An engineering graduate of the University of Cincinnati has made a donation of $3 million to its College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), and says that the opportunity to study the humanities has a lot to offer STEM graduates.

Barry Mitchell graduated from the University's College of Engineering and Applied Science in 1982. His career has included work at the Space Shuttle Program in Houston (from 1982 to early 1986) and at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, where he also earned his master’s degree in applied physics. He has worked on the NATO Missile Defense Program, which included work in more than 35 European countries.

His gift will be divided into two to support CCM's activities. $2 million will be used to endow the Barry L. Mitchell Chair, which will support a faculty member in the CCM, and the school will determine the scope of that role.

A further $1.3 million will create the Barry L. Mitchell Endowed Scholarship Fund. These scholarships will be awarded to students enrolled in composition, musicology, and theory; ensembles and conducting; keyboard studies; performance studies; music education, or similar areas of study, for up to a maximum of five years of the duration of their studies.

"UC changed my life," Mitchell said. "College opened an entire new world to me, a world of ideas, beauty and possibilities. I was lucky. And this is the gift I would like to leave to future generations."

"The reason why, as an engineer, I chose to support CCM is that I believe the world needs more humanities. I believe intuition and a broad life perspective played a key role in my career success."

"Barry’s thoughtful and forward-thinking gift will enable the college to respond to current needs, while providing opportunities for our thriving community of students," said Peter Jutras, dean and Thomas James Kelly Professor of Music at CCM. "I’m so thankful for his support of future generations of artists."