My Tri-C
My Tri-C Student Resources News & Events Corporate College Alumni Give
Paying for College Apply Visit

Getting Started

Whether you want to earn a degree, improve your skills, get certified, train for a new career, or explore a new hobby, you can choose from many programs and courses.

Get Started
What type of student are you?
New Student
Returning
Transfer
Visiting
International
College Credit Plus
Non-Credit
All Student Types

Classes & Programs

Explore your interests and find a program that puts you on the path to a bright future. Tri-C offers both credit and non-credit courses as well as certificate programs in most career fields.

View all programs

Degree Programs & Certificates

More than 1,000 credit courses are offered each semester in more than 200 career and technical programs. Tri-C also grants short-term certificates, certificates of proficiency and post-degree professional certificates.

View A-Z Program List

Workforce Training & Professional Development

Tri-C's Workforce Training provides both non-credit and credit training for individuals and businesses to assist individuals with skills leading to employment. Tri-C's Corporate College provides professional development and corporate training opportunities.

Learn more

Community Programming for Adults & Youth

Tri-C offers a variety of affordable and convenient community programs for both adults and youth. These programs are designed to promote individual development.

Learn more

Request Info

Tri-C is here for you. Have a question about a program or service? We'll help you find the answer.

Ask a Question

Live Chat

Chat live with college departments and services.

Start live chat

Tri-C 24/7

Outside of business hours? Get answers to your questions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Student Support Services

Ask Tri-C

Get answers to your frequently asked questions from navigating the website to programs and services.

Get Answers

Getting Started

Whether you want to earn a degree, improve your skills, get certified, train for a new career, or explore a new hobby, you can choose from many programs and courses.

Get Started
What type of student are you? New Student Returning Transfer Visiting International College Credit Plus Non-Credit All Student Types

Classes & Programs

Explore your interests and find a program that puts you on the path to a bright future. Tri-C offers both credit and non-credit courses as well as certificate programs in most career fields.

View all programs

Degree Programs & Certificates

More than 1,000 credit courses are offered each semester in more than 200 career and technical programs. Tri-C also grants short-term certificates, certificates of proficiency and post-degree professional certificates.

View A-Z Program List

Workforce Training & Professional Development

Tri-C's Workforce Training provides both non-credit and credit training for individuals and businesses to assist individuals with skills leading to employment. Tri-C's Corporate College provides professional development and corporate training opportunities.

Learn more

Community Programming for Adults & Youth

Tri-C offers a variety of affordable and convenient community programs for both adults and youth. These programs are designed to promote individual development.

Learn more
Paying for College
Apply
Visit

Request Info

Tri-C is here for you. Have a question about a program or service? We'll help you find the answer.

Ask a Question

Live Chat

Chat live with college departments and services.

Start live chat

Tri-C 24/7

Outside of business hours? Get answers to your questions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Student Support Services

Ask Tri-C

Get answers to your frequently asked questions from navigating the website to programs and services.

Get Answers
Student Resources News & Events Corporate College Alumni Give

Categories

All Categories Tri-C Eastern Campus Metropolitan Campus Western Campus Westshore Campus Creative Arts Health Careers Hospitality Information Technology Manufacturing Public Safety Events JazzFest Alumni Athletics Faculty #mytricstory Tri-C Famous Student Success Veterans Community Involvement Corporate College Equity In Outcomes Gifts and Grants Pathway Programs Workforce Impact
  • Tri-C Home
  • »
  • News and Events
  • »
  • News
  • »
  • Tri-C Spring 2019 Graduate: Diane Sears

A Glamour Job

Diane Sears wants to use her Tri-C degree to pursue a career as a cosmetic chemical engineer

Diane SearsDiane Sears sees beauty in science.

The 20-year-old wants to blend her love of chemistry, engineering and math with a job in the cosmetics industry. She built a foundation for that career with her studies at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).

Later this month, she’ll graduate from Tri-C with an Associate of Science degree.

Sears said her father, Donnell, inspired her to pursue a career in engineering given her talents in math and science. Initially, she objected. “To be honest,” she said, “it sounded boring.”

But then she stumbled upon a job — cosmetic chemical engineer — that put lipstick on the idea.

Chemical engineers in the cosmetics industry design the personal care items that fill bathroom cabinets and makeup bags. Much of their work focuses on ensuring the safety of products used by consumers.

“I had never looked at makeup and thought of all the science behind it,” Sears said. “I want to be the one doing that.”

To begin working toward that goal, she enrolled at Tri-C in 2017 after moving to Cleveland from Alabama. Sears took classes online her first year as she balanced classwork and working two jobs.

Her days often started at 3:30 a.m. as she caught buses to work to begin pouring coffee and serving breakfast. She spent her nights doing homework.

“It was rough,” she said, “but I knew I had to keep going.”

Sears started taking classes at Metropolitan Campus in 2018 and became more involved in student life. She currently works as a tutor at the downtown campus to help peers struggling with complex classwork.

In the fall, Sears plans to take more classes at Tri-C before transferring to a four-year school to begin work on a bachelor’s degree.

Sears said she is happy she followed her father’s advice — particularly when she looks around her classes and sees few women or African American classmates. Both are underrepresented groups within the engineering field.

She said that she wants to be an example for future girls.

“That is something that drives me,” Sears said. “If I finish this, I can show other people what is possible. I want to be somebody’s inspiration.”

Cuyahoga Community College will celebrate the academic achievements of thousands of students on May 16 at Spring Commencement. Check our News and Events page in the days leading up to the ceremony as we highlight members of the Class of 2019.

May 08, 2019

John Horton, 216-987-4281 john.horton@tri-c.edu

© 2021 Cuyahoga Community College
700 Carnegie Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44115

Quick Links

Employment at Tri-C
my Tri-C space
Athletics
Blackboard
Bookstore
Course Search
College Catalog
Library
Technical Support
Transcripts

About Tri-C

About
President's Office
Accreditation
Administrative Departments
Accessibility
Board of Trustees
Diversity & Inclusion
Student Consumer Information
Title IX Equal Opportunity
Privacy Policy

Campus Locations

Map & Directions
Parking
Campus Police

Connect With Us

Visit Tri-C
Request Information
Phone Directory
Tri-C 24/7
Ask Tri-C
Live Chat
Tri-C 216-987-6000 Corporate College 216-987-2800