UC NEWS

University of Cincinnati graduate Jeremy Ackley credits a surprising place for his love of all things architecture: Disney World. Besides entertaining 50 million tourists every year, Disney World’s attractions feature an impressive amount of gee-whiz engineering that is on display in every corner, he said. “I grew up going to theme parks and fell in love with Disney,” he said.

For well over a century, University of Cincinnati students have taken their classroom learning into the workplace, earning real-world pay while building valuable professional experience through cooperative education (co‑op). In the 2025‑26 academic year, UC co-op students earned $99.5 million in paid work experiences — a 5.69% increase over the previous year’s total reported wages. According to self‑reported data: UC students logged 9,614 co-op enrollments (some students hold multiple co-ops).

“I get chills thinking about what she means to our family,” says Norma Wellman Cobb’s grandson, Thomas Beach, reflecting on how his grandmother’s perseverance and unwavering belief in the power of education shaped generations. The Great Depression created many challenges, especially for those pursuing higher education. Yet, Wellman, CEAS ’36, pushed forward with determination and grace. Her resilience became the foundation of a life defined by quiet encouragement, support and purpose.

To open the news today is to contend with troubling stories about the many challenges facing our nation’s youth. From mental health to screen time to chronic perfectionism and more, the threats today’s young people face are myriad. But while it’s easy to find persistent news coverage about what’s going wrong for young people, these stories too often fail to address meaningful solutions to these pressing concerns.

The University of Cincinnati has been recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best Employers By State 2026, ranking No. 24 among all employers in Ohio. UC's ranking climbed from No. 34 in 2025. The annual list, produced by Forbes in partnership with market research firm Statista, highlights organizations where employees report strong satisfaction with their workplace. To create the 2026 rankings, Statista surveyed more than 245,000 employees at U.S. organizations with at least 500 workers.

DAAP alumnus Omar Bailey returns to UC to share his journey from designing sneakers as a child to working with global footwear brands and launching his own design and innovation company. At seven years old, Omar Bailey began drawing sneakers in his parents’ New York home. He kept drawing them, eventually turning that childhood passion into a career spanning global footwear brands, celebrity collaborations, product development and entrepreneurship.

A University of Cincinnati expert said Cincinnati can take steps to become more resilient to storms, droughts and heat waves that are becoming increasingly frequent and more severe. Bob Hyland, an associate professor and educator in UC's College of Arts and Sciences, teaches in the School of Environment and Sustainability.

From left, Assistant Chief Dudley Smith, Associate Vice President of Public Safety and Chief of Police Eliot Isaac, Chief of Staff John DeJarnette, and Clery Compliance Specialist Nicole Haberer pose with a framed Ohio Collaborative Law Enforcement Accreditation Program award in front of the Ohio Department of Public Safety office.

The University of Cincinnati’s Kelly Dobos was featured in an AARP article discussing ways to determine if “dupe” cosmetic products really are comparable to the more expensive name brand. One of the easiest ways to determine the quality of a cosmetics dupe is to look at the label for the legally required information about the company and its manufacturing, packaging and/or distribution facilities.

Co-op didn’t just prepare Dan McDavid, Bus ’71, for professional life — it revealed the career he wanted. The son of a coal miner-turned-factory worker, McDavid arrived at the University of Cincinnati seeking an education and a better opportunity, but he didn’t necessarily know where that path would lead. Co-op supplied this first-generation college student with early exposure to the business world, ignited his passion for the automotive industry and set him on a course from student to executive.