Cincinnati Refined: UC dean runs nonprofit to promote STEM education

Lifestyle publication highlights engineering associate dean

Digital lifestyle and wellness magazine Cincinnati Refined highlighted University of Cincinnati College of Engineering and Applied Science Associate Dean Whitney Gaskins as part of its Female Founders monthly series. 

Whitney Gaskins

Dr. Whitney Gaskins is a three-time UC graduate, associate dean of CEAS, and founder of non-profit organization The Gaskins Foundation.

A three-time UC graduate, Gaskins is dedicated to supporting and promoting Cincinnati youth endeavors in STEM. At UC, she serves as associate dean of the college's Office of Inclusive Excellence and Community Engagement where she works to foster student support, retention, and professional development. One way she does this is through the summer bridge program, where admitted first-year students spend a portion of their summer on campus, creating a "bridge" between their high school and higher education career.

Gaskins' efforts within CEAS prompted her to create the Gaskins Foundation, a nonprofit organization that aims to educate and empower underserved communities. Her motivation for this was her recognition that students should be introduced to STEM prior to high school, in hopes of inspiring them from a young age. 

One of the main facets of the foundation is the year round K-12 program: Cincinnati STEMulates. STEMulates is a free series of programs for pre-collegiate students that shows them the opportunities — and fun — involved in math and science. 

Since its origin, the Gaskins Foundation has made a difference in the lives of thousands of students, both in and beyond the Cincinnati area. 

Read the Cincinnati Refined story. 

Featured image at top: Whitney Gaskins is making an impact in the lives of students in and beyond the Cincinnati area. Photo/pixabay

Related Stories

1

CCM welcomes new film and media scoring faculty member J.R. Paredes

May 20, 2026

UC College-Conservatory of Music Dean Pete Jutras has announced the appointment of J.R. Paredes as CCM's new Assistant Professor of Film and Media Scoring. His faculty appointment officially begins on Aug. 15, 2026. Paredes is a composer, music producer and audio post-production specialist whose work spans film, television and commercial music. His credits include original scores for feature films and series distributed on platforms such as Apple TV+ and Prime Video, as well as extensive work in sound design and mixing for film and media.

2

Materials scientist gains valuable research experience

May 20, 2026

The opportunities at the College of Engineering and Applied Science are what attracted Ananth Balasubramanian to the University of Cincinnati. He came to UC as a master's student and after two years, transitioned to a direct PhD program in materials science and engineering. Here, he works in the Digital Fabrication Laboratory and recently was named Graduate Student Engineer of the Month by CEAS.

3

6 ways starting a GLP-1 medication could affect your emotions

May 20, 2026

When patients first start taking a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medication, they probably expect to feel full. But they might not anticipate how it can influence their emotions. The medications act on the stomach and the brain, said Malti Vij, MD, a University of Cincinnati adjunct associate professor in the College of Medicine's Department of Internal Medicine and a diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine.