Alumni Spotlights

Vinod Dham, CEAS ’77 
CEAS alumnus and recipient of the 2026 UC Alumni Association’s William Howard Taft Metal for Notable Achievement, Vinod Dham, known as the “Father of the Pentium,” helped revolutionize personal computing as a principal creator of Intel’s Pentium microprocessor. After earning his master’s in electrical engineering from UC, Dham built a distinguished career in semiconductor innovation before turning his attention to entrepreneurship and venture capital, helping nurture India’s technology and startup ecosystem.

Megan Pando, DAAP ’13
Megan Pando has turned her passion for art, creativity and community into Makers Social, a DIY project bar expanding from Columbus into Cincinnati. A DAAP alumna with a minor in entrepreneurship, Pando credits UC’s co-op program with helping shape her career and business vision. In 2026, she earned a $150,000 investment on Shark Tank from Kevin O’Leary. 

JP Suozzi, CEAS ’25 
JP Suozzi helped Honda Racing secure a historic Indianapolis 500 victory as a trackside engineer for Meyer Shank Racing. A UC College of Engineering and Applied Science graduate, Suozzi completed five co-op rotations with American Honda, including a trackside engineering role created for him. He joined Honda Racing full time after graduating, launching a career in motorsports.

Shoshana Bean, CCM ’99
Shoshana Bean is one of Broadway’s most celebrated performers, known for her powerhouse vocals and commanding stage presence. She won the 2026 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical for her portrayal of Lucy Emerson in The Lost Boys, marking her first Tony win after previous nominations.

Omar Bailey, DAAP 
DAAP alumnus Omar Bailey turned his childhood passion for designing sneakers into a career spanning global footwear brands, celebrity collaborations and entrepreneurship. After working with New Balance, Timberland, K-Swiss and Adidas, including leading innovation at the Adidas YEEZY Innovation Lab, Bailey founded FCTRY LAb, a Los Angeles-based prototyping studio and venture lab helping creators bring new products from concept to production.

Cindy Coggins, CECH ’73
Cindy Coggins has dedicated her leadership and philanthropy to helping University of Cincinnati students thrive. In 2020, she established the Coggins Family Endowed Volleyball Scholarship Fund to support student-athletes on and off the court. Her commitment to UC mentoring Bearcats, supporting major athletics initiatives, and serving on boards of the Alumni Association and UC Foundation.

Alex Yocum, CECH ’16 & Chase Dawson, Bus ’16
UC alumni Alex Yocum and Chase Dawson turned a longtime friendship into Swirley’s Soft Serve Co., a mobile ice cream business built around community, connection and hospitality. Since launching in 2026, the duo has quickly become a fixture at events and celebrations across Greater Cincinnati, with plans to expand through additional trailers and eventually a brick-and-mortar location.

Mary Wineberg, CECH ’02
Olympic gold medalist and UC alumna Mary Wineberg turned her passion for running into a career inspiring others through athletics, education and storytelling. A former Bearcats track and field standout, Wineberg competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where she won gold in the 4x400-meter relay. Today, she is an author, motivational speaker and track coach, sharing her story of perseverance and success.

Alex Apyan, CEAS ’13
Alex Apyan has combined his passion for engineering and space exploration into a career helping shape NASA’s future missions to the Moon. A College of Engineering and Applied Science graduate and former Bearcats football student-athlete, Apyan joined NASA in 2013. He now serves on the Orion Program’s Mission Planning and Analysis team, leading integrated vehicle performance and solar array integration for Artemis missions.