Dan Cayse Leadership Award

Introduced in 2025, this award is intended to honor a leader whose work has positively impacted the field of work-integrated learning. It is broad in intention, as true leadership can be found at every level of an organization. Members of the faculty, administrative leadership, senior leaders, and others can all be eligible for this award if their work has produced a meaningful contribution to the field and/or they have gone above and beyond in supporting Work Integrated Learning at their organization.

This award is named for Dan Cayse, retired Vice President of Strategic Initiatives & Entrepreneurial Development at Cincinnati State Technical & Community College. Dan joined Cincinnati State in 1974, where he provided leadership in cooperative education for 38 years. He twice served as Dean of Business Technologies. During his combined 20 years of service as Dean, he made major contributions to his division and the college enhancing and expanding the cooperative education program. As Dean, he was responsible for the academic affairs and co-op program for 24 Associate Degree Programs and 14 Certificates for the Business Technologies Division. Under his leadership, the Business Technologies Division developed a nationally recognized academic and cooperative model that led to strategic partnerships with companies such as Walt Disney World, Procter & Gamble and The Kroger Company.

Dan has also played a significant role on state, region and national levels. He has been a consultant for numerous colleges and corporations as well as having made over 500 presentations throughout the United States. Other involvement includes representing the United States in Canadian co-op initiatives, testifying before Congress during the Title VIII funding era and being instrumental with the efforts to bring about the co-op national ad campaign.

In addition to all of this, he has been a committed leader of the Cooperative Education and Internship Association, serving twice as President, as well as many terms as the Vice President of Finance. In 2005, CEIA honored Dan as the recipient of the Dean Herman Schneider Award for his lifetime commitment to the field of work-integrated learning. He was also honored with the E. Sam Sovilla Award by the Midwest Cooperative Education & Internship Association (MCEIA) and was named Educator of the Year by the Ohio Cooperative Education Association (OCEA).

Most crucially, Dan has used his platform as a senior leader in his institution and in CEIA to personally and intentionally mentor other leaders in the field and younger generations of practitioners. He has taught at the Academy, built long-term relationships with members, and given countless hours to train new board members and committee volunteers. He truly embodies genuine leadership.

Application:

You must be a current CEIA member to nominate an individual for this award. Please complete a nomination via the link below. Be sure to answer all questions to meet the criteria necessary for consideration of the Dan Cayse Leadership Award. Include a resume or LinkedIn Profile URL for your nominee, if possible.
Supporting materials may be requested by the committee, if necessary, to fully evaluate the nominee.