From first-gen student to aerospace leader: Angela Hall named UC Clermont’s 2025 Distinguished Alumna

Angela Hall has always been a trailblazer.

As the only girl in her shop class at Goshen High School, Hall — then Angela Simpson — was used to standing out. But she didn’t always know where she was headed. After graduation, she enrolled as a student in early childhood education at the University of Cincinnati Clermont College in 1999.

“My friends were doing it,” Hall said. “But after observing a class, I realized that teaching wasn’t for me.”

She decided to take some time off from her studies. Her father hadn’t graduated high school, and her mother had attended vocational school to become a secretary. Hall would be the first in her family to earn a college degree — but she wasn’t sure how or when.

Then over lunch in 2004, Hall’s aunt, a paralegal, encouraged her to revisit the idea of college. Hall had been working as an office manager at a granite company and realized she loved the office environment. That conversation — and a little research into college financial aid — led her back to UC Clermont.

“I looked through the offerings, and business just resonated with me,” she said. “I was 25, and I was ready.”

Hall earned her associate degree in Business Management Technology in 2010 — just seven days after giving birth to her son.

Two years later, she learned about UC Clermont’s Bachelor of Technical and Applied Studies (BTAS) program. With her young son at home and few online options available at the time, the program’s location just 10 minutes from her house made it possible.

“I don’t know if I would have pursued my bachelor’s degree if that opportunity hadn’t been available to me,” Hall said.

From 2013 to 2016, Hall took classes while working full time at Kaleidoscope Innovation, a product development firm. She started at the front desk and worked her way up to operations and accounting supervisor — eventually becoming chief of staff to the CEO.

“I like knowing how all the little pieces fit together,” she said. “During my BTAS program, I was already dealing with revenue and income every day. My classmates would ask me for help understanding the concepts.”

In 2024, Hall was laid off after Kaleidoscope was acquired by a large IT corporation. The company had become part of her identity — her husband even worked there as a building engineer — and the loss was difficult.

But Hall didn’t stay down for long. She reached out to a connection at GE Aerospace and landed a role in their Edison Works unit, which focuses on designing and developing the next generation of aviation and defense technologies, particularly for warfighter applications. The unit also plays a research and development role in various military aviation initiatives.

“I now manage a $1.8 billion program,” she said. “I’m a central hub — helping with forecasting, budgeting, timelines. I’m trying to set my program manager up to be as successful as I can.”

Hall recently received her full security clearance to the program after 10 months, and she’s already making an impact — while still climbing.

“I’m the kind of person who is always in competition with myself,” she said. “I’ll probably never stop climbing the corporate ladder. I’ll work myself to death.”

In recognition of her achievements, Hall was named UC Clermont’s 2025 Distinguished Alumna — an honor that celebrates her perseverance, leadership and commitment to lifelong learning. From her unlikely success, Hall hopes current students see a role model, when if the path ahead isn’t always straight.

“Don’t let anyone make you feel like your degree is less valuable than someone who paid more for their education,” Hall said. “And don’t feel rushed. Everyone starts from a different place. Even if you don’t have a supportive family, don’t think for a second that you can’t do it. The more you can do for yourself, the happier you’re going to be.”

UC Clermont College is in the center of Clermont County on 95 beautifully wooded acres in Batavia Township. The college is an accredited, open-access institution offering more than 60 programs and degrees. UC Clermont is part of the nationally recognized University of Cincinnati. For more information, call 513-556-5400 or visit www.ucclermont.edu.

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