Kelly Harper to receive national Co-op Educator award

Kelly Harper, the Manager of Cincinnati State’s Career Center and a co-op educator for over 25 years, is the 2021 recipient of the Dean Herman Schneider Educator Award presented by the Cooperative Education and Internship Association (CEIA).

A virtual award ceremony will take place Tuesday, Apr. 20, as part of the CEIA Annual Conference.

• Kelly has been a member of the CEIA Board since 2011, serving in the roles of President, Conference Chair, and Vice President of Marketing and Membership.
   
• She also has served as President of both the Ohio Cooperative Education Association (OCEA) and the Midwest Cooperative Education and Internship Association (MCEIA).
   
• Prior to joining the Cincinnati State faculty and serving as a co-op coordinator, Kelly worked at Northern Kentucky University.

The Dean Herman Schneider Award recognizes a faculty member or administrator for “a significant and comprehensive record of contributions for the advancement of the philosophy and practice of cooperative education or internships over a sustained period of time.”

The award is named for Herman Schneider, who was Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Cincinnati (1906-28) and President of the University (l929-32). Schneider founded the first cooperative education program in the U.S., in 1906.

Kelly will be the fourth Cincinnati State recipient of this prestigious award. Previous award-winners are:

• 2018 – Dr. John Henderson, Interim President of Cincinnati State from 2007-2010 and President of Wilberforce University for 15 years
   
• 2009 – Peggy Harrier, faculty member and Dean of the Business Division
   
• 2005 – Dan Cayse, faculty member and Dean of the Business Division