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."
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!"
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.
"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."
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."
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.
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
