Family honors beloved UC professor with $1M gift to university

A family’s tribute to a beloved University of Cincinnati professor has turned into a $1 million gift that will support future generations of engineers. 

The children and grandchildren of Phillip C. Quo and his wife, Consuelo Y. Quo, have established an endowed professorship in the College of Engineering and Applied Science, honoring a man who spent more than 35 years teaching mechanical and materials engineering.

Phillip passed away in 2019.

“For our father, UC was the pinnacle of his professional career. He loved teaching, mentoring students and connecting them with industry through UC’s nationally recognized co-op program,” the Quo children said in a statement provided by the university. They went on to stress the importance of also honoring their mother, or grandmother in some cases, as well.

“She is the quiet force behind everything for our family,” they added. “It was her dedication that enabled our father and our family to thrive.”

Funding for the Dr. Phillip C. and Mrs. Consuelo Y. Quo Endowed Professorship came from the Quos’ four children – Marcia, Geoff, Stacey and Brian – and their six grandchildren. The position in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, where Phillip worked.

In May 2025, three generations of the family joined Phillip’s former colleagues and UC leaders at commencement to celebrate the gift.

“This professorship gives the college and university the opportunity to attract and retain the best engineering faculty who will follow in Phil’s footsteps – advancing discovery and teaching and positively impacting our institution and region for generations to come,” said John Weidner, UC’s interim provost and former dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science.

‘Engineering’ a lasting legacy

Phillip’s path to the United States began with an escape from mainland China to Taiwan in 1949. Consuelo survived World War II in the Philippines before immigrating to the United States.

“They both came to this country believing in the transformative power of learning,” the couple’s son, Geoff, said. Phillip began teaching evening classes while working full-time as an engineering executive. He later joined the UC faculty on a permanent basis, teaching mechanical and civil engineering as well as computer-aided manufacturing.

“One of his (Phillip’s) happiest moments was receiving the letter inviting him to join the faculty full time,” Geoff said. “He devoted the rest of his career to teaching, mentoring and connecting students to real-world opportunities.”

The UC College of Engineering and Applied Science offers a rigorous, experience-based curriculum and a nationally recognized co-op program that connects students with industry leaders and career opportunities.

Geoff said the hope is that endowed professorship will help strength that legacy, giving future faculty the support to mentor students and connect them with opportunities that can transform industries and communities – just as his father did.

Geoff recalled that his father often used Cincinnati’s iconic bridges as teaching tools, noting that while few remember the engineers and builders behind the Brent Spence and Roebling bridges, the structures themselves have stood strong for decades.

“This professorship is like those bridges,” he said. “Future holders may not know much about our family, but it will endure for generations, impacting students and faculty long after us.”

UC College of Engineering and Applied Science