UC News

UC dean awarded for engineering change

Whitney Gaskins is associate dean of UC's College of Engineering and Applied Science

headshot of Lindsey Osterfeld By Lindsey Osterfeld
3 minute read August 1, 2023

The University of Cincinnati's Whitney Gaskins, Ph.D., has been awarded the Engineering Change Individual Award sponsored by the Peer Group. This award, built on the premise of Yvette E. Pearson's Engineering Change podcast, recognizes an individual who focuses on equity, diversity and inclusion and how it relates to STEM fields. 

Whitney Gaskins

Dean Whitney Gaskins

Gaskins has recently been promoted to associate dean of UC's College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS), where she leads the director of Inclusive Excellence and Community Engagement, is responsible for CEAS faculty professional development, and the organization and maintenance of student retention programs. 

"I am excited about this award. It feels wonderful to be recognized for being innovative in a space that can be slow to change at times," Gaskins said. "It takes faith to fully trust yourself and receiving this award makes me feel empowered to push for innovative solutions to the challenges we are facing in our college and community." 

A three-time alumna of UC, Gaskins holds a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering, a master's in quantitative analysis and a doctorate in biomedical engineering. She has worked at the university for nearly a decade and is highly decorated in her field. Gaskins is also the Principal Investigator for the ROSE Research Lab and has a team of two postdoctoral fellows and three graduate students. 

Along with her work at the university, Gaskins is engineering change in the community. Her nonprofit organization, the Gaskins Foundation, is dedicated to providing STEM education opportunities for underrepresented youth in the Cincinnati area. Gaskins' work at the university and through her foundation align with Pearson's mission of redefining engineering and re-imagining who we see as engineers. 

At the 2023 American Society for Engineering Education Conference, Gaskins was given the Best Video for Community Engagement Award for a video she made highlighting one of the youth STEM programs within The Gaskins Foundation. 

She was also celebrated with the Women Who Mean Business Award from the Cincinnati Business Courier in 2022. 

Featured Image at top: Baldwin Hall at the University of Cincinnati.

Tags

Related Stories

3997 Results
3

UC’s summer semester offers students short sessions, flexibility

April 12, 2021

Coming into the summertime of 2020, Sumedha Kappagantula was considering ways to make the most her opportunities during what is usually a break from the academic rigor of her traditional school year. As a Biomedical Engineering major in the UC’s College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Kappagantula is minoring in Chemistry and Biological Sciences, taking classes through the College of Arts and Sciences. She thought summer semester would be a great time to get ahead in her coursework, and move her degree forward.

6

UC garners sustainable, green campus success

April 19, 2021

University of Cincinnati Gold LEED certifications, student-involved energy-efficient programs and climate-friendly green technologies elevate UC to a national award-winning sustainable campus.

7

Futuristic cars may soon take flight

April 28, 2021

The Cincinnati Innovation District and University of Cincinnati team up with partners in 1819 Innovation Hub DriveOhio, Cincinnati Bell and Microsoft to innovate with UC talent and help bring future innovation within reach in FlyOhio student challenge.

8

'To make him proud was high on her list'

April 1, 2021

Alex Lewis lost her 82-year-old grandfather to Covid-19 just five weeks before her dream school showed up on the front steps of Roger Bacon High School to tell the senior that she has been admitted to the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing as part of a touching Decision Day surprise effort this year.

9

New UC collaboration focuses on senses

May 25, 2021

The University of Cincinnati has launched a new institute to study sensing in all its forms, from human and animal senses to the sensor technologies that enable our modern lifestyles and provide medical care.