@PrezOno’s #HottestCollegeinAmerica Tour takes UC on the road

As is his custom at big group gatherings, the
 president took a picture of the setting and the crowd to tweet later.

During the Q&A portion of the first leg of UC President Santa Ono’s #HottestCollegeinAmerica Tour, Michael Wright, CEAS ’93, Law ’96, asked where he could get a striking, red-and-black UC necktie like the one Ono was wearing. The answer led to Ono no longer wearing it — the president quickly took off his tie and gave it to Wright, much to the delight of 140 people in the room. “But I’m not giving away any more clothing,” laughed Ono as he resumed fielding more questions without missing a beat.

The face and voice of the University of Cincinnati have noticeably changed with the ascension of Ono from Provost to President over the past six months. Still, the overarching university message remains much the same: From college rankings, alumni engagement and fundraising to research excellence, academic achievement, and athletic accomplishment, UC is on a significant upward trajectory.

Have microphone, will travel: President Ono
visited all parts of the room fielding questions.

And while social media savant Ono is continuously pushing out UC good news via Facebook, Twitter and other communications channels, nothing beats face-to-face. So he’s carrying that message to alumni, co-op students, prospective students and their parents, and other curiosity-seekers in eight cities between January and June. He is unabashedly sharing his dedication and devotion to his job, which he pledges to continue doing for the next decade. And he’ll even give away his necktie just to emphasize the point!

“I’m sharing an exciting look at what UC is doing and where we’re going, which people say they appreciate, especially when they’re far away from campus,” Ono said. “Yet maybe more important is my opportunity to tap into what they’re seeing and feeling, and then assimilate those viewpoints into how we advance the university.”

The president, post-necktie giveaway. With or without
red-and-black neckwear, Ono connected with the alumni,
 students, and parents who came to learn more
about the #HottestCollegeinAmerica.

The Dayton tour stop constituted the largest Dayton-area UC event in at least a quarter century, and the vibrant roomful of Bearcats was excited to get “up close and personal” with Ono, as well as with deans Lou Bilionis (Law) and Bill Fant (Pharmacy) and Athletics Director Whit Babcock, all of whom made the drive up I-75. Ono led the discussion, touching on such topics as his own personal journey and how it has shaped his professional principles; his view of UC’s top institutional priorities; cooperative education and the conversion to semesters; athletics and conference realignment; and the nature of the college-aged Millennials demographic group and how they tend to see their place in the world.

Alumni and others in Arizona, Georgia, California, northeastern Ohio, and Florida take note: @PrezOno and his #HottestCollegeinAmerica Tour, presented in partnership with the UC Alumni Association, are coming your way. Click here to learn more about the tour and mark your calendar.

UC College of Medicine Hosts Campaign Events In California

Did you know in LA and the San Francisco Bay Area, there are more than 270 alumni from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in each city. This year, the Associate of American Medical Colleges will hold its annual conference in San Francisco, and UC will host an alumni gathering with Thomas F. Boat, Dean of UC's College of Medicine in the Bay Area.

This won't be Dean Boat's first time meeting with College of Medicine alumni in California. This past June, Dean Boat met with UC alumni during three separate events in Pasadena and San Francisco. He shared his vision for the college and significant achievements of the college over the past few years.



The events were hosted by three alums - Dr. Dan Asimus '72,  Dr. Alan Solinger '74, and Dr. Thomas Fogarty '60. Alumni enjoyed gathering at Dr. Asimus's beautiful home in Pasadena. While other alumni gathered at the Solinger’s beautiful home overlooking Oakland, the Bay and down town San Francisco, and at the Thomas Fogarty Winery which was founded over 30 years ago in the Santa Cruz mountains.

Stay tuned for more alumni events in the California area!

Bearcats Host Networking Events in California

Last week, UC alumni gathered along the California coast – from San Diego to Berkeley – to network, talk about UC and get a taste-of-home from Skyine Chili and Graeter's ice cream. A few alumni spoke at the LA and Berkeley events while a CCM student talked about his internship experience with Fox Studios in LA. Alums also were brought up to speed on important UC news, campaign progress and the 1819 initiative. Alumni from all colleges and a wide range of classes – from the 1960s to 2000s – were in attendance. UC alumni association network leaders and members of the Proudly Cincinnati Campaign committees attended the events that were hosted at a range of venues, including a very hip bowling alley, an alum’s home, a Herman Miller showroom (where UC gets a lot of its building furniture) and a custom lighting shop (owned by two DAAP alumni.)

Stay connected with alumni in California or other places across the country by contacting your regional alumni network leader.

Training for a Marathon? UC alum has tips for you!

David with poster of his book

If you have ever considered training for a marathon, you may want to pick up UC alumnus David Levine's book: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Marathon Training! He also gave us some great insight about his experiences at UC and what he has learned since he graduated.

When did you graduate from UC and what was your major?
1980, with a major in Political Science.

What were some of the most memorable experiences you had at UC?
Way too many to write, and possibly some things would be inappropriate to mention.  I guess you could say, I grew up a lot at UC.  I do remember a housemate, Reid Horowitz, giving me a book on running in 1977.  He said, “I don’t know why I’m giving this to you, but I sense it will help you somehow.”  Well, since my first book is on running, I guess it helped - and I still have that book.


How did UC transform your life?
In several ways, but possibly the most important, I learned to question why.


What makes you proud to be a graduate of UC? Why are you Proudly Cincinnati?
UC was the first time in my life where I found I loved learning.  I learned a lot there.  Sparks began at UC, which later turned to flames.

Explain what you did after graduating from UC. What are you doing now?
Writing has always been a big part of my life, since UC.  Just after graduation, I wrote for a local paper; did PR for a theater; covered stories for a magazine, and moved to Los Angeles.  I was even an assistant to an Academy Award-winning writer  at one time. I spent a lot of my time working at studios, and after 13 years, I still work at Sony Studio, on the old MGM lot.  I stopped writing for a while, and took up endurance athletics - I wanted to see the ocean and get outside. Well, here I am writing again.  I have a few other articles which I already wrote as well.

David after an Ironman race

What have been your biggest accomplishments in your career?
The book was a good one; winning a huge theater acting award; completing Ironman races are exciting; and I have loved helping people achieve dreams and get faster, as a coach.  However, I sense that the definition of being young at heart is when you feel as if you haven’t really achieved much, and have a world of accomplishments yet unturned.  That would be me.

How did you decide to write your book about marathon training? How long did it take you to finish your book?
I have long been frustrated with the ineffective methods which most non-pro, adult athletes use to train for endurance running events.  A friend e-mailed me that a publisher was looking for writers for a book on marathon training.  I had her submit a writing sample of mine, and boom, we were in.  Our deadline was six months, and that was about how long it took to finish everything.

How does it feel to have a book that is selling nationally?
I’m not sure.  I’ve done a few lectures, but I do that sort of thing anyway.  You know, I had this idea that one day I would walk into a huge bookstore and find someone glancing at my book. Shuffling over to that person, I would mutter, “Great book,”  and then calmly walk away.  So I one day I saw this enormous bookstore closing forever.  Sad, but great discounts and I remembered this nutty idea. When I walked through the doors, I found most of the shelves to be empty, and if they ever had my book, there was no sign of it anywhere.  So I never had the experience of receiving much recognition as an author.  On the other hand, it is a new world.  Nearly all of the books I have purchased lately have been online and I seem to have received some amazing reviews on Amazon.com. 

Anything else you would like to highlight about your career or your relationship to UC?
I miss those days at UC.  Don’t get me wrong, life gets better, if you remain positive.  However, having time to simply learn, and nothing else, would be something I would now absolutely cherish.  In fact, I’m toying with the idea of going back for a master's, if I can figure out where to find the time.  Creating time to learn is something we adults place far too little emphasis on.

CCM Drama Showcase kicks off in LA with UC Alumni

The CCM Drama Showcase was created to highlight senior CCM drama students in a variety of acts for casting agents and producers in the Los Angeles area.  This annual event kicked off on April 25 with a special sneak peek for UC Alumni.  Students acted their way through a variety of acts, both comical and serious.


These drama seniors come from a wide variety of backgrounds.  Some are Cincinnati natives who have attended local performing arts schools, while others hail from small towns dotted across the Midwest and east coast.  Each performer offers a unique set of skills, blending to create one dynamic performance.

The CCM Drama Showcase's official debut was on April 26 with industry professionals, casting agents, and producers in attendance.  CCM alumna and professional actress Diana Maria Riva was also in attendance to cheer on the seniors and offer them some friendly career advice.

We wish all of the featured seniors the best of luck and a prospering career!

Game on Bearcats: May the best city win!

Twenty alumni cities. Only one of them will bring home the prize. The UC Alumni Association is proud to present...

Bearcats nationwide are putting their game faces on for the 1819 National Alumni Face-Off. From now until June 30th, alumni networks from coast to coast will be facing off to prove which has the most UC pride and 1819 spirit. 

So maybe you're in Chicago, Atlanta, DC or even all the way out in California! Here's your chance to demonstrate your pride in UC - and your city - all at once. With each $18.19 gift, your local Bearcat network will go up in the ranks. In the end, the city with the highest alumni participation rate will receive national bragging rights and some fun Bearcat prizes to help keep UC close to home.

So don't let other Bearcat cities outshine yours. Check out the current standings and if you haven't given back to UC yet this year, now's your chance to help your city rise above the rest!

Tears and Cheers at Match Day 2011

UC’s graduating medical students just got a peek into their future. And for many, that means more than just the next stage in their medical careers. It means life in a new city.

The annual Match Day celebration is a long-standing tradition at UC's College of Medicine, allowing med students to find out (on the spot and at random!) where they’ve matched for residency and will spend their next three to seven years in training. You can imagine the emotion and suspense of such an event...where the culmination of four long years of medical school ends with a surprise letter that is met by a wave of cheers from their biggest supporters.

Of the 156 graduating medical students, nearly half learned they will remain in Ohio for their residency positions, matching with such locations as UC Health University Hospital, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Jewish Hospital, Christ Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital.

The other 55% of the group will be taking up residency in 29 other U.S. states, including the most popular behind Ohio: Pennsylvania, Michigan, Colorado and California.

The moment of truth is met with cheers from family, friends, professors and classmates and in many cases, followed by a few tears of joy and relief. Watch this video to see some of this year’s student reactions and then browse the 2011 gallery of photos. Then see who's heading to your city!

UC Love Stories: Sharon and Bill Drewry

Sharon and Bill Drewry (Class of '92) at the 2010 Sugar Bowl.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner… and what could be a better way for us to celebrate than by sharing some of our favorite UC love stories! Today, we’re bringing you the story of Sharon and Bill Drewry.

To get to the beginning of Sharon (Thieken) and Bill Drewry’s relationship, one must first hear the story of Sharon’s… we’ll call it an “unpredictable” sleep schedule.

Sharon explains, “I'm a pretty laid back person, but I show stress when I sleep, generally by sleep walking or talking.  The night before a big physics test, my roommates and I were up late studying, and I was having a hard time with the material.  Later in the middle of the night, I had a dream that velocity was an object that I had misplaced in our dorm room. 

“I woke up standing in the middle of the room, frantically lifting and looking under everything in sight.  I had completely trashed our room.  All of my roommates were now awake, trying to figure out what I was looking for in such a frenzy.  I woke myself up screaming, ‘I TOLD YOU, I'M LOOKING FOR VELOCITY!!!’ The next morning,  my roommates told half of our freshman engineering class about it. I took a lot of friendly jabs for that one!”

This was in 1987, when Sharon was an engineering major. Cut to 1989… although Sharon had changed her major to personnel and industrial relations, she would soon learn that the “Velocity” incident would follow her throughout her career at UC.

Sharon and some friends were at the Yacht Club – a favorite hangout – when they ran into Bill, whom Sharon only knew as a casual acquaintance with poor penmanship. “We didn’t know each other well, and I could never remember his name. But I knew his handwriting was absolutely horrible, so he was always the ‘guy with the bad handwriting,’ to me,” explains Sharon.

Although Sharon and Bill didn’t know each other well prior to that evening at the Yacht Club, they spent a lot of time plotting exactly how she would set Bill up with one of her roommates, whom Bill was interested in. But fate had other plans: that fall, Sharon and Bill seemed to run into each other everywhere on and off campus. In November, Bill asked Sharon for a date to the Cincinnati Museum Center, followed by views of the city from the observation deck on top of Carew Tower. 

After a few dates, Sharon decided to share her sleep issues with Bill.  “I started to tell him the ‘velocity’ story.  He stopped me mid-way through and said, ‘Oh my God, I'm dating Velocity!’”  Bill, it turned out, had heard the tale of Sharon’s midnight rampage from mutual friends in the same freshman engineering class Sharon and her roommates were in.

“Apparently my notoriety had spread much farther than I thought… it was SO embarrassing,” Sharon says with a smile. 

Despite her status as a bit of an urban legend, Sharon and Bill’s relationship continued its forward-moving “velocity”. Nearly two years after their 1992 graduation, Bill asked Sharon to meet him for dinner in Downtown Cincinnati.

“We met and had dinner at The Palms restaurant,” recalls Sharon. “It was a beautiful evening, so after dinner, Bill suggested that we head up to the Carew Tower observation deck of old times sake. He proposed to me that night above the downtown lights, at the site of our first date. It was very romantic!”

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Do you have a great UC love story to share? Comment below and tell us how you met your spouse or significant other at UC! And check back for more in this special series of "UC Love Stories."

E-Media Alum Shares LA Career Experience

Lisa Ripley Becker, an Electronic Media alum from UC's College-Conservatory of Music ('96), credits her UC education for helping her get started in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, California. She currently works as a Production Coordinator on the popular Fox TV series "Bones."

As a recipient of the Paramount Pictures Media Award, Lisa was able to intern and ultimately start her career in film and TV work in Los Angeles.

Lisa has a reputation as one of the best production coordinators in the business and also stays well-connected to UC in LA, having planned a recent CCM E-Media alumni gathering. Lisa is definitely Proudly Cincinnati! 

Lisa overlooking the Jeffersonian Lab where all the research
takes place on the Fox TV series "Bones."

Lisa sitting at Dr. Temperance Brennan’s desk at the Jeffersonian office set.

Lisa with TJ Thyne, who plays Dr. Hodgins on "Bones."

We want to hear about your cool job and how you got to be where you are today. Tell us about it below and we'll feature you next!

Hidden Secret on Clifton Ave. Corner

On any regular day, the semi-circle traffic island on Clifton Avenue, across from the College of DAAP would not seem like anything special. But there happens to be a very unique history behind this 1,414 square-foot property.

n 1964, a group of forty UC architecture students formed a corporation that purchased the land, laying claim to the “largest privately owned traffic island in the world!” The group explained that “This is our answer to stuffing phone booths or pushing bathtubs.” The corporation challenged any university student to one-up them, and to our knowledge, no one has yet!

Many thanks to Don Jacobs, UC Alum and President of JZMK Partners in Orange County, CA, who forwarded the newspaper article (.pdf) that details this purchase.

Know of any other unique, historically significant spots on UC’s campus? Comment below!