributions to the entire community through a lifetime of leadership in local healthcare and higher education through a shared dedication to the Geauga region, values-driven career choices, service, volunteerism, and philanthropy.
Most recently, the Frenchies made a substantial philanthropic donation to the Geauga Building Fund for capital improvements and renovations on the Burton campus. In gratitude for their enduring and transformative contributions, the science labs at Kent State Geauga will be renamed the Richard J. and Christie A. Frenchie Chemistry and Biology Laboratories by Fall Semester 2025.
The Frenchies’ financial gift will also be used to establish a new nursing scholarship endowment to support nursing students from Geauga County who attend KSU Geauga and Twinsburg Academic Center. The first scholarship will be awarded in the Fall of 2025.
“Thanks to their support, future nurses and scientists from Geauga County will have the resources and encouragement they need to succeed and become contributors to the local community,” says Kent State Geauga Dean and Chief Administrative Officer Angela Spalsbury, Ph.D. “We’re honored to have their names forever connected to our campus. We are profoundly grateful for their enduring support of the Geauga Campus and their vision for a brighter future.”
Their ongoing philanthropy demonstrates their investment in the future of higher education and quality of life in Geauga County.
“It’s hard to put into words just how much Rich and Christie Frenchie mean to our campus and community,” says Associate Director of External Relations Rebecca Gierman. “Their generosity comes from the heart, and their belief in our students and in the power of education is truly inspiring.”
Dedicated to servant leadership, Rich has magnified Kent State Geauga’s positive impact in the region for over 30 years. President of The Frenchie Group consulting firm, through which he currently provides leadership to 11 organizations in Northeast Ohio, Rich previously served as president and CEO of several regional hospitals, including UH Geauga Medical Center. He is currently Chair of the Geauga Campus Advisory Board and serves as board director for the Kent State Foundation and the KSU National Alumni Association. His leadership helped launch the campus’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, a lasting contribution to regional healthcare.
Christie’s roots in Geauga County extend five generations—and she belongs to a three-generation-strong Kent State family. She volunteered at Geauga Hospital as an Auxiliary member for over 20 years, serving as president for much of her tenure. She also volunteered in Kent State Geauga’s nursing program, encouraging community engagement on campus. Christie now serves as president of their homeowners association in Auburn Township. In college, Christie trained in environmental research with an emphasis on marine biology. Also an accomplished watercolor painter and writer, Christie is currently writing her memoir.
Reflecting upon his various leadership capacities within the community over the past 30 years, Rich says, “Kent State University is unique and one that I appreciate for its academic excellence with a strong mission, vision, and values. The Kent culture represents a caring and nurturing environment for staff, students, leadership, and the community.
“KSU impacts the community by more than $5 billion. These results and the continued investment in the communities served are a real inspiration and a demonstration of strong and caring partnerships. Christie and I have the opportunity to tell the KSU story because of the conviction of KSU and its rich history. Student-first and student-success are the number one priority of KSU, and rightfully so… Telling the story is what we enjoy doing, for it is easy, given the achievements during its long history of more than 100 years.”