University of Akron trustees appoint Mia Janico as vice president and general counsel, promote Mark Staszis

The University of Akron Board of Trustees approved two personnel actions for the Office of General Counsel by an 8-0 roll-call vote: the appointment of Mia Janico as vice president and general counsel effective March 10, and the appointment of Mark Staszis as associate vice president and deputy general counsel and acting board secretary effective Feb. 1, 2025.

Sarah Kelly, speaking to the board, presented the resolution and summarized both candidates' backgrounds before the motion was moved and seconded and the trustees voted to approve both appointments.

Ms. Janico joins the university after more than 12 years in two terms with the Ohio Attorney General's Office, most recently serving as chief of the Education Section. Between terms at the attorney general's office, she served for more than two years as assistant general counsel at Wright State University. Mark Staszis has been with the university's Office of General Counsel for eight years, most recently as associate general counsel and chief of labor and relations; he previously served as director of employee and labor relations and immigration services in the university's human-resources department.

At the meeting Ms. Janico addressed the trustees and said she was grateful for the board’s confidence. "I'm very grateful to the board's confidence in selecting me to take over the reins as the university's next vice president and general counsel," she said, and thanked Mark Staszis for his work during the transition.

The board recorded an 8-0 vote to approve both personnel actions. The board secretary noted the next regular meeting is scheduled for March 19, 2025, with committee meetings on the afternoon of March 18.