CECH celebrates renaming of iconic campus space in honor of longtime dean
On a warm and sunny Friday afternoon, University of Cincinnati's College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH) gathered on the lawn outside of Teachers-Dyer Complex was alive with joy and gratitude. This day, Sept. 15, 2023, marked the end of an era, as Dean Lawrence J. Johnson, the longest-serving dean in CECH history, hosted his final Welcome Back BBQ before his retirement during the 2023-24 academic year. The annual barbecue has persisted since 1999 and has become synonymous with the start of the academic year.
During the barbecue, UC President Neville Pinto made a surprise announcement — that the event space, between the Teachers-Dyer Complex and Blegen Library, had been renamed as the "Lawrence J. Johnson Lawn" in honor of Johnson's retirement and outstanding contributions to the university and the Greater Cincinnati community.
UC President Neville Pinto gives a speech in honor of Dean Lawrence Johnson Sept. 15. Photo via CECH Marketing Services
“What we will miss most [about Dean Johnson] isn’t what comes from his kitchen,” Pinto said in a speech during the barbecue. “What we will miss comes from his heart. It is your compassion, leadership, and friendship that we will miss the most.”
Johnson has been an integral part of UC since his arrival in 1990. He assumed the role of associate dean in 1993 and dean of CECH in 1999 and, for over two decades, has steered the college to unprecedented heights of academic excellence, community engagement and student success.
It's been a great honor to be here and be a part of this great family.
Dean Lawrence Johnson
Dean Johnson socializes during the final Welcome Back BBQ under his watch Sept. 15. Photo via CECH Marketing Services
Throughout his tenure, Dean Johnson's leadership transformed CECH from its humble beginnings into a thriving educational institution. When he began his term as dean, CECH had 1,782 students, 84 faculty members, no ranked programs, and a small portfolio of externally funded projects. Today, CECH totals nearly 6,000 students, more than 150 faculty members and over the last four years the college obtained over $30 million in external funds each year. CECH now proudly holds multiple national rankings, including recognition by U.S. News and World Report for five of its programs.
In the proposal to rename the lawn, Johnson is described as a public sector entrepreneur by embracing and facilitating innovations that produce revenue and resources to support college and the children and families in our community that are challenged by society. He is committed to fostering a sense of community at CECH through cooking, celebrations, equity and personal relationships. For example, in the 2022-23 academic year, $9.3 million in scholarships were awarded to CECH students, making higher education accessible to many.
“Under [Johnson’s] leadership, CECH has almost tripled in size,” Pinto said in his speech. “Generations of students have been impacted by his leadership. And that’s what we should remember, because that’s what our university is about. [Johnson’s] ability to keep students at the center of all his decisions is truly inspiring.”
Featured image at top from Dean Johnson's Welcome Back BBQ: (left to right) Associate Dean Laura Dell, CECH Facility and Research Program Director Greg Hollon, Associate Dean Kathie Maynard, CECH Dean Lawrence J. Johnson and UC President Neville G. Pinto. Photo by Jason Carter, CECH Marketing Services.
Teneisha Dyer
Assistant Dean, CECH
For more information about Dean Lawrence Johnson and his legacy at the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services, please contact Teneisha Dyer.
Related Stories
UC alum making historic waves
January 23, 2026
Christopher Bak is a UC Lindner alum making history. His gold at the 2025 World Championships was his third win and fifth time medaling overall. Bak’s achievements put him in the running for World Rowing’s Men’s Crew of the Year, a competitive award with only three nominees across the globe. Winners will be announced at the World Rowing Awards hosted at Switzerland’s Olympic Museum on Jan. 24. Not only is Bak in the running, but his coach, a UC faculty member, is nominated as well. Mark Oria, assistant professor of research at the UC College of Medicine, is one of four finalists for World Rowing’s Coach of the Year. The two have been working together since Oria joined the coaching team at UC back in 2017.
The mind after the storm
January 23, 2026
UC associate professor of counseling and trauma-informed counselor Amanda La Guardia discusses how domestic violence affects the brain, identity and long-term healing on the podcast “Is Anybody Out There?”
UC pharmacy alum teaches STEM to students
January 23, 2026
The Dayton Daily News highlighted the journey of University of Cincinnati James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy alumnus Doug Wurtzbacher, who now runs STEM after school programs and camps for students through his business iCode.