About Us
Formed in 1967, SOCHE is a consortium of colleges and universities in Ohio that promotes educated, employed, and engaged citizens.

Mission
SOCHE is a leader for higher collaboration, engaging with colleges, universities, and industry to transform the economy through education and employment.

Educate
Grow educational and leadership opportunities for faculty, staff, and students.

Employ
Build the Ohio workforce by enhancing employment prospects for students and graduates.

Excel
Model collaboration excellence to find innovative solutions to advance higher education.

Endure
Establish SOCHE as the backbone organization of distinction in higher education.
values

Teamwork
Build our team focused on trust and accountability.

Ethics
Strive to be ethically grounded and act with integrity and excellence every day.

Accessible
Build programming for all in an equitable way.

Mindful
Remain conscious of community needs and collaboration to effect change.
SOCHE Membership:
Something for Everyone

College and University Deans, Officers, and Directors
- Councils or committees for most program directors on campus to collaborate with peers at other institutions. Go to the Councils and Committees page
- Special task forces to tackle pressing issues, like COVID-19.
- ODHE advocate for significant concerns impacting institutions.
Collaborative grant opportunities.
Students
- Hundreds of paid internship opportunities for most career fields and all education levels. Go to the SOCHEintern page
- Fellowship research opportunities for masters and doctoral level students. Go to the DAGSI page
- Federal Employment webpages to help with the process of applying for any federal position. Go to the Federal Employment page
- Cross Registration to allow eligible students to attend classes that are unavailable at their home institutions. Go to the Cross Registration page
- Volunteer opportunities and resources. Go to the Volunteer page
- Fast access to degree and certification program information. Go to the Degree Finder page


Faculty and Staff
- Hundreds of FREE webinars are available for personal and classroom use through a partnership with Innovative Educators. Go to the Webinars page
- Opportunities for personal and professional development through workshops, lunch and learns, and flexible course delivery webinars on various topics. Go to the Events page
- Collaborative meetings to share best practices, resources, and professional development tools. Go to the Councils and Committees page
- Funding opportunities to support research. Go to the DAGSI page
SOCHE by the Numbers
We’ve collected statistics for enrollment and achievements of all SOCHE members over the past six academic years. Scroll over the table below to highlight a specific stat and see how it has evolved.
SOCHE Members Combined Stats | 2019-20 | 2018-19 | 2017-18 | 2016-17 | 2015-16 | 2014-15 | 2013-14 | 2012-13 | 2011-12 | 2010-11 | 2009-10 | 2008-09 | 2007-08 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Students enrolled (FTE) | 138,266 | 137,427 | 146,197 | 149,762 | 149,236 | 150,788 | 89,339 | 90,459 | 85,759 | 71,336 | 63,278 | 64,080 | 62,410 |
Students enrolled (Unduplicated Headcount) | 226, 384 | 219,296 | 189,536 | 194,699 | 227,620 | 230,158 | 155,564 | 117,770 | 108,211 | 117,115 | 112,508 | 108,898 | 104,059 |
Out of state students* | 4,013 | 4,511 | 3,670 | 4,047 | 4,948 | 5,137 | 1,755* | 5,639 | 1,779 | 2,111 | 1,711 | 2,099 | 1,981 |
Undergraduate degrees awarded | 19,109 | 19,810 | 22,672 | 22,693 | 20,375 | 21,712 | 10,718 | 10,976 | 9,908 | 6,271 | 6,791 | 6,760 | 6,418 |
Associate degrees awarded | 6,544 | 6,291 | 6,239 | 6,346 | 5,872 | 5,313 | 4,567 | 5,102 | 3,437 | 3,649 | 3,273 | 3,307 | 3,055 |
Undergraduate STEMM degrees awarded | 4,827 | 4,973 | 9,909 | 9,793 | 2,368 | 2,105 | 1,195 | 1,215 | 5,477 | 1,648 | 1,459 | 1,460 | 1,372 |
Undergraduate degrees awarded to Black and Hispanic students | 2,089 | 2,159 | 3,184 | 3,063 | 2,266 | 2,380 | 1,806 | 3,342 | 1,377 | 918 | 890 | 890 | 914 |
Graduate and professional degrees awarded | 8,875 | 8,864 | 10,996 | 10,913 | 9,604 | 9,169 | 5,184 | 5,182 | 5,764 | 3,413 | 2,874 | 2,918 | 2,958 |
Graduate and professional degrees awarded to Black and Hispanic students | 914 | 903 | 1,266 | 1,201 | 1,067 | 1,054 | 889 | 996 | 994 | 314 | 373 | 272 | 307 |
Certificates awarded | 8,085 | 8,227 | 6,019 | 5,566 | 5,902 | 4,592 | 2,016 | 3,173 | 2,712 | 2,734 | 2,653 | 2,110 | 2,419 |
* First time undergraduates only. Only 19 institutions reported this statistic. 20 institutions reported for 16-17 and 17-18 years.
Economic Impact Study
This study employs data from SOCHE member institutions about enrollment, staffing, revenues, and expenditures, along with data from other research on non-local student and visitor spending, taxes, and employment by industry to assess the impacts on the economy.

The History of SOCHE
In 1967, the DMVC was formed to promote community service and inter-institutional cooperation in order to achieve educational advancement, research development, and administrative efficiency of the member institutions. 50+ years later we strive for the same goals by connecting higher education institutions to increase opportunity, propel change, and promote education.
DMVC is Created
Xenia Tornado
Project Reach
Established SOCHE office at Wright-Patterson AFB
DMVC name change to SOCHE (Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education)
Faculty Retreat for Diversity Awareness
Technology in the Classroom & Distance Learning Workshop
GC3 (formerly GCCCU) Partnership
SOCHE Sustainability Committee
SOCHE Intern
TEDx Dayton
First Ohio Internship and Co-Op Appreciation Day Observed
Innovative Educators
APDC
Career Adventures Camp
Dayton Strong
Workforce We Need Summit
COVID Taskforce
Consortium Libraries Share Materials
Cross Registration Program
Committee on the Academic Uses of the Computer for Education
Air Force Research Lab (AFRL)
Cable Television for Educational Outreach Committee
Articulation Workshop: Reducing Barriers and Expanding Educational Opportunities
Degree Finder
Democracy in Action Award
SOCHE Talks
Ohio Internship and Co-op Appreciation Day
SOCHE Ed
CINDAY CYBER Created
Ohio Community Connectors
SOCHE Engage
myVeteran Community
20 By 20 CHALLENGE
Launch of Federal Employment Portal
SOCHE Changes Names
Committee on the Academic Uses of the Computer for Education
Air Force Research Lab (AFRL)
Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT)
The original AFIT contract was awarded in the late 1980’s. The goal was to provide student interns to support AFIT’s mission-essential role of providing high-quality academic and continuing education, research, and development programs to enable the Air Force to sustain its competitive advantage.
Cable Television for Educational Outreach Committee
Established SOCHE office at Wright-Patterson AFB
DMVC name change to SOCHE (Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education)
Faculty Retreat for Diversity Awareness
Technology in the Classroom & Distance Learning Workshop
GC3 (formerly GCCCU) Partnership
Articulation Workshop: Reducing Barriers and Expanding Educational Opportunities
Degree Finder
Democracy in Action Award
SOCHE Talks
Ohio Internship and Co-op Appreciation Day
SOCHE Sustainability Committee
SOCHE Intern
TEDx Dayton
First Ohio Internship and Co-Op Appreciation Day Observed
Innovative Educators
SOCHE Ed
CINDAY CYBER Created
Ohio Community Connectors
SOCHE Engage
myVeteran Community
APDC
Career Adventures Camp
Dayton Strong
Workforce We Need Summit
20 By 20 CHALLENGE
Launch of Federal Employment Portal
SOCHE Changes Names
COVID Taskforce
DMVC is Created
Consortium Libraries Share Materials
Xenia Tornado
Cross Registration Program
Project Reach
Committee on the Academic Uses of the Computer for Education
Air Force Research Lab (AFRL)
Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT)
The original AFIT contract was awarded in the late 1980’s. The goal was to provide student interns to support AFIT’s mission-essential role of providing high-quality academic and continuing education, research, and development programs to enable the Air Force to sustain its competitive advantage.DMVC name change to SOCHE (Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education)
Cable Television for Educational Outreach Committee
Faculty Retreat for Diversity Awareness
Articulation Workshop: Reducing Barriers and Expanding Educational Opportunities
Technology in the Classroom & Distance Learning Workshop
Degree Finder
GC3 (formerly GCCCU) Partnership
Democracy in Action Award
SOCHE Sustainability Committee
SOCHE Talks
SOCHE Intern
Ohio Internship and Co-op Appreciation Day
TEDx Dayton
SOCHE Ed
First Ohio Internship and Co-Op Appreciation Day Observed
CINDAY CYBER Created
Innovative Educators
Ohio Community Connectors
APDC
SOCHE Engage
Career Adventures Camp
myVeteran Community
Dayton Strong
20 By 20 CHALLENGE
Workforce We Need Summit
Launch of Federal Employment Portal
COVID Taskforce
SOCHE Changes Names
Meet Our Members
SOCHE is an alliance of academic organizations that provide higher education in their communities. Each member is an advocate of innovation, opportunity and success. They strive to promote scholastic achievement through the development of new technologies and quality education.






















Meet the SOCHE Team
Cassie Barlow
President
Cassie Barlow
President
Cassie joined SOCHE as the Director of Aerospace Professional Development in 2017. She was born and raised in Buffalo, NY and is an avid Bills fan. Cassie is an active volunteer on several different boards across the Dayton community. After traversing the world for 26 years in the Air Force, Cassie has chosen Dayton as her home and the Workforce Development area as her passion.
In the APDC she works with companies across the region helping them find the workforce they need as well as helping to build pathways to in-demand jobs. She also works with job seekers helping them find their niche. Cassie has a special focus on Veterans needs across our region and State. Cassie is an adjunct in the Organizational Leadership Department at Wright State and in her spare time loves spending time with her husband and daughter or reading a good book.
Patty Buddelmeyer
Senior Vice President of Development
Patty Buddelmeyer
Senior Vice President of Development
Patty comes to SOCHE with extensive experience working as a STEM Program Manager in industry. In 2015, she decided to follow her passion for helping others pursue their educational and career goals by joining the SOCHE team. She is originally from Beavercreek but explored the world with her husband during his 22-year career in the Air Force. After many worldly adventures, they decided to make the wonderful city of Dayton their permanent home. Currently, Patty’s family resides in Springboro, where she enjoys spending time with her husband, three kids, and two dogs.
Karen Manzo
Vice President of Finance & Contracts
Karen Manzo
Vice President of Finance & Contracts
Karen has worked for SOCHE since September 2013. She has an Associate in Arts from Sinclair in General Studies with a major in Dance and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Finance from the University of Dayton. She completed her Accounting classes at Wright State University.
Mindy Claggett
Senior Manager, Member Professional Development
Mindy Claggett
Senior Manager, Member Professional Development
Joining the SOCHE staff in the spring of 2020, Mindy has an extensive background in marketing and communications roles, including more than two decades of experience at higher education institutions. Mindy’s primary responsibilities at SOCHE include conceptualization, planning, and executing the organization’s various professional development events, as well as coordinating the councils and committees program and hosting associated meetings. She also is responsible for the annual SOCHE Excellence Awards program that honors faculty and staff for their excellence in contributions to member institutions.
In her previous role, Mindy was associate editor of revenue content at Cox Media Group Ohio, heading up a freelance team that produced nearly 300 content projects a year. Mindy has spent all but 10 years of her life in the Miami Valley, and she earned her Bachelor of Arts in mass communication, with a journalism emphasis, from Wright State University. In her free time, Mindy is a volunteer with Dayton-area nonprofit Shoes4TheShoeless. She also enjoys training in taekwondo at Valor Martial Arts with her son, Gannon, who is significantly more talented in that area than she is. Mindy and her husband, Don, have been married for almost 25 years.
Sandra Logan Wild
Senior Business Manager
Sandra Logan Wild
Senior Business Manager
Sandra has been with the SOCHE Team since 2014. She has a bachelor’s degree in Personnel and Labor Relations from the University of Maryland Global Campus and her master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA) from Wright State University. She has strong ties to the military as a “brat,” former WV Air National Guard member, military spouse, and the proud Mom of a USAF Reserves member. She wants to say she spends her time wisely, but you can usually find her on a walk, in the movie theater, or in front of a computer.
Kyra Robinson
Senior Program Manager
Kyra Robinson
Senior Program Manager
Kyra has built her career in higher and secondary education. Prior to her current position, she was the Educational Leadership program coordinator in the Department of Leadership Studies in Education and Organizations at Wright State University. Her varied experiences include roles as an Upward Bound program assistant at the University of Dayton, an academic advisor at Wright State University, and she held comparable positions at two historically black institutions, Ohio’s Wilberforce University and Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis.
Additionally, she served as a communication specialist with Dayton Public Schools. In her spare time, Kyra utilizes her communications skills and career experiences to write and speak about HBCUs and related academic matters and has been a featured guest on podcasts to discuss HBCU topics. She also composes articles and posts content on her social media platforms. Her written work has appeared in other publications as well, and she is the author of No Ways Tired: The Public Historically Black College Dilemma. Kyra is a proud Fisk University alumna and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English. Her master’s degree is in journalism from Ohio University. She and her husband are native Daytonians and are the parents of two children.
Brittany Edwards
Senior Program Manager
Brittany Edwards
Senior Program Manager
Brittany Edwards is currently SOCHE Program Manager at AFRL/RX and has been with the organization since 2005. She has served as Program Manager at AFIT previously and has been instrumental in all things SOCHE. During her 12 years with SOCHE, Brittany has hired hundreds of students, placing them in research positions on Wright-Patterson AFB. Throughout the academic year, Brittany attends area college and university career fairs , meeting with prospective student interns. Brittany has worked on base since 1991 in various capacities for Park University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Mackenzie Lawson
DAGSI Program Manager
Mackenzie Lawson
DAGSI Program Manager
Mackenzie joined SOCHE in May of 2021 as a Program Manager Intern. She currently works alongside program managers as a Program Manager Associate. She is a current senior at the University of Dayton pursuing a degree in International Studies with a minor in chinese. After gradution, Mackenzie is planning on attending graduate school to obtain an MBA. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her four roommmates, her two sisters, and her two border collie dogs!
Macaira Pucci
Graphic Design and Marketing Intern
Macaira Pucci
Graphic Design and Marketing Intern
Macaira joined SOCHE in May of 2022 as a Graphic Design Marketing Intern. She currently works alongside the Marketing and Customer Relationship Manager. She is a current senior at the University of Dayton pursuing a degree in Graphic Design and minor in Marketing. After graduation, Macaira plans on pursuing a career in design and marketing branding. In her free time she enjoys hanging out with her friends, going to concerts and traveling.
Board of Trustees
SOCHE is governed by a Board of Trustees which includes presidents and representatives from member colleges, universities, and corporations.
The Executive Committee is responsible for the governance activities of the Consortium.
The duties of the Executive Committee include:
- Providing communication links among members.
- Consulting with members about varied interests relating to the activities of the Council.
- Assisting in preparation of proposals to the Board. Projects, programs, and activities approved by the Board are carried out under the direction of the Executive Committee in accordance with the polices and instructions of the Board.
The Executive Committee prepares the annual budget for submission to the Board and is charged with responsibility for the expenditure of the Council’s funds in accordance with the determination of the Board. The Executive Committee discharges these responsibilities through appointed staff.