Jed Hartings, PhD | President
Dr. Hartings grew up on the West Side of Cincinnati and attended St. Xavier High School. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame and received his PhD in neuroscience from the University of Pittsburgh. He then served as a medical research officer in the U.S. Army at Walter Reed, separating from service at the rank of Major, and returned home in 2008 to join the research faculty at the University of Cincinnati. Inspired by the mission focus and institutional integrity of Hillsdale College, while also attuned to the decline of American education, Dr. Hartings set to work on founding Cincinnati Classical Academy in 2019. He lives with his wife and daughters in Evendale and enjoys running, golf, and music.
Brian Kennedy | Secretary
Mr. Kennedy is from the great state of Indiana where he learned many of life’s important lessons. He graduated from Indiana University with a BS from the School of Business. He began his “first career,” in IT, but knew he had to become a lawyer. He did this at the Miami-Dade Florida States’ Attorney office after law school at Michigan State University. He currently works in his “third career,” as a stay-at-home dad with his wife and three kids. Brian enjoys playing the guitar, organic gardening, playing and coaching baseball and softball, and spending time with his family.
Joe Faisant | Treasurer
Mr. Faisant grew up in Findlay, Ohio and moved to Cincinnati in 1989. Joe earned his Bachelor of Science in Professional Accounting and Master of Business Administration from Michigan State University. He has held Chief Financial Officer roles at various companies in real estate development, construction, and home improvement. He now helps companies achieve a greater level of success through B2B CFO®. He lives in Fairfield with his wife and enjoys family time, biking, reading, and playing cards.
Brian Miller
Mr. Miller grew up in Pensacola, Florida, and moved to Cincinnati in 2020 after marrying an Ohio girl. He is a graduate of the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University and spent eight years studying and working in Washington, D.C. He is an expert on constitutional and administrative law. He has published multiple academic articles and his essays have appeared in Forbes, Providence, The Public Discourse, and The University Bookman. Brian runs the popular Instagram account Real Poets Daily, which brings the beauty of classic poetry to the digital world. In his free time he enjoys reading, cooking, and working with his wife to raise their children and restore their Victorian farmhouse in Anderson Township.
Russell Newsom
Mr. Newsom was born and raised in Cincinnati. He received his law degree (JD) from The University of Chicago Law School. He has worked extensively in the world of public policy and politics, largely in speechwriting and communications. He has previously worked in The White House in the Domestic Policy Council. Mr. Newsom also worked for years as a corporate lawyer for the law firm of Dinsmore & Shohl. He is currently President of The Bruin Fund, a value investing limited partnership. He has extensive board service with a number of different organizations. Mr. Newsom married the love of his life, Lauren, who is a proud graduate of Hillsdale College, and they have four rambunctious and wonderful children.
Elizabeth Hickman
Mrs. Hickman grew up in west Michigan, graduating from Muskegon Catholic Central. As a mother-of-3 and U.S. Navy wife, she has acquired the capability to coordinate and mobilize large-scale operations. Additionally, she has a broad array of skills derived from experience in multiple fields including medical administration, accounting, and human resources. Mrs. Hickman enjoys volunteering, and is dedicated to community engagement and outreach for Classical Academy and its mission, focusing on connecting with local businesses and neighborhoods for partnership with Classical. As the primary family caretaker, Mrs. Hickman embraces the challenge of raising educated, resilient, virtuous, and well-rounded children. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, gardening, and floating on the water.
Rebekah Karns, Ph.D.
Dr. Karns grew up in an Air Force home, living across the eastern United States and western Europe, attending high school at Brussels American School. She received her undergraduate degree in zoology from Michigan State University and her PhD in molecular epidemiology from the University of Cincinnati, focusing on children’s environmental health. Dr. Karns has served as a biostatistician at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital for over ten years, and lives in Madiera with her husband and four children. She enjoys playing piano and exploring the woods with her family.