Lisa Huffman speaks at an event for public school principals

One year of leadership at UC

CECH Dean Lisa Huffman reflects on a year of growth, connection and opportunity

By Administrator Email

6 minute read August 15, 2025

July 1, 2025, marked the one-year anniversary of Lisa Huffman stepping into the role of Dean of the University of Cincinnati’s College of Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services, and Information Technology – CECH, or as she fondly calls it, CECH-IT (“catch it”).

Her first year has been filled with change and discovery, as higher education adapts to new realities across Ohio and the nation. But when Huffman reflects, she doesn’t dwell on the challenges – she lights up about the people, the work and the possibilities ahead.

“I have the best job in the world,” she says with a smile. “Every day I'm so thankful. I’m blown away by how much people are doing and how much better it is than I could have anticipated. The idea that we get to do this together, with a shared vision of helping people live their best lives? That is exciting to me.”

Finding home in Cincinnati

Accepting the dean’s role meant relocating from Denton, Texas, where Huffman served as dean of Texas Woman’s University’s College of Professional Education. A California native who also spent many years in Indiana, she was no stranger to the Midwest. But Cincinnati has been a delightful surprise.

“I didn’t really know Cincinnati,” she says. “It’s been a lot of fun exploring all the different communities.” She’s enjoyed discovering the city’s arts, music and food scenes, and she’s particularly impressed by the creative energy she’s found here. “Denton was artsy and funky, like a mini version of Austin. But I’m like, somebody should be talking about Cincinnati!”

Lisa Huffman claps as she walks off a baseball pitching mound

Dean Lisa Huffman walks off the mound after throwing out the first pitch at a spring UC Bearcats game. Photo by CECH Marketing

For Huffman, though, the crown jewel is UC’s CECH. Its mission to transform communities – and the sheer breadth of its programs – were what drew her here in the first place. “I really saw CECH as foundational to strong, healthy communities. And being an urban research institution embedded in a city? That got me really excited because we get to try things out, right here, in our own urban lab.”

Listening first

Huffman began her tenure with a “listening tour,” meeting with departments, faculty, staff and community partners. She wanted to understand not just what CECH does, but the heartbeat behind the work.

"I learned that we are so poised to meet the needs of the city of Cincinnati."

Lisa Huffman Dean of CECH

“We’re here to create the next workforce,” she says. “Teachers, justice professionals, mental and physical health experts, information specialists – all of them touch lives in important ways.”

She was inspired by the work of CECH’s many centers, from the IDD Education Center's expansion to support people with autism, to the Alpaugh Family Economics Center’s efforts to strengthen the region’s economy and promote financial literacy.

“What I heard over and over was a shared commitment to community-building and human-centered connections,” Huffman says. “That’s exactly what I hoped to find – and it’s all true.”

Seeing opportunity in change

Like all higher education leaders, Huffman is aware of the so-called “enrollment cliff” and shifting legislative landscapes. But she views these moments not as roadblocks but as invitations to think differently.

“The high school population going to college may be shrinking, but the number of people with no degree or some college who still need an education hasn’t changed,” she says. “Those are the people I want to reach. When you center people and their individual stories, and focus on their needs, you can have a visible impact.”

Celebrating and dreaming big

Over the past year, Huffman has thrown the first pitch at a UC Bearcats game, joined a study abroad trip to Botswana and South Africa, attended countless CECH traditions, and met alumni working in fields from the CIA to the FBI.

Dean Huffman hands a clear glass award to a CECH community member

Huffman presents an award at the 2025 CECH Faculty and Staff Awards. Photo by Daniel Johnson/CECH Marketing

“You know, I could pick something special about each program,” she says with a laugh. “Every event is just a lot of fun.”

Looking ahead, she’s excited about initiatives like developing a program to help people become teachers with zero out-of-pocket cost or debt. “Strong teachers mean strong communities,” she says. “That’s one of the best ways we can show our value back to the community.”

For Huffman, the work is about shared vision and collective action. “It’s not about what I think we should do – it’s about what we think we should do,” she says. “With this group, the sky’s the limit.”

And at the heart of it all is one constant. “For me, it always boils down to the students,” she says. “They’re our why. We’re here to help them achieve their goals, and our faculty and staff make that possible. I always center students.”

Featured image at top: CECH Dean Lisa Huffman delivers the keynote at the inaugural Principal Leadership Institute, a collaborative initiative between Cincinnati Public Schools and the University of Cincinnati. Photo by Daniel Johnson/CECH Marketing

Next Lives Here

The College of Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services and Information Technology is committed to the pursuit of discovery and excellence in research, teaching and service that addresses real world challenges and opportunities to create positive social change. The nationally renowned college includes four academic schools – School of Education, School of Criminal Justice, School of Human Services and School of Information Technology – operating under the common mission to affect communities in positive ways.