January 24, 2023

Michael Valentine’s career as an innovator and entrepreneur has spanned more than four decades, and has included the creation of an industry-changing radar detector and two successful companies, Cincinnati Microwave, and his current business, Valentine Research. Through the years, Mike and his wife, Peg — both UC alumni — have become prodigious philanthropists at the University of Cincinnati and within the region, giving of their time and treasure to many causes close to their hearts.

January 17, 2023

Chris Dobrozsi was presented the Engineering Technology Award of Distinction from the University of Cincinnati College of Engineering and Applied Science. He graduated from UC with an architectural engineering technology degree in 1989. He is now executive vice president of development at Neyer Properties and a city council member in Montgomery, Ohio, where he has made an indelible impact on the construction and real estate industries.

January 30, 2023

Professor Awatef Hamed is a trailblazer. She came of age during a time when few women were going to college to study engineering. In 1968, she left her home in Egypt and came to the University of Cincinnati as the only female graduate student in the aerospace engineering program. She went on to get her master’s and doctoral degrees from UC and then was hired as a faculty member, where she was the only female faculty member for two decades. In 2001, she became the first woman to head a college aerospace engineering department.

December 5, 2023

Gloria Samuel entered the construction industry more than 20 years ago as a University of Cincinnati co-op student and never looked back. Since then, she has earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees at UC and has taken great pride in giving back to the college by sharing her education and experiences with others as an adjunct faculty and serving on numerous community boards and committees. Currently, she is the Senior Vice President and Director of Construction Program and Project Management for Fifth Third Bank.

January 3, 2022

A $2 million gift from the estate of Arnold and Ina Schwartz will create a new endowed chair at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, supporting the head of the UC Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology.

April 29, 2024

A $13.5 million gift from the estate of Hugh H. Hoffman, MBA ’63, will revolutionize research and patient care related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at the ALS Multidisciplinary Clinic at the University of Cincinnati Gardner Neuroscience Institute.

December 9, 2020

Women in Law, a University of Cincinnati College of Law alumnae organization, awarded its first eight grants, totaling $48,347 in November. The philanthropic group, established in early 2020, was created to provide alumnae, students and faculty with networking opportunities while also supporting transformational experiences for Cincinnati Law students that may be unattainable because of finances.

July 28, 2020

A University of Cincinnati alumnus has donated $200,000 to support a center at the law school focused on race, gender and social justice. Bill Morelli, A&S ’74, JD ’78, has created the Bill Morelli Endowment Fund for the Nathaniel R. Jones Center for Race, Gender, and Social Justice at the College of Law. Renamed in 2019 after Judge Nathaniel Jones in honor of his career as a champion for justice, the Jones Center trains and cultivates scholars, leaders and activists committed to social change. After his retirement as a federal judge, Judge Jones joined the law firm Blank Rome LLP, serving as its first chief officer of Diversity and Inclusion. Morelli says the timing of his gift was intentional. “At a time when national discussion—often divisive—is taking place on issues of race, gender and justice, it’s important for the legal profession to take the lead in framing issues and developing solutions,” he said. “The Jones Center is at the center of thought leadership in this area and I hope this gift can bring together scholars and practitioners in the field to inspire the next generation of lawyers to shape public policy and help build bridges of understanding in the broader community.” “Bill’s gift not only celebrates our university and the life work of Judge Nathaniel Jones, it supports our commitment to racial justice,” UC President Neville G. Pinto said. “It helps us create more welcoming spaces for listening, dialogue and support as we move forward and work to solve systemic issues of justice.”

October 29, 2020

A $1.5 million gift from Jeff and Jennifer Davis has created two endowed funds supporting social justice at the University of Cincinnati.

August 25, 2020

The University of Cincinnati Board of Trustees approved the naming of the Honorable Sandra S. Beckwith Courtroom as the primary mock trial courtroom for the University of Cincinnati College of Law.