John Carroll University today announced the appointment of Lisa Zone to the newly created role of Chief of Staff, effective June 1, following a national search. Zone will directly support President-Elect Carolyn Noll Sorg, who assumes the role of President on June 1, and will serve as the integrator within the executive office to connect people, strategy, and operations throughout the institution. With this appointment, she will pivot off the John Carroll Board of Directors, where she currently serves as co-chair of the Enrollment & Marketing committee in direct partnership with Noll Sorg.
Zone, a 1998 graduate of John Carroll, brings nearly 30 years of consulting experience, including 26 years at the strategic communications firm Dix & Eaton, where she most recently served as Executive Vice President. In that capacity, she functioned as senior counsel to client C-suites and executives on a range of complex organizational issues and priorities; designed and executed strategic plans and programs to align cross-functional teams on important enterprise initiatives; developed and implemented integrated communications programs for internal and external stakeholders; and built and managed high-performing teams. She was also responsible for business development and growth; talent recruitment, retention and development; establishing and managing strategic partnerships and alliances; and external networking and community engagement on behalf of the firm.
“Lisa’s executive experience and business acumen will be a meaningful addition to our senior leadership team,” said Noll Sorg. “I have come to trust her instincts, perspectives, and counsel through our shared Board work, and I’m thrilled to have her step into this new role on my team.” Noll Sorg added, “I’ll be relying on Lisa to help me advance the institution’s most important priorities as I move into my new role, including further cementing the national growth strategy my predecessor, Al Miciak, established, and launching Onward this fall.” Onward is a comprehensive student success platform that integrates mentorship, personalized planning, hands-on experience, and career launch support into a single, guided journey from enrollment through post-graduation. Zone's strong network within the business community will be a powerful asset in accelerating partnerships and expanding experiential opportunities for John Carroll students.
In the Chief of Staff role, Zone will act as a key strategic advisor and operational leader within the Office of the President, partnering closely with Noll Sorg and other members of administrative and academic leadership to translate institutional vision into clear priorities and measurable outcomes, drive cross-functional initiatives, and ensure alignment across functions.
“I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to blend my professional background and personal passion in a position that advances the mission of an institution I have loved for more than 30 years,” said Zone. “I’m excited to have a direct, meaningful impact on the University, its students, and the communities it serves, and the opportunity to do so alongside Carolyn, for whom I have the utmost respect, makes it that much more special.”
Zone has been an active John Carroll alumna and volunteer for two decades, including her aforementioned role on the John Carroll Board of Directors. Previously, Zone held a seat on the Cleveland Alumni Chapter Board, where she started JCU WMN – a women’s mentoring and networking group for Cleveland-area alumnae – and was later elected President of the National Alumni Association. She has also served as a coach for several cohorts of students in an MBA-level executive communications class; appeared on numerous panels for student events; and guided dozens of undergraduate students seeking internships, career connections, and informational interviews.
“Throughout her years of service to John Carroll, Lisa has consistently embodied the Jesuit ideal of being a woman for others. Her deep commitment to our community and lifetime of volunteer leadership reflects a servant-leader approach that prioritizes mission, relationships, and the growth of those around her,” said Bill Donnelly, co-chair, John Carroll Board of Directors. “We’re confident that legacy of service, paired with her executive experience, will allow Lisa to lead with a clear sense of purpose for the work ahead.”
Beyond her service to John Carroll, Zone has been an active contributor to the Cleveland nonprofit landscape, further illustrating her commitment to the Jesuit principle of service for the greater good. She previously held leadership positions on the boards of Dress for Success Cleveland, the Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio, and the American Advertising Federation of Cleveland. She is a graduate of two programs offered through the Cleveland Leadership Center – Cleveland Bridge Builders and Leadership Cleveland – and now serves on the organization’s class evaluation committee.
Zone has received numerous awards and recognitions for her personal and professional accomplishments, including being named a Young Alumni Award recipient by John Carroll University; induction into the American Advertising Federation Cleveland (AAFCLE) Hall of Fame; distinctions as AAFCLE Director of the Year and Volunteer of the Year; honors as a Woman of Professional Excellence by YMCA of Greater Cleveland; inclusion in Crain’s Cleveland Business Forty Under 40 list; and induction into the Berea-Midpark High School Alumni Hall of Fame.
The first of a family legacy, Zone earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from John Carroll University, and her sisters, Julie Zone Andolina (’01) and Jenna Zone Tucci (’05), later attended the University.
Zone and her long-time partner, Matt Mills, live in Bay Village with their canine companions, Bella and Mitch. Mills owns a residential painting company and now proudly displays a John Carroll flag in his workshop.
