UC receives support from P&G Beauty to bolster inclusive recruitment in DAAP program

New funds focus on diversifying design field

The University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) is partnering with Procter & Gamble's (P&G) Beauty division to increase diversity and inclusion in the design industry. P&G Beauty has created three funds to support opportunities for underrepresented minority students to study design at DAAP’s Myron E. Ullman, Jr. School of Design.

This contribution is a result of P&G’s strong belief that diversity drives innovation. It creates more holistic solutions to serve all consumers and communities better.

"We want our designers to reflect the billions of consumers we serve around the world," said Alexis Schrimpf, Vice President of Design, Skin & Personal Care at P&G. "It’s what enables us to fully and deeply understand consumer needs. We have a long-standing relationship with UC, and this was a natural way to make a positive impact on the industry."

P&G is a valued co-op partner with DAAP, one of the top design schools in the nation. The new funds will create opportunities for high school, undergraduate and graduate students who may not be aware of the design field’s potential.

The three funds are:

• The P&G Diversity in Design Graduate Fellowship Fund: To support graduate fellowships for five underrepresented students in the School of Design.
• The P&G Diversity in Design Undergraduate Scholarship Fund: To support scholarships for 12 underrepresented undergraduate students in the School of Design.
• The P&G Diversity in Design DAAPcamps Scholarship Fund: To support scholarships for 30 underrepresented high school students to attend DAAPcamps.

Schrimpf, a DAAP alumna, said being intentional about diversifying the design profession includes outreach; many students, especially in high school, are not aware of the field as a career option. The P&G Beauty/DAAP partnership allows students to discover viable career options in creative problem-solving. For example, DAAPcamps, an annual summer program, encourages rising tenth, eleventh and twelfth graders to experience different design disciplines.

P&G's partnership aligns with UC’s strategic direction, Next Lives Here, and its focus on valuing unique backgrounds, experiences and perspectives in a global society.

"The University of Cincinnati is dedicated to providing opportunity for people from diverse backgrounds to learn, imagine and discover," said UC President Neville G. Pinto. "Through P&G’s generosity, this partnership will drive our goal of inclusive excellence, create opportunities for students to thrive, and grow and transform the talent pool in our society."

Peter E. Landgren, President of the UC Foundation, said DAAP and P&G are capitalizing on their shared mission to shift the future of the design industry to be more inclusive and diverse.

"This is a phenomenal partnership for which I am grateful," Landgren said. "We are all better when we have diverse thoughts and background experiences around the table. I am terribly impressed with the collaborative spirit between DAAP Dean Timothy Jachna, Alexis and the teams they have brought forward, to co-create this new and exciting future."

P&G's contribution supports the priorities of Next, Now: The Campaign for Cincinnati, the comprehensive fundraising effort for UC and UC Health.