UC to observe Juneteenth Monday, June 20
Read the joint statement from UC President Neville Pinto and Vice President Bleuzette Marshall
Dear UC Community,
This Sunday marks the 157th anniversary of Juneteenth, a date long celebrated to commemorate the delayed emancipation of enslaved Black people in the United States. In honor of this federal holiday that President Joe Biden signed into law last year, the University of Cincinnati will be closed on Monday, June 20.
Our hope is that we as a university community can use this time to pause and reflect on the horrific injustices of our nation’s past. May we also commit to fighting systemic racial inequalities that continue today and devote ourselves to inclusiveness, equity and justice.
Juneteenth history
While President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, his edict could not be implemented in places still under Confederate control. When Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, the army announced that the more than quarter million enslaved Black people in the state were free by executive decree. This day came to be celebrated as Juneteenth.
Attend an event
We encourage you to consider attending one of the Juneteenth commemorative events occurring in Cincinnati in the coming days. Admission is free at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center on Sunday, June 19, as part of Fifth Third Community Days. Many additional special events are planned, including the 35th annual Juneteenth Festival in Eden Park on June 18.
As we observe Juneteenth this year, we trust it will serve as a poignant reminder of where we have been as a society and prompt us to do everything in our power to seek a future that is more equal and just for all.
Neville G. Pinto
President
Bleuzette Marshall
Vice President for Equity, Inclusion and Community Impact
Tags
- College-Conservatory of Music
- College of Pharmacy
- Equity and Inclusion
- College of Medicine
- College of Arts and Sciences
- College of Allied Health Sciences
- College of Education, Criminal Justice, & Human Services
- UC Online
- Faculty Staff
- Blue Ash College
- Clermont College
- College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning
- Graduate College
- College of Law
- President's Office
- Diversity
- College of Nursing
- Lindner College of Business
- College of Engineering and Applied Science
Related Stories
The psychological weight of money
April 7, 2026
Psychology and neuroscience website PsyPost highlighted research led by Sharmeen Merchant, doctoral candidate in UC’s Carl H. Lindner College of Business, that suggests a man’s sense of fulfillment at work is intertwined with his partner’s views on money.
'My health is priceless'
April 7, 2026
Weight loss drugs, including Ozempic and Wegovy, are changing more than waistlines — they're quietly transforming how people spend money, what they prioritize and who can afford better health. As Local 12/WKRC-TV recently reported, for some patients, the medications are life-changing. For others, the cost can be overwhelming.
Alex Apyan: Get to know the UC Bearcat turned Orion program team member
April 7, 2026
For UC grad Alex Apyan, his time as a student-athlete on the Bearcats’ football team has only been a precursor to a successful career that currently has him as an integral part of the Mission Planning and Analysis team with the Orion Program. A native of Chattanooga, Tenn., and graduate of UC's aerospace engineering program, Apyan was a long snapper for the Bearcats from 2007-11. Now, he has an important role in the multi-purpose crew vehicle used in NASA’s Artemis program, helping the first crewed flight launch last week.