The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber hosted its 9th Annual WE Celebrate Awards, honoring women and women-owned businesses for their achievement, innovation, social responsibility and mentoring, on December 4. CYC Board Member Sandra F. J. Degen, PhD was honored as Woman of the Year Runner-Up in the Corporate sector. She was nominated because of her incredible mentorship to women throughout Cincinnati in research and medicine. Sandra was the driving force behind the Women Scholars Program and Young Women Scholars Program, programs which support the academic career development of women faculty at CCHMC who have demonstrated academic potential and leadership skills. These programs are having a profound effect on the careers of women in the fields of medicine and science, and when Sandra is mentioned in conversation, she is always described as a great mentor.

Sandra’s intuitive ability to build relationships within the community has been hugely beneficial to CYC. Our mission of empowering young students to overcome obstacles stems from the belief that when the community invests in itself, everyone benefits, and this belief is one that Sandra holds dear. She lives this mission as she invests in her workplace, University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC), in organizations like CYC, in countless other organizations and committees in Cincinnati, and in the multitudes of individuals she interacts with on a daily basis. 

We are beyond fortunate to have Sandra on our team and we couldn’t be more thrilled that she received such deserved recognition!