Senior Lecturer, Management
College of Business and Innovation, University of Toledo

Brandon Cohen brings more than 17 years of academic experience and a diverse entrepreneurial background to the University of Toledo. A Toledo native, he earned his B.S. in Accounting from Bucknell University, followed by both an MBA and a Juris Doctor from the University of Toledo. After passing the Ohio Bar in the 95th percentile on his first attempt, Cohen began his career in the film industry in Los Angeles, where he worked with multiple production companies and traveled extensively to major European festivals, including seven consecutive years at Cannes.

Upon returning to Toledo, Cohen practiced law and invested in downtown redevelopment projects. His ventures include Homeslice Pizza—now operating for 19 years—and the redevelopment of 1301 North Summit Street, the current home of Toledo Spirits. He also co‑founded GatewayDefender, an award‑winning cybersecurity startup recognized with an Edison Award in 2004 before its acquisition by McAfee after reaching more than 600 clients and 300,000 end users.

Cohen joined the University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation to teach entrepreneurship and has been actively involved in research and development initiatives, securing grants from the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation. Alongside his academic work, he continues to provide executive consulting and board‑level advisory services to private companies seeking solutions to complex operational challenges.

Committed to service, Cohen regularly provides pro bono legal support within the community, particularly to nonprofit organizations. Although he has served on numerous boards in the past, he now encourages next‑generation leadership to take on those roles. Cohen has been married to his wife, Jessie, for 20 years and is the father of four sons: Noah, Simon, Henry, and Lenny.