1

World class: Alumni travel program connects Bearcats on global scale

January 7, 2026

Most people have a natural curiosity to see the world. Meanwhile, most Bearcats enjoy being around other Bearcats. Alumni can check both boxes through the UC Alumni Association’s travel program, which offers about half a dozen excursions each year to fascinating places around the globe.

2

UC launches Bearcat Affordability Grant

January 7, 2026

The University of Cincinnati is making college more attainable for students across Ohio with the creation of the Bearcat Affordability Grant. The new grant will provide a pathway to tuition-free college for students of families who make less than $75,000 per year. Beginning in fall 2026, the Bearcat Affordability Grant will cover the remaining cost of tuition for Ohio residents who are Pell eligible.

4

UC faculty and staff among Rising Star leadership honorees

January 5, 2026

Two UC faculty and staff members are among this year's Rising Star leadership program sponsored by YWCA Greater Cincinnati. Kelli Beecher, assistant professor in the UC College of Nursing, and Brittany Bibb, assistant director of programs and operations in the UC Division of Student Affairs, are among the emerging leaders of 2026. They were featured in the publication Movers & Makers.

5

UC College of Nursing Professor honored with AANA education excellence award

December 23, 2025

Susan Newell, assistant professor in the UC College of Nursing, is being recognized by the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) as one of three top educational administrators and instructors. She will receive the Clinical Instructor of the Year Award during AANA's top educator event 2026 EDGE Conference, February 4-7 in Louisville, Kentucky.

6

Charting vitals and chasing tries: UC Nursing students develop skills on and off the rugby field

December 16, 2025

At the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing, students like seniors Kaleb Kiely and Josiah Soberano are proving that the path to becoming a nurse can be as varied, challenging and sometimes almost as intense as a rugby match. Their stories highlight the dedication and thoughtfulness behind choosing nursing as their career path, and how the discipline, camaraderie and resilience built on the field as part of the UC’s Rugby team fuel their growth as future nurses.

8

Ohio nurses weigh in on proposed federal loan rule

December 12, 2025

Spectrum News journalist Javari Burnett spoke with UC Dean Alicia Ribar and UC nursing students Megan Romero and Nevaeh Haskins about proposed new federal student loan rules. Romero and Haskins, both seniors, were filmed in the College of Nursing’s Simulation Lab.

10

Celebrating the newest Bearcats on Decision Day

December 11, 2025

The University of Cincinnati admits its newest Bearcats for Fall 2026. Interest in the university is at an all-time high with more than 35,000 applicants for admission. Decision Day was also a time to celebrate 10 new Marian Spencer Scholarship recipients.

11

Finding purpose in care: UC graduate charts a new course in nursing

December 3, 2025

As he prepares to graduate this December with his Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Cincinnati, Keegan Farrell is quick to admit that this wasn’t the career path he pictured for himself when he first arrived on campus eight years ago.

14

Tackling children’s health

October 27, 2025

Randi Bates, assistant professor in the UC College of Nursing, focuses on advancing childhood health and wellbeing in her research. This month she was honored with a Crane Excellence in Early Childhood Award from The Ohio State University. Bates is also the recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Nurse Researcher Award from Mount St. Joseph University.