Neville Pinto

Neville Pinto
Birthplace	India
Nationality	American
Occupation	University administrator, chemical engineer
Title	30th President of the University of Cincinnati
Employer	University of Cincinnati
Known for	President of the University of Cincinnati
Website	[https://www.uc.edu Official site]

Neville George Pinto is an Indian-born American university administrator and chemical engineer who has served as the 30th president of the University of Cincinnati (UC) since 2017. A scholar whose academic career has spanned multiple decades across several institutions, Pinto rose through the ranks of higher education from faculty positions in chemical engineering to the leadership of one of the largest public research universities in the United States. His tenure at the University of Cincinnati has been defined by efforts to expand the university's research profile, strengthen its global partnerships, and navigate complex policy landscapes including state and federal legislation affecting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Under his presidency, the university has continued to grow in enrollment, research expenditures, and national visibility. Pinto has also been recognized for his emphasis on experiential learning and cooperative education, a hallmark of the University of Cincinnati's educational model since its founding. His leadership has extended into the 2025–2026 academic year, during which he welcomed the university community back for its 207th year of operation.

Early Life

Neville Pinto was born in India. He developed an early interest in the sciences and engineering, which guided his educational trajectory. Details about his family background and upbringing remain limited in public sources. Pinto eventually pursued higher education in the United States, where he built his academic career. His journey from India to the upper echelons of American higher education administration has been noted in the context of UC's deepening ties with Indian universities. In November 2025, Pinto joined a delegation on a trip to Nirma University in Ahmedabad, India, to strengthen the University of Cincinnati's partnership with one of India's leading institutions, a visit that underscored his personal and professional connections to the country of his birth.

Career

Academic Career and Administrative Rise

Before assuming the presidency at the University of Cincinnati, Neville Pinto built a career as a scholar and administrator in chemical engineering. He held faculty and administrative positions at multiple institutions, gaining experience in academic leadership, research administration, and strategic planning. His expertise in chemical engineering informed his approach to leading research-intensive universities, and he became known for his emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and experiential learning. Prior to his appointment at UC, Pinto served in senior administrative roles, including positions as provost and dean, which prepared him for the challenges of leading a large public university.

Presidency of the University of Cincinnati

Pinto became the 30th president of the University of Cincinnati in 2017. The University of Cincinnati, founded in 1819, is one of the oldest and largest public universities in the United States and is classified as a Carnegie Research 1 institution. Pinto succeeded Santa Ono, who departed for the University of British Columbia.

Under Pinto's leadership, the university has pursued strategic goals centered on academic excellence, research growth, urban engagement, and innovation. The university's cooperative education program, which was pioneered at UC in 1906, has remained a central element of the institution's identity, and Pinto has frequently highlighted its role in preparing students for the workforce.

In September 2024, the UC Board of Trustees approved a contract extension for Pinto along with a three percent pay increase, reflecting the board's confidence in his continued leadership of the institution.

DEI Policy and State Legislation

One of the most significant challenges of Pinto's presidency has involved navigating the evolving legislative and political landscape surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs at public universities. Ohio's state legislature, along with federal directives, imposed new restrictions and requirements on DEI-related activities at publicly funded institutions.

In March 2025, at the State of the University Address, Pinto formally responded to concerns about recent state and federal legislation, including Ohio's Senate Bill 1 and a federal "Dear Colleague" letter that had implications for DEI programming at public universities. His statement addressed the university community's questions about how UC would comply with the new legal requirements while maintaining its commitment to an inclusive campus environment.

In June 2025, Pinto sent a letter to UC students and staff detailing the specific steps the university planned to take to comply with the new law banning DEI. The letter conveyed a message of inclusivity, using the phrase "You belong here" as a framing for the university's response. Pinto outlined the operational changes required by the legislation while seeking to reassure the campus community about its values.

The issue continued to generate discussion and protest on campus. In September 2025, UC faculty and students held a symbolic "funeral" event to mark what they described as "the death of academic freedom." The event took place the day before trustees from Ohio's 26 public colleges and universities were scheduled to meet for an annual conference. The demonstration reflected broader tensions within higher education over the role of DEI programming and the boundaries of academic freedom in the context of legislative mandates.

Global Partnerships

Under Pinto's presidency, the University of Cincinnati has expanded its international partnerships, particularly with institutions in India. In November 2025, Pinto led a delegation to Nirma University in Ahmedabad to deepen the existing relationship between the two institutions. Nirma University is one of India's prominent private universities, and the partnership was aimed at fostering collaborative research, faculty exchanges, and student mobility between the two institutions. The visit represented one of several international engagement efforts undertaken during Pinto's tenure.

Public Engagement and Community Relations

Pinto has maintained a visible public presence during his presidency, engaging with the broader Cincinnati community and hosting events at the university that bring together civic and political leaders. In October 2025, the University of Cincinnati's Portman Center for Policy Solutions hosted an event featuring Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who discussed bipartisanship. Pinto greeted guests during the event, which reflected the university's role as a convener for public policy discussions in the region.

In October 2025, Pinto appeared as a guest on the "Beyond the Title" podcast, produced by Bearcast Media, the university's student-run media organization. The episode was part of a series in which Pinto discussed his role as president and his perspectives on higher education leadership.

Welcoming the 207th Academic Year

In August 2025, Pinto delivered a welcome-back message to the University of Cincinnati community at the start of the fall semester, marking the institution's 207th academic year. In his message, Pinto emphasized "the power of a public mission in a changing world," a theme that reflected the broader context of shifting political and social dynamics affecting public higher education institutions across the United States. The address set the tone for the academic year and reiterated the university's commitment to its public mission of education, research, and community engagement.

Personal Life

Neville Pinto was born in India and relocated to the United States to pursue his education and career. He has maintained connections to India throughout his professional life, as evidenced by his personal involvement in strengthening the University of Cincinnati's partnership with Nirma University. Details regarding his family life remain limited in publicly available sources. Pinto has been described in university communications as someone who values community engagement and accessibility, as demonstrated by his willingness to participate in student media programs such as the "Beyond the Title" podcast.

Recognition

Pinto's tenure as president of the University of Cincinnati has received recognition from the UC Board of Trustees, which extended his contract in September 2024 and provided a three percent pay increase, signaling institutional confidence in his leadership. His role in leading one of Ohio's largest public universities has placed him in a prominent position within the state's higher education landscape, particularly during a period of significant policy change regarding DEI and academic freedom.

The University of Cincinnati's continued engagement with national and international partners, including the hosting of bipartisan political events at the Portman Center for Policy Solutions, has reinforced the institution's visibility under Pinto's leadership. His international outreach, particularly the deepening of partnerships with Indian universities, has also contributed to the university's global profile.

Legacy

As of 2025, Neville Pinto's legacy at the University of Cincinnati continues to be shaped by ongoing developments. His presidency has coincided with a period of significant transformation in American higher education, characterized by debates over the role of DEI, academic freedom, and the public mission of state universities. Pinto's approach to these issues—seeking to comply with legislative mandates while communicating a message of inclusivity—has defined a central aspect of his tenure.

His emphasis on international partnerships, particularly with Indian institutions, has positioned the University of Cincinnati as an institution with growing global reach. The partnership with Nirma University, deepened during his 2025 visit, represents one tangible outcome of these efforts.

Pinto's leadership through a period of political and cultural upheaval in higher education, including campus protests and legislative restrictions, has placed him among a cohort of university presidents who have had to balance institutional compliance with community expectations. His use of phrases such as "You belong here" in official communications has been noted as an attempt to maintain institutional identity in the face of mandated policy changes.

The long-term assessment of Pinto's presidency will depend in part on the outcomes of policies implemented during his tenure, the trajectory of the university's research profile, and the durability of the international partnerships he has fostered.