UC assistant dean named one of Cincinnati’s 40 under 40
Young professionals in Greater Cincinnati are honored for crafting successful careers while also giving back to their community.
Whitney Gaskins pushes the limits of inclusion | Photo/Cincinnati Regional Chamber
An assistant dean at the University of Cincinnati was named one of The Cincinnati Business Courier's 2019 Forty Under 40.
Whitney Gaskins, Ph.D., is an assistant dean of UC's College of Engineering and Applied Science.
One of Gaskins’ personal missions is to make more students feel welcome and supported in the world of engineering. She believes this starts with creating a more accessible learning environment that reduces the number and severity of barriers that many underrepresented students face today while pursuing an education.
In her role at UC, Gaskins strives to facilitate spaces and opportunities that are more responsive and adaptable to the needs of a diverse student body. Her philosophy of empowerment is not limited to her work for UC.
Gaskins aims to engage and empower students of all backgrounds, especially those who have not yet seen or met anyone that looks like them in the STEM world. If the students can imagine themselves as engineers or scientists, they can more easily envision a meaningful career path, she said.
"The 40 under 40 award is designed to recognize individuals for their unique service to the community," Gaskins explains.
My ability to problem-solve is critical to tackling the grand challenge of creating an inclusive culture within the region. The underlying purpose of seeking justice is to achieve equality.
Whitney Gaskins, Assistant Dean of Inclusive Excellence and Community Engagement
In 2009, she founded The Gaskins Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate and empower the African American community. STEMulates, one of the foundation’s core components, provides free K-12 educational programming year-round, introducing local students to math and science.
She is also director of research for the UC Hughes Scholars Academy, a partnership with local Hughes STEM High School.
Gaskins told the Business Courier that as a 10 year old, she wanted to be president of the United States and an Olympic gymnast.
A three-time graduate of UC, Gaskins has developed a wide array of skills, the most vital of which is problem solving. Whether on campus or in the community, Gaskins continues to blaze a trail toward a legacy of community building and equity. To the aspiring engineers and scientists of the world, she offers the best advice she has ever received: “Be authentic.”
Featured photo at top: McMicken Hall. Photo/UC Creative Services.
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