March 19, 2026
Jessi Behrendsen
Some find their place and never let go. For Lisa Di Tommaso, that place is HRS – her passion for advancing the school and supporting student success has shaped every step.
Lisa arrived at Ohio State in 1992 in Medical Dietetics, graduating in 1996 with research distinction and as an Award of Merit recipient – an honor she now oversees. After a decade as a registered dietitian, she returned for her master’s degree and joined HRS in 2005. As Director of Student Services, she leads a nine-member team supporting 3,000-plus students across twenty-four academic programs, spearheading virtual recruitment, transparent admissions and policies that keep HRS competitive.
"Working at HRS just feels like home," Lisa said.
That passion hasn’t gone unnoticed. Lisa is this year’s College of Medicine’s Distinguished Staff Award recipient, celebrated at the 2026 Dean’s Excellence Awards Gala – and with her doctorate anticipated in spring 2027, the next chapter is already underway.