Messer Construction Co. supports diversity programming at UC and UC Health

Messer is a longtime benefactor of CEAS and its Office of Inclusive Excellence and Community Engagement (IECE). Both the college and Messer strive to create a diverse pipeline of future engineers because it bolsters both the industry and our global society. 

The Messer Inclusive Excellence Fund will support initiatives and programs of IECE, such as CPS Strong and Summer STEM Bridge, that eliminate barriers and encourage underrepresented students. Through CPS Strong, Cincinnati Public Schools high school students can access the chemistry and physics classes required for CEAS applicants.

In addition, the Summer Bridge STEM program is a seven-week experience that helps students successfully transition from high school to college.

“Through inclusion, our goal is to expand opportunity and enhance the diversity of perspectives and ideas in engineering practice and culture,” said UC President Neville G. Pinto. “Messer’s continued support of the engineering talent pipeline and creation of these new funds are visionary steps that will have a positive impact on the future. We thank them for their partnership.”

Darno said the fund will support strategies, initiatives and programs aligned to building cultural competency around implicit bias and advancing data-driven systemic and sustainable change that increases employee engagement, contributes to UC Health’s business goals and supports positive patient outcomes.

This gift supports student success and health initiatives, both priorities of Next, Now: The Campaign for Cincinnati, the comprehensive fundraising campaign for UC and UC Health.