Dean's Office Directory

Cross trained as a basic scientist and epidemiologist, my career objectives are to understand how the interplay between genetic predisposition and environment contributes to chronic disease (e.g. cancer and asthma) and to translate my findings into real and measurable changes that improve the outcomes for children and families, particularly those that are living in communities that are most vulnerable as a result of socioeconomics.

Dr. Engelhard earned her BHS in Physical Therapy from the University of Kentucky; a Master’s in Business Administration from Thomas More College and her EdD from the University of Cincinnati. She has a strong clinical and management background in nursing homes, acute rehabilitation, and home health. Dr. Engelhard, a tenured Professor at the University of Cincinnati, previously served as the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Director and Vice Department Head.  She currently serves as the College of Allied Health Sciences' Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. She has earned emeritus status for her Board-Certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist certification and Fellow of the American Physical Therapy Association's Educational Leadership Institute.

Dr. Ramesh Kaipa officially began his role as the inaugural Associate Dean of Community Partnerships and Impact at the College of Allied Health Sciences in June 2025. In this key leadership position, he is dedicated to forging dynamic, mutually beneficial collaborations between the College and the greater Cincinnati community. His vision includes developing and evaluating innovative community health programs specifically designed to address health disparities. Dr. Kaipa is also keen to explore the impact of community engagement on student learning and champion sustainable partnerships that create enduring positive change for both the College and its community stakeholders.

Prior to joining the University of Cincinnati, Dr. Kaipa served as Head of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Oklahoma State University from July 2018 to May 2025. During his leadership, the department experienced remarkable growth, expanding its faculty from four to 15 members. This expansion coincided with an impressive 93% undergraduate student retention rate, the successful launch of numerous new academic and certificate programs, and the fundraising of nearly $3 million. Dr. Kaipa's journey at Oklahoma State began in 2012 as an Assistant Professor, leading to his promotion and tenure in 2018. From 2016 to 2018, as Graduate Program Director, he led the successful accreditation site visit for the Master's program in Speech-Language Pathology. His research at Oklahoma State, conducted within the Motor Speech Lab, focused on developing evidence-based treatments for individuals with neurogenic communication disorders.

Dr. Kaipa is equally passionate about the scholarship of teaching and learning. His commitment to excellence in this area was recognized with several distinguished awards at Oklahoma State University, including the President's Faculty Fellow Research Award, the College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Teaching Award, and the Golden Torch Award for teaching excellence.