Grateful alumnus establishes scholarship to honor retired UA professor

When most students look back at their educational experience, they often realize that one instructor stands out among the rest as having been particularly knowledgeable and instrumental to their success.

For Richard A. Ciccarone, who earned a master’s degree in public administration and urban studies from The University of Akron in 1978, that instructor was Dr. Yong H. Cho.

An exceptional professor and former chair of UA’s Public Administration and Urban Studies Department, Cho retired from the University in 1989 following a remarkable 25-year career during which he was highly active in professional and practical applications of public administration. Cho, for example, served under former President Jimmy Carter as a senior policy analyst in the Department of Housing and Urban Development and for seven years beginning in 1983 was a senior adviser in the Executive Policy Education Program of the Brookings Institute in Washington, D.C. He also served a term as the national president of the American Society of Public Administration.

Following Cho’s retirement from UA, he continued his career at San Francisco State University and later became dean of graduate and international studies at Sogang University in Seoul, Korea, where he eventually concluded his professional work.

“Studying under Dr. Cho was a special, unique experience,” said Ciccarone, who retired in 2014 from McDonnell Investment Management to become president of Merritt Research Services, an independent research and data provider focused on information related to municipal bonds. “Dr. Cho’s influence greatly inspired my strong belief in the pursuit of wisdom and greater participation through education and involvement, and I have been motivated by the energy and passion he demonstrated for his work throughout my own career.”

Searching for a way to honor the humble Cho, Ciccarone and his wife, Marilyn, ultimately decided to establish an endowed scholarship at The University of Akron. The Dr. Young H. Cho Endowed Fund in Public Administration and Urban Studies was created in 2014 to support Cho’s former department, including funding graduate fellowships and resources for faculty and students.

“The endowed scholarship is a fitting tribute to Dr. Cho,” explained Ciccarone. “It allows me to fully recognize him as an exceptional professor, academic leader, and mentor who contributed so much to so many – and to support the education of future generations, which Dr. Cho has always valued most.”

Other grateful students of Dr. Cho are invited to contribute to the endowment. To make a donation or learn more about establishing another scholarship, please contact Carin Luli in the Department of Development at 330.972.7441 or cluli@uakron.edu.