Michelle Clare appointed interim dean for UC's Career Education division

Michelle Clare, MA, has been named interim dean for Experience-Based Learning and Career Education (ELCE) at the University of Cincinnati, effective August 1, 2022. Valerio Ferme, PhD, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, made the announcement.

portrait of Michelle Clare

Michelle Clare currently leads strategic projects across the university. Photo/provided.

Throughout her 15-year career with ELCE, Clare has served in faculty and administrative leadership capacities. Most recently, she has served as senior director for partnership development and career education and was instrumental in expanding ELCE’s academic mission to meet the evolving needs of UC students and the university.

Clare currently leads strategic projects with stakeholders across the university including UC Online, Institutional Research, Cincinnati Innovation District and more and represents ELCE as a leader on several university initiatives including Co-op 2.0, Bearcat Promise and JobsOhio. Additionally, she has a history of sharing ELCE's mission, story and accomplishments in the media and in presentations to the board of trustees and state and federal lawmakers.

A respected leader in the field of cooperative education and experiential learning, Clare has served on the boards of state and national co-op associations and as an invited speaker at national and international conferences including the U.S. News Workforce of Tomorrow Conference in Washington, D.C.

Clare earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northern Kentucky University and a master’s degree in communication from UC.

Clare’s appointment as interim dean follows the retirement of Gisela Meyer Escoe, PhD, who had served as dean of the division since 2020 and as vice provost of undergraduate affairs (later changed to undergraduate studies) since 2011.

About Experience-Based Learning and Career Education

The more than 65 faculty and staff in UC’s Division of Experience-Based Learning and Career Education facilitate real-world work experience for students, teach students to prepare for their professional lives, and provide career services to students and alumni. At the same time, they connect employers and external partners with the talent they seek in a variety of arrangements inside and outside the classroom. UC's co-op and internship programs are among the top five in the country, according to U.S. News Best Colleges.

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