Recently retired as the 21st President of Hiram College, Thomas V. Chema holds a leadership role in several national higher education associations including the Council of Independent Colleges, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the Annapolis Group, the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Ohio, the North Coast Athletic Conference and the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges. He began his career with the Cleveland-based law firm of Arter & Hadden in 1971 and became a partner in 1979. He took a leave of absence in 1983 to serve as Executive Director of the Ohio Lottery Commission. In 1985, he was asked to become Chairman of the Ohio Public Utilities Commission. Following his service as Executive Director of the Gateway Economic Development Corporation, Tom has consulted nationally on sports and entertainment-related economic development projects as President of Gateway Consultants Group, Inc. Tom serves as trustee of the Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation, Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine Health System, St. Ignatius High School, Ohio Hunger Task Force, Historic Gateway Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation, UHHS/CSAHS-Cuyahoga and Kids Voting Program. Tom is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and a cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School.