This is how breakthroughs happen.
A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN
UC Blue Ash College is entering a bold new chapter—one defined by breakthrough thinking and transformative action. We are expanding access, reimagining teaching, fueling innovation and advancing regional health to ensure every student is prepared to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
This is more than a vision; it’s a call to action to shape the future of education and community impact. Together, we can unlock opportunity, ignite discovery and empower lives.
ROBIN LIGHTNER, PhD Dean, UC Blue Ash
BREAKTHROUGHS BEGIN HERE
UC Blue Ash College is one of the most dynamic institutions within the University of Cincinnati system, serving more than 5,000 students annually. As an open-access college, we play a vital role in delivering high-quality, affordable education to Greater Cincinnati— preparing students for transfer, workforce readiness and lifelong success.
Today, UC Blue Ash is poised for a breakthrough. With new momentum and a bold vision for the future, we are launching a transformative initiative to elevate student success, reimagine teaching and scholarship, fuel innovation and strengthen the health and vitality of our region.
This vision is anchored in four breakthrough priorities:
• Expanding access and empowering students through scholarships, emergency aid and holistic support that remove barriers and unlock opportunity.
• Reimagining teaching and scholarship with immersive technologies, hands-on labs and academic support that prepare students for a rapidly evolving world.
• Fueling innovation and knowledge creation by investing in faculty development and industry partnerships that position our campus as a hub for discovery.
• Advancing regional health and vitality through high-impact programs in dental hygiene, veterinary technology and health sciences that serve our community and strengthen the workforce.
This is a pivotal moment for UC Blue Ash. With your support, we can break through barriers, ignite discovery and shape a future where every student—and every idea—has the power to change the world.
The next breakthrough begins with you.
“My scholarship allowed me to focus more time and energy on my education. It represents an investment in me and, most importantly, an investment in my future endeavors.”
ERIC KNIFFEN, UCBA ‘24, A&S ‘26
UC Blue Ash Alumni Association Scholarship, UC Blue Ash
EXPAND ACCESS AND EMPOWER STUDENTS
Support the full journey—from basic needs to bold dreams.
UC Blue Ash students are resilient, ambitious and diverse. Nearly half are the first in their families to attend college, and many balance academics with work and family responsibilities. With targeted support, we will remove barriers and unlock opportunities.
Philanthropic priorities:
Recruitment scholarships
Attract talented students from across the region and beyond. These scholarships open doors for future leaders who might not otherwise have access to a UC education.
Retention scholarships
Keep students on track through graduation by addressing financial need. Your support helps students stay focused on their goals, not their financial stress.
Emergency relief
Provide small grants to students facing urgent financial crises. These timely interventions can mean the difference between staying enrolled or stepping away from college.
Holistic support
Sustain the food pantry and social services resources to meet students’ basic needs. Meeting these essential needs ensures students can fully engage in their education and succeed.
REIMAGINE TEACHING AND SCHOLARSHIP
Create future-ready classrooms and empower student success.
UC Blue Ash faculty lead with innovation, continually adapting programs to a technology-driven future. With expanded resources, we will enhance classrooms, labs and support systems.
Philanthropic priorities:
Transform classroom learning
Support immersive virtual reality technology that brings real-world experiences into the classroom. Your gift helps students engage with cutting-edge tools that prepare them for high-demand careers.
Advance hands-on training
Help grow simulation labs that provide hands-on experience in nursing, allied health and more. These labs offer students the confidence and competence to serve our region’s most critical health needs.
Ignite undergraduate research
Fund undergraduate research opportunities that connect students with faculty-led innovation. Your support empowers students to explore big ideas and contribute to meaningful breakthroughs by conducting research alongside faculty.
Bolster academic support
Invest in academic support labs that offer tutoring, coaching and advising. These resources ensure students stay on track, persist through challenges and reach their full potential.
“The
research opportunities that are available at UC Blue Ash provided valuable experiences that helped me achieve a prestigious summer research fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s where I studied alongside a pediatric heart surgeon. It was great training for my career in medicine.”
FUEL INNOVATION AND KNOWLEDGE CREATION
Position UC Blue Ash as a hub for discovery and workforce development.
Innovation thrives at the intersection of education and industry. With strategic investment, we will foster collaboration between students, faculty and employers—ensuring our campus remains a launchpad for bold ideas and career pathways.
Philanthropic priorities:
Empower AI integration
Train faculty and staff to integrate artificial intelligence into curriculum and student support. This investment ensures faculty and students are equipped with future-ready skills and exposed to emerging technologies across disciplines.
Strengthen corporate partnerships
Collaborate with the university and our regional corporate partners to co-develop technology applications and educational resources. These collaborations create real-world learning opportunities and align academic programs with workforce needs.
“My approach to teaching mathematics is to create an open atmosphere and help students understand that part of the learning process means you don’t have to know it already. And that is how artificial intelligence works. It’s all trial and error; it just does it really fast.
Our history at UC Blue Ash shows that we are committed and effective at preparing students for their next steps. Given the current integration of AI across industry, this commitment now extends to equipping students with the skills for the ethical and effective use of AI.”
GENE KRAMER, PhD Professor of Mathematics, UC Blue Ash
SIOBAIN KNOX, UCBA ‘25, A&S ‘27 Biological Sciences
on a
Pre-Med track, UC Blue Ash
“Our dental hygiene students have an amazing opportunity through our outreach programs to grow as oral health clinicians and as serviceminded members of the community. They hone skills necessary to treat patients in a real-world setting and invest in children and adults who would otherwise go without dental care.”
LUKE BURROUGHS, MPH Dental Hygiene Program Director, UC Blue Ash
ADVANCE REGIONAL HEALTH AND VITALITY
Strengthen community well-being through highimpact programs.
UC Blue Ash has long been recognized for its leadership in health sciences, dental hygiene and veterinary technology. By investing in these programs, we will expand access to care and prepare graduates for critical roles in our region’s workforce.
Philanthropic priorities:
Fund exam readiness
Establish an endowed fund to cover exam fees for students in health-related programs. Your support ensures students can earn the credentials they need to launch their careers without financial barriers.
Elevate vet tech
Support equipment and clinical experiences for one of the region’s most in-demand programs. Investing in this program strengthens the veterinary workforce and gives students hands-on, career-ready training.
Expand dental outreach
Grow facilities and community programs like UC Smiles and Community Dental Day to serve more patients while training students. Your gift helps improve access to care in underserved communities while preparing students to lead in oral health.
THANK YOU
Thank you for your consideration of a gift to help us fuel UC Blue Ash’s breakthrough moment. Your support empowers innovation, expands opportunity and transforms the student experience in lasting ways.
With your partnership, we can build a future where knowledge knows no boundaries and where every breakthrough begins with access.
CONTACT
Robin Lightner, PhD
Dean UC Blue Ash
513-558-2828
Robin.Lightner@.uc.edu
Andrew Baker
Senior Director of Development, Regional Campuses University of Cincinnati Foundation 513-558-6861
Andrew.Baker@foundation.uc.edu
Autumn Stiles
Assistant Director of Development, Regional Campuses University of Cincinnati Foundation 201-600-3472
Autumn.Stiles@foundation.uc.edu
