Former UC Administrator and Alumna Cheryll A. Dunn to be Honored with UC s Award for Excellence

Through her long and distinguished career at the University of Cincinnati, Cheryll A. Dunn was dedicated to the educational success of every student. Dunn, who resides in Pleasant Ridge, will be honored with the University of Cincinnati’s Award for Excellence during UC’s Commencement Ceremony at 10 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 13, at Fifth Third Arena at Shoemaker Center. The honor recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to the purposes and ideals of the university.

Dunn, now an associate professor emerita for the UC College of Applied Science (CAS), has served the college as associate dean, assistant dean, associate professor of chemical technology and director of student services, in addition to serving as a faculty advisor to numerous UC student organizations ranging from the Society of Black Engineers and Society of Women Engineers (which she founded at UC) to the Paint Ball Club. During that time, her commitment to community included serving on the boards of Lighthouse Youth Services, United Way, the Association for Retarded Citizens, several environmental justice organizations and the YWCA. She has worked as a counselor for Lighthouse Youth Services as well as a counselor for juvenile offenders at the Cincinnati Institute of Justice.

Among her many honors, she was recognized by the National Technical Association (NTA) in 1996 as one of the top minority women in science and engineering. Throughout her career at UC, she worked tirelessly toward building diversity in the science, technology, engineering, math and medical (STEMM) fields. Her dedication to opportunity and diversity in education included serving two terms on the advisory council of the state’s College Tech Prep program, as well as devoting more than two decades to the NTA/UC Summer Enrichment Program to improve math skills among fifth-to-twelfth-grade students. She had also served as evaluator for the Minority Summer Program, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, in Batavia, Ill.

 “For more than 35 years, Cheryll has greatly lived the values and vision of UC|21 by placing students, parents and families at the center,” says Richard S. Newrock, CAS dean. “Always an advocate for the student, she aided those in preparatory and business outreach programs as well as honor students. She steadfastly refused to accept anything but the best effort of every individual in the college.”

Dunn earned her associate degree in chemical technology (1966) and her bachelor’s degree in chemical technology and vocational education (1968) from CAS. She also graduated from UC with a master’s of education in vocational/technical education (1969) and a doctor of education in cognitive and developmental psychology (1977). While she advanced her education, she also worked for UC as a resident advisor and resident counselor for the UC residence halls, as well as a coordinator of UC’s summer orientation.

Dunn comes from a family of UC pioneers. Her father, Charles G. Dunn, is a 1941 graduate of the UC McMicken College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) and was in the first liaison pilot class (the Tuskegee Airmen) trained at Tuskegee. Her mother, Precious Riley Dunn, now deceased, had also taken classes at CAS.