Support Staff

Randy Smith is a 1972 graduate of Cincinnati’s Anderson High School and holds multiple degrees from the University of Cincinnati where he was honored as Mr. Bearcat (Outstanding Senior) in 1977.  While a student at UC Mr. Smith was a 7 year member of the Bearcat Marching Band and president his senior year.  He also co-founded the UC Rallycats, UC’s student pep club.  Following a 36-year career at Procter & Gamble, Mr. Smith continues to be active in local and state government and with the Bearcat Bands. He has served as “The Voice” of the band since 2001 and on the Board of Governors of the UC Band Alumni Association, having founded this organization in 1979.  He continues to serve his alma mater as a Trustee of the University of Cincinnati Foundation, Chairman of the Communications Committee and as a member of this organization’s Executive Committee.  He is the immediate past president of the Ohio School Boards Association and the Forest Hills School District.

Ryan Boyd is the Assistant Dean of Recruitment & Enrollment for UC's College of Arts & Sciences and Assistant to the Director of the UC Bearcat Bands. Before stepping into the A&S Dean's Office, he led the university's undergraduate and graduate nationwide outreach as Associate Director of National Recruitment in the Office of Admissions. Ryan's blend of enrollment expertise and deep passion for the marching arts makes him a key advocate for Bearcats discovering their potential in action, both in the classroom and on the marching gridiron.

A lifelong champion of the marching arts, Ryan began his journey as a member and student leader with the Sudler Trophy Award–winning Pride of West Virginia, the West Virginia University Mountaineer Marching Band, and went on to serve as its Band Operations Coordinator from 2001 to 2017. He has since contributed his leadership and logistical expertise to multiple high school programs across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, as well as to the Bearcat Bands since 2018, where he assists with operations and supports students on and off the field.

A first-generation college graduate, Ryan holds a B.A. from West Virginia University and an M.Ed. in Higher Education Leadership from the American College of Education. His passion for music, marching arts, student access, and inclusive excellence drives his work, whether he's opening doors to higher education or fine-tuning game-day logistics. Off the field, he lends his energy to several nonprofit boards dedicated to music and civic engagement, serves as a trivia host, and enjoys life as a proud dog dad to his goldendoodle, Oscar.

Divya Kusuma is a Master of Public Health student at the University of Cincinnati specializing in Epidemiology. Having previously studied in India, she holds a Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree with a strong academic foundation in clinical sciences, research analysis, and public health. Throughout her undergraduate and graduate studies, she's developed skills in data analysis, research methodology, and community-based health initiatives.

As a Graduate Assistant with the Bearcat Bands, Divya contributes to the organizational and administrative functions that support the program’s excellence. Her background also includes experience in event coordination and student engagement, which helps ensure the smooth operation of band activities. She's excited to build connections with students, contribute meaningfully to the Bearcat Bands community, and continue growing professionally. In her free time, she enjoys singing, swimming, cooking, and spending time with her nephew.

Bio coming soon

A proud alumna and supporter of the Bearcat Bands, Natalie Ochmann (tenor saxophone, 2011-2014) provides expert guidance to the student media team, mentoring students in content creation and managing the band’s social media presence.

Natalie earned her bachelor’s degree in English. As a student, she served as publications editor for the student band council and interned with Halftime Magazine, a national publication dedicated to the marching arts.

She went on to earn a master’s degree in professional writing from UC in 2016, the same year she joined the UC Bearcat Bands Alumni Association (UCBAA) board as secretary. Her leadership continued as vice president in 2019, where she played a key role on the band’s centennial committee. Although the 2020 celebration was impacted by the pandemic, Natalie’s efforts led to the largest UC alumni band ever taking the field in 2021.

From 2021 to 2024, Natalie served as president of the UCBAA and now continues to lead as vice president for membership recruitment. Her dedication to preserving the band’s legacy culminated in the publication of Thy Loyal Children, a comprehensive history of the Bearcat Bands, in 2023. She also regularly serves as the Bearcat Bands’ ambassador on UC’s Day of Giving and Giving Tuesday, and has inspired over $50,000 to the CHARGE Into the Next Century Instrument Campaign through these efforts.

Natalie’s contributions have been recognized with the Friend of the Bearcat Bands Award (2023) and the R. Robert Hornyak Award (2025).

Professionally, Natalie is the marketing director for UC’s international office, located just steps from the Rockwern Band Center. In this position, she organized a pep band to perform at Future University in Egypt in May 2024.

Natalie lives in Cincinnati with her husband Tim, a fellow Bearcat Bands alum, and their son, Leopold.

Will Gaines, a TUCBIDG sousaphone player from 2017-2022, developed his media production skills while studying Architecture at the University of Cincinnati's College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP). His education at DAAP and various other courses at the University provided a solid foundation in content creation, graphic design, and visual storytelling. Will also produced creative work for the band social media in the 2021-22 season. Complementing his academic experience, Will got a start at DJing for UC Band social events and fulfilled his dream to march DCI, which further strengthened his ongoing passion for music.

Currently a project manager at an architecture firm, Will continues to express his love for music performance as a now professional DJ by night. The combination of both his inspiration from the digital world in professional context and his unique blend of technical expertise and creative touch shaped by his education defines his approach to the media presentation of the UC Bearcat Bands.

Bio coming soon

Evan Boehm was born outside of Cincinnati, but has lived in Toledo for the past 9 years. He is a junior majoring in Commercial Music Production at CCM. He graduated from St. John’s Jesuit High School and played snare, tenors, and bass drum for the marching band as well as participated in jazz band and concert band.

This is his first year as sound engineer for the Bearcat Bands. For the previous two years in the band, he played synth in the front ensemble. Evan enjoys writing, recording, and producing his own music as well as jamming with others.

Katie Kennard (née Korthauer) is a graduate of UC and a sister of the Theta chapter of Tau Beta Sigma (SKAKAM CELVK class of 2011). A former chapter VPM and Assistant VPS, she graduated from UC in 2015 and played mellophone and horn in the bands during her undergraduate years. Katie was also a Section Leader and Uniform Manager. She is currently a realtor in Cincinnati at Keller Williams Advisers Realty with 7 years of experience and resides in Anderson Township with her husband and two dogs.