Kevin Bishop, a junior studying finance, has been appointed to represent students on The University of Toledo Board of Trustees.
Bishop, 20, from Toledo, was named by Gov. Mike DeWine to a student trustee term beginning July 28 and ending July 1, 2025. He joins Madeline Vining, a graduate student studying economics and a member of the women’s cross-country and track and field teams, who was appointed in July, 2022.
From left, Andrew Bishop, a second-year graduate student in physical therapy; Paul Welch, who received his master’s in transplantation and donation sciences in May; Kevin Bishop, a junior studying finance; The University of Toledo President Gregory Postel; Brett Bishop, a senior studying finance and supply chain; and Cooper Sadowski, a second-year student in the Pharm.D. program.
For Bishop, being part of the Rocket Family is quite literal. He is one of more than 20 family members who have either graduated from The University of Toledo or are currently students including brothers Andrew, a second-year graduate student in physical therapy; Brett, a senior studying finance and supply chain, and Brian, an incoming freshman studying engineering, as well as three cousins.
“Our Rocket legacy consists of about 23 family members,” Bishop said. “It is special being able to attend the same university your aunt and uncles and cousins did, knowing that they were once in your shoes, they sat in the same classrooms you did, walked the same halls.
“What makes this unique is the Rocket family legacy was never forced,” he added. “Everyone chose UToledo for a different reason. Everyone has been successful and thrived in their careers. We do very different things but live happy lives, whether that is teaching, nursing, pharmacy, finance, supply chain, speech pathology, engineering, etc. We all love what we do.”
Bishop said he applied to be a student trustee to both serve and work to improve the University.
“Students are the ones in the classroom, every day, talking with fellow students regularly, attending campus activities. Students have first-hand experience with pressing concerns and issues, and they bring unique perspectives that the trustees and administration might not think about initially,” Bishop said. “As a student trustee, I am able to speak and advocate on the students’ behalf in the meetings.”
In addition to his work as one of two student representatives on The University of Toledo Board of Trustees, Bishop is highly involved in campus and community activities: co-overall director of RockeTHON, president of UToledo’s College Republicans, a member of Levis Leadership, a member of The Victory Center board of directors and a soccer and basketball coach for Catholic Youth Organization Athletics.
His schedule is demanding, Bishop acknowledged, with late nights, early mornings and a calendar that rarely offers days with nothing penciled in.
“Maintaining a good academic standing, being a leader in three student organizations, having commitments in the Toledo community and working 20 hours a week is not easy,” he said, “but I wouldn’t change it for the world. I love everything I do.
“As a Rocket, our mission is to improve the human condition, and what better way to do that than to serve the community,” Bishop added. “It gives me a sense of purpose and fulfillment.”
