UC to Award Highest Honor to S. Craig Lindner

The University of Cincinnati will bestow its highest award, an honorary doctorate, to renowned philanthropist and businessman S. Craig Lindner during the university’s

spring Commencement ceremonies

.  

Lindner will receive an Honorary Doctor of Commercial Science degree at the ceremony set for 9 a.m., Saturday, April 30, in Fifth Third Arena. His brother, Carl H. Lindner III, will also be recognized with an honorary doctorate during the ceremony.  

Linder serves as co-president, co-CEO and director of the American Financial Group. He is also president, CEO and director of Great American Insurance Group Annuities, a division of AFG engaged in the sale of fixed and fixed-indexed annuities in the retail, financial institutions and education markets.  

The UC alumnus – Lindner received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from UC in 1977 – previously served as president of American Money Management Corporation, an AFG subsidiary that provides investment services. He has also served on the boards of directors of several public companies, including National City Corporation; Provident Financial Group, Inc.; Citicasters, Inc.; and Spelling Entertainment Group, Inc.     

Lindner, whose family is known for its philanthropic largesse, turned his efforts to establishing a dedicated mental health facility in Greater Cincinnati. He and wife Frances led efforts to launch the Lindner Center of HOPE in 2008. The $28 million, 100,000-square-foot complex, located on 36 acres in Mason, Ohio, has since become an award-winning facility offering residential and outpatient mental health treatment options to people from across the globe.

Lindner continues to serve as chairman of the board of the nonprofit center, which is affiliated with UC Health. He previously served as board member of the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Cincinnati Country Day School, and is a member of the Cincinnati Business Committee.  

Lindner is also actively involved in a number of civic organizations, including chairing the annual Greater Cincinnati Classic Horse Show benefiting Shriners Hospitals for Children, Cincinnati; the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Journey of Hope Ball; and Project H.O.P.E. benefiting children in Langkloof, South Africa.  

Lindner attends and is active in Horizon Community Church.  He resides in Cincinnati.