UC Alumni Association names top alumni award winners

Four UC alumni to receive highest honors during Alumni Week

The University of Cincinnati Alumni Association has announced this year’s recipients of its highest honors for UC alumni.

The 2026 honorees include:

Vinod K. Dham, CEAS ’77
Thomas D. Cassady, A&S ’76, Hon ’19
Padma Chebrolu, CECH ’92
Ryan C. Marable, PharmD, Phar ’13

Each year, the UC Alumni Association honors a select few of its more than 360,000 alumni based on their career accomplishments and contributions to the university and community, recognizing them during Alumni Week festivities each spring.

“UC alumni demonstrate innovation and excellence in the widest range of disciplines while serving people around the world, and our 2026 honorees personify this institutional impact,” said Jennifer Heisey, UC’s chief alumni officer. “Through their expertise, leadership and passion for their work, they make the world a better place. In the process, they reflect alumni success at the highest level, and we’re proud to recognize them this April during Alumni Week.”

These four Bearcats, along with recipients of the UC Alumni Association's Outstanding Alumni Achievement Awards representing 13 colleges and the unique training ground of UC Athletics, will be recognized at the UC Alumni Celebration on Thursday, April 16, 2026, as part of Alumni Week – April 13-18. The 18 honorees also will be depicted on a vibrant new mural to be painted on a building in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood in April. Visit alumni.uc.edu/celebration to learn more including Alumni Celebration ticket details.

About the honorees

Vinod K. Dham, CEAS ’77 – William Howard Taft Medal for Notable Achievement

Vinod K. Dham, CEAS ’77 Photo/Provided

Acclaimed as the “Father of the Pentium Chip” for leading Intel’s iconic microprocessor brand from inception to worldwide success, Vin Dham has over 45 years’ experience in developing semiconductor products, technologies and venture capital. He was Vice President of Intel’s Pentium Processor Division and General Manager of the i486 Workgroup Computing Division. During his 16 years at Intel, he led the Intel 386 compaction, i486, and Pentium Processor families, helping Intel become the largest company in the semiconductor industry. In recent years, Dham has been deeply involved in mentoring startup entrepreneurs as an angel investor — work that grew out of his pioneering efforts in India to develop a venture capital-driven startup ecosystem. He is a founder of IndoUS Venture Partners, an early-stage venture capital fund. He was also CEO of Silicon Spice, a chip design startup; he led its design of a VOIP chip. Previously he had been COO at NexGen, a microprocessor design startup. Dham has been named one of the top 25 executives in the computer industry and one of the top 100 most influential Asian Americans. He was recently highlighted at the Smithsonian among “the Indian Americans who have helped shape America.”

Thomas D. Cassady, A&S ’76, Hon ’19 – Robert E. Dobbs Distinguished Service Award

Thomas D. Cassady, A&S ’76, Hon ’19 Photo/Provided

A longtime volunteer leader in the University of Cincinnati community, Tom Cassady recently retired from his role as Midwest Regional Chair for USI Insurance Services, a national insurance brokerage firm, after 25 years as the company’s CEO. Previously, he spent 18 years as President and CEO of Queen City Insurance Agency, which he sold to USI in 1999. A former UC trustee and board chair, Cassady is a member of the board of UC Health and a past chair. He headed the university presidential search committee that resulted in the hiring of UC President Neville Pinto in 2017. He was awarded an honorary degree of letters in appreciation of his service and leadership. He has been a dedicated supporter of a variety of UC causes, with his college, his fraternity Beta Theta Pi, the Gen-1 House for first-generation students, and UC Athletics his principal priorities. In 2018, he and his wife created The Thomas D. and Karen H. Cassady First Generation Scholarship Fund.

Padma Chebrolu, CECH ’92 – Marian A. Spencer Mosaic Award

Padma Chebrolu, CECH ’92 Photo/Provided

Padma Chebrolu is an accomplished heritage artist, filmmaker, author, corporate leader, and community advocate whose career has lived at the intersection of business, arts education, community well-being, and environmental sustainability. During her time at UC, she founded the Cultural Centre of India in Cincinnati, where she continues to serve as the Artistic Director. Since, the center has become a global institution and vibrant cornerstone of the community, offering performances, workshops, residencies and community programs that share heritage arts. She is the recipient of Ohio Governor's Award for Arts Education. Chebrolu's work in filmmaking has received more than 50 awards from 18 countries, recognizing her unique skill in integrating environmental education and cultural storytelling. She worked at Procter & Gamble Co. for 30 years until her 2025 retirement.

Ryan C. Marable, PharmD, Phar ’13 – Jeffrey Hurwitz Young Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award

Ryan C. Marable, PharmD, Phar ’13 Photo/Provided

Ryan Marable, PharmD, is a Senior Medical Information Specialist with global life-sciences organization Eversana, where he provides high-level scientific and clinical support to healthcare professionals and internal stakeholders. His decade-plus of experience spans medical information and communications, clinical pharmacy practice, pharmacy management, and mentoring junior professionals. Previously, he made his mark with Kroger Health as a Patient Care Clinical Pharmacist and a Pharmacy Manager, and through leadership positions in his professional field. Marable has also held various leadership roles as a volunteer in the community, helping uninsured and vulnerable populations as well as youth development organizations. He has been recognized numerous times with awards saluting his accomplishments and service, and he remains deeply engaged with UC, mentoring pharmacy students and supporting alumni initiatives.

2026 Outstanding Alumni Awards

College of Allied Health Sciences
Daniel J. Meyer, DPT, CAHS ’14, ’17

College of Arts and Sciences
Laura R.P. Lamb, A&S ’91

Blue Ash College
Mark A. Brueggeman, UCBA ’79, Bus ’81

Carl H. Lindner College of Business
Clarissa K. Niese, Bus ’03

Clermont College
Bret P. Koebbe, Cler ’02, Bus ’04

College-Conservatory of Music
John Holiday, Jr., CCM ’12

College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning
Brendán J. Murphy, DAAP ’04

College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services
Nancy Strubbe Santi, CECH ’84

College of Engineering & Applied Science
Mohammad H. Qayoumi, PhD, CEAS ’79, ’80, ’83, Bus ’84

College of Law
Richard A. Graeter, JD, Law ’89

College of Medicine
Angela K. Fitch, MD, Med ’98

College of Nursing
Alice L. Rose, Nur ’69

James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy
Brain K. Dellaire, PharmD, Phar ’82

UC Athletics
Jeanne M. Johns, CEAS ’86

Visit alumni.uc.edu/celebration for more information about the honorees and UC Alumni Celebration ticket details.

Featured image at top: 2025 UC Alumni Celebration stage. Photo/UC Alumni Association

About the University of Cincinnati Alumni Association

The UC Alumni Association (UCAA) unites UC's more than 360,000 alumni worldwide, connecting them to their alma mater and fellow Bearcats. In doing so, UCAA staff and volunteers work to enrich the lifelong alumni experience and ignite passion to transform lives.

Cynthia Miller

Assistant Vice President, Alumni Engagement 

513-556-2078

cynthia.miller@foundation.uc.edu

UC Alumni Association names top alumni award winners