Dr. Whitney B. Gaskins

Dr. Gaskins is the Associate Dean of Professional Development and Community Impact in the University of Cincinnati College of Engineering and Applied Science, one of two African-American female currently teaching in the faculty of the College of Engineering. Whitney earned her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering, her Masters of Business Administration in Quantitative Analysis and her Doctorate of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering/Engineering Education. In her role as Associate Dean, Dr. Gaskins has revamped the summer bridge program to increase student support and retention as well as developed and strengthened partnerships in with local area school districts to aid in the high school to college pathway. She serves as the Principal Investigator for both the Choose Ohio First Program (COF) and Ohio LSAMP grants. Through these grant programs the students receive competitive scholarship funding and professional development workshops which help prepare them to enter into the STEMM workforce.

In 2009, she founded The Gaskins Foundation, a non-profit organization, whose mission is to present, engage, and prepare students of all ages to become leaders in STEM using algebra, programming, and design concepts. Her foundation launched the STEMulates year round K-12 program, that introduces more students to Math and Science. She was named the 2017 K12 Champion by the National Association of Multicultural Engineering Program Advocates (NAMEPA). In 2015, Dr. Gaskins was awarded the Janice A Lumpkin Educator of the Year Golden Torch Award. In 2019, she was recognized by the Greater Cincinnati Chamber as a Black History Maker. She was a recipient of the Dr. Terry Kershaw Faculty Excellence Award and the Excellence in Teaching Award from the University of Cincinnati for her innovative honors course Sticky Innovation. She was inducted in the 40 under 40 class of 2019 and was recognized as a YWCA 2021 Career Woman of Achievement.