Finding his drive at UC
Dan McDavid’s journey from co-op student to automotive executive
Co-op didn’t just prepare Dan McDavid, Bus ’71, for professional life — it revealed the career he wanted.
The son of a coal miner-turned-factory worker, McDavid arrived at the University of Cincinnati seeking an education and a better opportunity, but he didn’t necessarily know where that path would lead. Co-op supplied this first-generation college student with early exposure to the business world, ignited his passion for the automotive industry and set him on a course from student to executive.
“The co-op program gave me an insight into the working world and enabled me to figure out what I wanted to do for a living,” said McDavid, who retired as a vice president at Chrysler.
In the early 1950s, the eastern Kentucky coal mine where McDavid’s father worked closed. After finding work near relatives in Springfield, Ohio, he traded the family’s house for a car before moving them to Springfield. Dan McDavid spent the rest of his childhood in Springfield, graduating in the top one percent of his high school class. He had several options for a university education. He chose UC because of the co-op program.
“My father told me early on that I needed to get a good education so I could get a job doing something different than what he had to do,” McDavid said.
Early in his sophomore year, McDavid learned that Ford was interviewing co-op students. The automobile enthusiast leapt at the opportunity and wound up completing five co-op rotations with Ford, alternating between Cincinnati and Dearborn, Michigan.
UC co-op program: Frequently Asked Questions
What is co-op at the University of Cincinnati?
UC defines cooperative education, or co-op, as meaningful, career-oriented, compensated workplace experiences. Co-op is a structured program where students complete academic coursework and get a paid job in their field of study, graduating with both a degree and real-world professional experience.
Find more info: What is co-op in college? How cooperative education works
Are UC co-op positions paid?
Many UC co‑ops are paid, full‑time roles. Students often use co‑op earnings to help cover tuition and living expenses, which can reduce the need for loans and improve the overall return on investment of their degree.
Learn more: How cooperative education and paid experience change the ROI equation
Which majors offer co-op, and where do UC students work?
Co‑op is deeply integrated into programs in engineering, design, information technology, business, arts, sciences and more, with support from the College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies. UC is committed to offering all students career-building, real-world experiences related to their field.
UC students co‑op in Cincinnati, across Ohio, throughout the U.S. and abroad with employers ranging from startups, design studios and nonprofits to hospitals, government agencies and Fortune 500 companies.
How does co-op help UC students after graduation?
By graduation, many Bearcats have up to 1.5 years of career‑related experience, strong resumes and professional networks. A significant number receive full‑time job offers from their co‑op employers, which is why the University of Cincinnati is widely recognized as the global founder of cooperative education and a national leader in co‑ops and internships.
Dan McDavid stands in the backyard of his house, which overlooks Lake Michigan.
“It was eye-opening because I was able to go work for a big company a couple of years out of high school,” McDavid said.
Before internships, experiential learning and career readiness became ingrained in higher education, McDavid was already gaining those experiences through co-op — working across business functions, building relationships and developing confidence. By the time he graduated from UC, he had three years of corporate experience before beginning his full-time career with Ford.
McDavid entered Ford’s two-year purchasing training program, rotating through divisions and locations across the company. He spent 17 years with Ford, where he earned promotions into management roles, negotiated contracts across the globe and met his wife, Sue.
McDavid joined Chrysler in 1985 as a general purchasing agent. By the time he retired in 2001, McDavid oversaw the purchase of all parts and materials for Chrysler, a $40 billion-per-year operation.
In retirement, McDavid has devoted his time to philanthropic endeavors and his home in northern Michigan, which features a 14-car garage populated with classic and exotic sports cars and memorabilia. The collection attracts visitors from across the country and reflects McDavid's lifelong fondness for the auto industry.
Looking back, McDavid credits co-op with helping set his professional life in motion.
“I got a great education, a great job and made a great career out of it,” McDavid said. “It was a dream come true.”
Featured image: Dan McDavid, an avid car collector, stands in his garage. Photos by Samantha Lake, who also contributed to this article.
Your career is next
Through one of the nation’s most robust co-op programs, UC students don’t just learn about their future — they live it, alternating classroom study with real, career-shaping experience in industries around the world.
Students: Earn while you learn at UC.
Employers: Find your next hire.
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