This is how breakthroughs happen.
A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN
At the College of Arts and Sciences, we believe every student holds the potential to shape the future. With bold ideas, inclusive support and a commitment to discovery, we are building a college where access, innovation and impact are not just goals, they are guarantees. Our vision centers on expanding opportunity, transforming education, fueling discovery and advancing the health and vitality of our region. This is our time to lead. Join us in shaping the future by redefining what is possible in higher education today.
JAMES MACK,
P Dean College of Arts and Sciences
BREAKTHROUGHS BEGIN HERE
The University of Cincinnati’s College of Arts and Sciences is a vibrant academic community where curiosity sparks discovery and learning ignites progress and possibility. Across the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, our students and faculty pursue bold ideas, interdisciplinary research and creative inquiry that shape the world around us and reimagine what is possible.
Now, we are entering a breakthrough era—one defined by transformative opportunity and bold investment in the future. Discovery in Action, our college’s central ethos, drives all that we do. It is the catalyst that shapes lives of meaning, impact and joy. It is a commitment to learning that transcends boundaries by fostering curiosity, creativity and collaboration across all of UC.
This vision centers on four breakthrough priorities:
• Expand access and empower students: We are committed to removing financial barriers and supporting the full student journey—from basic needs to global learning experiences. Through scholarships, paid internships and holistic support, we will ensure every Bearcat can thrive.
• Reimagine education and scholarships: To prepare students for tomorrow, we must transform how we teach today. By investing in immersive technologies, inclusive learning environments and mentorship programs, we will unlock new models of academic excellence.
• Amplify discovery and faculty excellence: Innovation begins with people. We will fuel bold ideas and empower the scholars behind them through endowed faculty positions, graduate fellowships and flexible research funding that accelerates breakthrough thinking.
• Advance community vitality and shared well-being: Great universities build and sustain thriving communities. UC will advance regional vitality through sustainable, inclusive and ethical innovation by combining research with broad access to create solutions that strengthen well-being in all forms: physical, social, cultural and civic. Together, we will preserve resources, expand opportunity and foster environments where people and ideas flourish.
With your support, we can shape a future where every student—and every idea—has the power to change the world.
The next chapter begins with you.
“The value of having real, tangible experience I can put on my resume is unmatched. I can prove that I have more than a degree after graduation —I have the expierences to back it up.”
BETHANY SEE, A&S ’24 UC Marketing Communications co-op
EXPAND ACCESS AND EMPOWER STUDENTS
Support the full journey—from basic needs to bold dreams.
Today’s students face rising costs, increasing complexity and a world that demands adaptability. Students need cultural fluency and realworld experiences in order to thrive. With your support, we will remove barriers and unlock opportunities.
Funding priorities:
Recruitment and retention scholarships
Grow endowed and unrestricted scholarships to keep college accessible. These scholarships help attract top talent and ensure students can continue their education through financial challenges.
Holistic student support
Support flexible funds that meet students where they are—whether they need food from the Bearcats Pantry or funding to study abroad. These resources respond to urgent needs and long-term goals, from housing insecurity to academic enrichment, these resources will support student sucess.
Paid co-ops and internships
Fund co-op and internship opportunities in nonprofit and underrepresented service and industry sectors, ensuring students don’t have to choose between income and experience. These experiences build career readiness while expanding access to industries that often lack paid pathways.
Global learning access
Expand scholarships to study abroad and international exchange programs for students to expand their perspectives, build cross-cultural competencies and prepare them to thrive in an interconnected world. These programs foster global citizenship and professional adaptability.
“Our centers and institutes are founded and directed by passionate, engaged faculty. They do incredible public-facing, accessible research and learning. Whether within the UC community of students and faculty or the Cincinnati community, their public impact is critical to building true partnerships to shape our shared future.”
WILL UMPHRES, PhD Dean’s Fellow
for the Action Collaborative Associate professor of political science
AMPLIFY DISCOVERY AND FACULTY EXCELLENCE
Fuel bold ideas and the people who spark them.
Innovation begins with people, and they need the tools, time and recognition to lead. With your partnership, we will accelerate research, elevate faculty and inspire the next generation of scholars.
Funding priorities:
Faculty excellence
Endow chairs and professorships to attract and retain world-class scholars. These positions elevate the college’s academic reputation and drive innovation across disciplines.
Graduate fellowships
Provide competitive stipends to recruit the next generation of researchers and educators. Fellowships allow graduate students to focus fully on their research and professional development.
Empower discovery
Provide sustainable funding for the Action Collaborative, a strategic initiative that turns faculty discoveries into action through the college’s interdisciplinary centers. These centers unite scholars, students and community partners to address complex challenges— translating research into real-world impact.
Research funding
Provide flexible seed funding for bold, interdisciplinary research—from high-risk scientific exploration to public humanities. This support will bolster Discovery Amplified, our program created to accelerate early-stage ideas and underfunded initiatives, empowering scholars to create knowledge that shapes the world.
Faculty recognition
Celebrate excellence through awards and legacy programs that build pride and inspire future leaders. Recognition programs foster a culture of achievement and elevate the visibility of faculty impact.
REIMAGINE EDUCATION AND SCHOLARSHIP
Transform how we teach to unlock every mind.
Funding priorities:
Immersive learning spaces
To prepare students for tomorrow, we must rethink how we teach today. With immersive spaces, inclusive support and bold mentorship, we will create a new model for academic excellence.
Invest in cutting-edge technologies like virtual reality, holography and 3D learning to create unforgettable, future-ready classrooms. These tools bring abstract concepts to life and prepare students for careers in rapidly evolving industries.
Student-centered spaces
Through various naming opportunities, donors support and create student-centered spaces aided by teaching assistances and comfortable amenities that foster a sense of belonging and academic success. These environments promote collaboration, reduce stress and encourage deeper engagement with coursework. They serve as vital anchors for students navigating the demands of college life.
Advising and mentorship
Fund programs that demystify college for first-generation students and provide the guidance they need to thrive. Personalized advising and peer mentorship build confidence and improve retention across all disciplines.
“As we become more globally connected every day, we feel it is our duty as educators to use technology to get our students ready to be part of what the future may bring to them.”
JUAN GODOY-PEÑAS, PhD
Co-director of UC’s CEDAR language lab Director of the project U.S. Latinxs Virtual Narratives in the Spanish Language Program
ADVANCE COMMUNITY VITALITY AND SHARED WELL-BEING
Lead the charge for sustainability, equity and access.
Great universities don’t just reflect the strength of their communities— they build it. With your support, we will lead bold initiatives that shape a more sustainable, equitable and inspired future.
Funding priorities:
Sustainability leadership center
Help us establish a center for climate and environmental research, positioning UC as a national leader. This center will drive interdisciplinary collaboration and generate solutions for environmental challenges. Your support will empower students and faculty to lead in sustainability science, policy and community engagement.
Advance innovators and support scholars
• Create endowed positions and fellowships for faculty and students leading climate and environmental research.
• Accelerate ongoing and developing community-focused initiatives that translate research into real-world sustainability solutions for the region and beyond.
Innovating to empower underserved communities
By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, we will create solutions that strengthen communities, preserve cultural heritage and ensure innovation serves humanity—today and for generations to come. Your support can:
• Sustain and expand vital programs that promote equity and engagement such as initiatives that revitalize historical landmarks with community partners to guiding high school students in ethical AI and hosting public lectures that make science accessible.
• Fund interdisciplinary projects that combine sustainability science with ethical digital innovation to address global challenges.
• Equip students and faculty with advanced tools and training to deploy emerging technologies responsibly in research and community engagement.
THANK YOU
Thank you for your consideration of a gift to help fuel this breakthrough moment. Your support makes you a vital partner in UC’s mission—fueling innovation, growth, and research that will endure for lifetimes.
With your partnership, we will remove barriers, elevate bold thinking and empower the next generation of changemakers.
CONTACT
James Mack, PhD
Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Chemistry University of Cincinnati James.Mack@uc.edu
513-556-9429
Curtis Eaton
Assistant Vice President, Development University of Cincinnati Foundation
Curtis.Eaton@foundation.uc.edu 513-556-0912
Amanda Nicol
Senior Director of Development University of Cincinnati Foundation
Amanda.Nicol@foundation.uc.edu 513-558-4723
