OTR mural celebrates UC alumni success

OTR mural celebrates UC alumni success

New artwork honors 18 alumni award recipients recognizing the breakthroughs they have made

By Lauren Briede Email LaurenEmail Lauren

4 minute read April 4, 2025 Share on facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share on Reddit Print StoryLike

The UC Alumni Association will celebrate Alumni Week, April 7-13, with a community art project commemorating this year's slate of University of Cincinnati honorees receiving the organization's top awards. The 18 honorees will be recognized for the breakthroughs they have made and the resulting impact on their university, communities, and fields of endeavor at the UC Alumni Celebration on April 10 at Cincinnati's Music Hall.

This year's group of honorees reflects the excellence that UC alumni demonstrate across so many disciplines and in service to people around the world.

Jennifer Heisey '97 Chief Alumni Officer

The group is headlined by premier entertainment industry dealmaker and William Howard Taft Medalist Darrell D. Miller, Esq., CCM '85. Miller is known throughout the entertainment industry for negotiating innovative, career-expanding deals for his creative clients in the motion picture, television, music, theater and multimedia sectors. He has been named a "Sports & Entertainment Law Trailblazer" and is listed among the "Top 100 Lawyers in California" by the Los Angeles Business Journal.

As a former singer, Miller understands the creative talent he represents and has forged longstanding relationships with studio executives and creative personnel, and represents A-level artists, some of whom include: Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Angela Bassett, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, and more.

"This year's group of honorees reflects the excellence that UC alumni demonstrate across so many disciplines and in service to people around the world," said Jennifer Heisey, UC's chief alumni officer. "They reflect expertise, talent and remarkable breakthroughs that exemplify a spirit of innovation, service and philanthropy - the personification of alumni success - and we're proud to recognize them during Alumni Week."

The mural artwork will be unveiled in early April and remain on display through March 2026. UCAA commissioned Chroma Projects to design and illustrate this year's mural, which is painted on the side of a building at 1430 Vine St., in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood.

2025 UC Alumni Celebration Honorees

William Howard Taft Medal for Notable Achievement
Darrell D. Miller, Esq., CCM '85

Robert E. Dobbs Distinguished Service Award
Phil D. Collins, Bus '89

Marian A. Spencer Mosaic Award
Diana Maria Riva, CCM '91, '95

Jeffrey Hurwitz Young Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award
Nicholas D. Ernest, PhD, CEAS '11, '12, '15

Outstanding Alumni Awards

College of Allied Health Sciences
Thais C. Morata, PhD, CAHS '90

College of Arts and Sciences
Beth A. Robinson, A&S '87, '97

Blue Ash College
Algeria K. Wilson, UCBA '13, CAHS '16

Carl H. Lindner College of Business
Jim L. Grau, Bus '73

Clermont College
Angela M. Hall, Cler '10, '16

College-Conservatory of Music
Patrice Willoughby, JD, CCM '92

College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning
John C. Senhauser, DAAP '71

College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services
Mary A. Ronan, A&S '76, CECH '77

College of Engineering & Applied Science
Jan M. Leuridan, PhD, CEAS '81, '84

College of Law
David J. Willbrand, JD, Law '96

College of Medicine
Joan C. Linhardt, MD, A&S '72, Med '76

College of Nursing
Karl (Nick) Dobrzelecki, Nur '97

James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy
Ivan Glenn Sipes, PhD, Phar '65

UC Athletics
Bob J. Roncker, A&S '66, CECH '70

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HONOREES

Featured image at top: 2025 Alumni Celebration mural. Photo/UC Alumni Association.

Cynthia Miller

Assistant Vice President, Alumni Engagement 

513-556-2078

cynthia.miller@foundation.uc.edu

Related Stories