Academy of
Distinguished Alumni

Academy of Distinguished Alumni

The Academy of Distinguished Alumni is one of highest honors awarded by Bowling Green State University, recognizing alumni whose professional achievements and/or community involvement have made a lasting impact on their industries, the public good and the lives of others. Originally established in 1960 and renamed in 2011, the academy is celebrated by the BGSU Alumni Association as part of a proud tradition that honors generations of Falcons who continue to shape the world around them.

Academy of Distinguished Alumni Honorees

Susan P. Mucciarone ’79

Susan Mucciarone
Susan Mucciarone is an entrepreneurial leader with significant expertise in the financial services industry known for driving transformative results across public and private firms. Her leadership has spanned start-ups, high-growth ventures and turnaround strategies, earning her a reputation as an innovator and trusted mentor in private wealth management. 

Most recently, Mucciarone served as managing executive of private wealth at The Glenmede Trust Company, where she was a key member of the firm’s Management Committee. Here, she led a multi-year strategic growth and modernization initiative, expanded client advisory capabilities and consistently achieved industry-leading satisfaction and performance results. 

Mucciarone also held executive roles at Wells Fargo, where she co-founded and led Calibre, one of the industry's first multi-client family office practices. She also launched a high-growth discretionary investment consulting practice – a forerunner to the now widely adopted outsourced chief investment officer (OCIO) model – and served as president of the Alternative Investments Group. She spent her early career in business accounting, product development and asset-liability management. 

Mucciarone holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in accounting from Bowling Green State University and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management. 

She currently serves on various boards, including as board director for The Glenmede Trust Company of Delaware, board chair for Natural Lands and board trustee for Case Western Reserve University. She also is a member of the Property Committee for the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania and was a former board member for various Girl Scout Councils and other organizations close to her heart. 

In addition, Mucciarone is a founding advisor for Weatherhead’s Center for Family Business and a member of the Philadelphia Chapter of the International Women’s Forum. She has been recognized as one of the 50 most influential women in private wealth management and has delivered keynote addresses at both BGSU and Weatherhead commencements. 

Mucciarone lives in the Philadelphia area with her husband, David, and remains closely connected to family and friends in Cleveland. 

John M. Starcher Jr. ’93

John Starcher
John M. Starcher Jr. is a nationally recognized health care executive and currently serves as president and CEO of Bon Secours Mercy Health, one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the U.S. and the fifth largest Catholic health system. Since 2018, he has led the organization through transformative growth, overseeing more than 14 million patient encounters annually across seven states and two countries.

Under his leadership, Bon Secours Mercy Health has grown to include 50 hospitals and more than 1,200 sites of care, employing over 60,000 associates and generating $13 billion in annual net operating revenue. The system contributes more than $500 million annually to community benefit initiatives. Starcher has also driven the expansion of the system’s B2B portfolio, including Ensemble Health Partners, Nordic, Conduit Health Partners, Accrete Health Partners and Occupational Health Services, advancing innovation through digital integration and strategic partnerships.

Previously, Starcher served as CEO of Mercy Health and Health Management Associates, where he led operational turnarounds and strategic growth. His career reflects a commitment to simplifying health care access and aligning providers, payers and policymakers to improve outcomes. He has championed Bon Secours Mercy Health community health programs, including affordable housing investments designed to address health disparities.

A respected voice in the industry, Starcher serves on the boards of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Catholic Health Association, Ensemble Health Partners and Pediatrix Inc. He has served on more than 25 boards throughout his career and was named to Modern Healthcare’s 2024 list of the “100 Most Influential People in Healthcare.” He also delivered BGSU’s 2019 commencement address and was named a Distinguished Alumnus by the University of Toledo College of Law.

Starcher earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from BGSU and a Juris Doctor from the University of Toledo. He and his wife, Erinn, reside in Cincinnati, Ohio, and are Falcon Flames.

Michael R. Wilcox ’75

Michael Wilcox
Michael R. Wilcox is the founder, chairman and CEO of Wilcox Financial and Wilcox Sports Management – two nationally respected firms offering elite financial services to high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs and leaders. A trusted advisor for five decades, Wilcox has built a reputation for his integrity, insight and dedication, serving clients across the U.S. and in 12 countries. 

Under his leadership, Wilcox Financial has grown to serve more than 3,500 clients, including corporations, executives and family-owned businesses. In 2001, he launched Wilcox Sports Management, which now provides comprehensive financial guidance to football and basketball coaches, professional athletes, athletic directors, university presidents, conference commissioners and broadcasters across the country. 

Wilcox is a longtime member of the Top of the Table for 46 consecutive years – placing him among the top one-tenth of one percent of financial service professionals worldwide. A recognized speaker and authority on financial, estate and compensation planning, he has presented in more than 25 countries and 35 states. 

A lacrosse three-time All-American and two-time captain as a student-athlete at BGSU, Wilcox is a member of the Ohio Lacrosse Hall of Fame and the athletic halls of fame at BGSU, The Peddie School and Ithaca High School. He has received multiple honors from his alma mater, including the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and induction into the Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame. He also was chosen as one of BGSU’s Top 100 Alumni in 100 Years during the University’s centennial celebration. 

With a passion for service, Wilcox currently serves on the boards of the Fiesta Bowl, Culver Academies and the Lou Holtz Hall of Fame. Wilcox previously served as chair of the BGSU Board of Trustees and was a member of the Foundation Board, as well as the boards of Toledo Hospital Foundation, U.S. Lacrosse Foundation, Huntington National Bank and USA Football, among many others. 

He and his wife, Jan, reside in Toledo and are proud parents of two adult children, Ben and Sarah, both of whom are involved in the family’s businesses. Ben is also a BGSU graduate. 

Updated: 06/27/2025 12:28PM