Retirement luncheon for Pres. Posey will take place Aug. 28

Cincinnati State will celebrate the distinguished career of President Dr. Monica Posey with a retirement luncheon on Friday, August 28, three days before her official retirement on August 31, 2026.

The luncheon will be a fundraiser to honor Dr. Posey’s longstanding commitment to student success and workforce growth. Proceeds from the event will help establish the planned Student Success Center, which will be named in Dr. Posey’s honor for her decade of leadership as president and more than 30 years of service to Cincinnati State.

The luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati (151 W. Fifth St.).

• An on-campus celebration of Dr. Posey’s retirement is scheduled for Thursday, August 27, from 3 to 6 p.m., in the Conference Center.
• President Posey also will be recognized at the dinner following the annual Honors Scholarship Golf Outing on Monday, August 31– the last day of her presidency. Additional details will be provided in future Daily News articles.

The retirement luncheon at the Hyatt Regency invites employees, alumni, employers of Cincinnati State students, community leaders, and other friends of the College to join in celebrating Dr. Posey’s remarkable career while investing in the success of future generations of students. Additional information about sponsorship opportunities and event registration is forthcoming.

The $14 million Student Success Center planned for the first floor of the Main Building is one of three major capital projects that will strengthen student success and workforce education throughout the region. Other initiatives include a $10.7 million expansion of the College’s Aviation Maintenance Technology campus in Harrison and a $13.3 million renovation of the Advanced Manufacturing Wing on the Clifton campus.

Recently, the State of Ohio awarded Cincinnati State a one-time $10 million capital investment to support the three projects. Combined with college and philanthropic commitments, as well as a bipartisan, bicameral federal appropriation, the College and the Cincinnati State Foundation have secured $28.6 million – 75 percent of the funding needed to reach the $38 million goal. 

“Governor DeWine, Lt. Gov. Tressel, the Ohio General Assembly and its leadership and our southwest Ohio delegation have made an important investment in the future workforce of our region,” said Dr. Posey.

“Their support brings these projects significantly closer to reality and will help Cincinnati State prepare even more students for high-demand careers while expanding the services that help them succeed.”

Under Dr. Posey’s leadership, Cincinnati State achieved a number of milestones in advancing the College:

• Reached its highest enrollment in more than a decade.
• Achieved its strongest financial position in 30 years.
• Expanded bachelor’s degree opportunities and strengthened workforce partnerships across the region.
• Developed innovative student success initiatives that have helped more students persist, graduate, and enter rewarding careers.
• Doubled the College’s annual regional economic impact to $1.3 billion.
• Produced graduates with the highest average earnings among Ohio’s community colleges.
• Completed the most successful fundraising campaign in Cincinnati State history, while a second comprehensive campaign has already generated $40 million in commitments with 12 months remaining.
• Earned nationwide attention for the College’s student success and workforce initiatives, including features by CNN, PBS NewsHour and Axios.

“Throughout her career, Dr. Posey has reminded us that student success extends well beyond the classroom,” said Jane Garvey, chair of the Cincinnati State Board of Trustees. “Naming the Student Success Center in her honor recognizes a leader whose work has always focused on helping students overcome barriers, achieve their goals and build better lives.”

The planned Student Success Center reflects Dr. Posey’s belief that talented students are most likely to succeed when academic excellence is matched by equally strong support outside the classroom. Designed as a central location where students can connect with academic advising, career services, financial assistance, tutoring, transfer support and other essential resources, the Student Success Center will help future generations of students navigate college successfully from enrollment through graduation.

“Monica has always believed that the measure of a college is the success of its students,” said Mike Haunert, retired Sysco region president and chair of the Cincinnati State Foundation Board of Directors. “Supporting the Student Success Center is a meaningful way to honor her legacy while investing in the students who will shape our region’s future.”