Lindner alumnus Xander Wells named Mr. Bearcat

Xander Wells approached his college experience with the idea that he’d rather depart the University of Cincinnati wishing he had done less than wishing he had done more. Mission accomplished for the recipient of the 2024 Mr. Bearcat award, as selected by UC honorary fraternity Sigma Sigma.

Wells, who graduated on April 27 with bachelor's degrees in finance and psychology, was announced as 2024 Mr. Bearcat during the 125th anniversary celebration of UC’s Sigma Sigma chapter. The event was held on April 13 at Cincinnati Union Terminal in front of nearly 600 attendees.

Since 1949, the Mr. Bearcat award has been bestowed upon a graduating senior man who has attained academic success, demonstrated leadership in diverse settings and made a significant contribution to UC, all while displaying “Bearcat spirit.”

“I thought that the different work that I had done throughout my time at the university aligned with those pillars, and it would be a great way to continue a really rich heritage of supporting others and supporting the University of Cincinnati,” Wells said.

Wells’ long list of endeavors and exploits during his time at the Carl H. Lindner College of Business and UC speaks to his wide-ranging academic, career-focused and humanitarian interests. Here are just a few:

• Lindner Business Honors
• QPR Gatekeeper
• Co-op experiences at Nationwide, 1N5, BDO Advisory, Medpace, Kirsch CPA and Fidelity Investments
• Organizational involvement included Men 4 Mental Health (president/founder), Lindner Ambassadors (president), Pi Kappa Alpha, Lindner Business Honors Student Advisory Board and campus honor societies (Sigma Sigma, Men of METRO, Cincinnatus)
• Honors included the Heart of William J. Keating Jr. Leadership Award and 2022 Homecoming King

“I came to know Xander in his first week at UC and have watched his leadership skills, impact and reach expand exponentially throughout his academic career,” said Lindner Dean Marianne Lewis, PhD. “His drive for innovation, community building and inclusion pervades his leadership and closely align to the tenets of the Mr. Bearcat award.”

In Wells’ letter of consideration, he touched on his passion for mental health, notably about the troubling trend of suicide among college-aged men. Wells founded Men 4 Mental Health, which creates positive conversations about mental well-being and addresses associated stigmas among UC students.

“I wanted to help people understand and realize that we’re a community on campus and in the Cincinnati area that cares deeply about each other at an individual level, aside from the roles on your LinkedIn page or your leadership positions on campus,” Wells said. “Prioritizing who you are as an individual, taking care of yourself and learning how to take care of others in the same way is something that is really important to me. Building that idea that you can be heard, seen and feel the love and support that you deserve is something that every college student and every individual deserves.”