A Message from the President

THIS OCTOBER, I was privileged to deliver my first State of the University remarks to a standing-room-only audience of trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni and community friends. It was a true pleasure to highlight all of the amazing successes we shared over the past year and highlight the innovative activities that are happening all over campus in support of our new strategic priorities.

This issue of Cleveland State illustrates our growing evolution as a nationally recognized urban university both through a number of recent achievements as well as the ongoing success of our tremendous alumni. You will read about a transformative gift establishing the Parker Hannifin Living and Learning Community for CSU students in the Say Yes to Education program, the creation of a new Center for Property Management and a major expansion of our Lift Up Vikes! food pantry and resource center.

Extraordinary graduates also are featured, from a car mechanic-turned-physician to “foodies” who are impacting the local hospitality scene to our 2019 Distinguished Alumni.

I was also happy to meet so many of you at our Homecoming festivities, particularly our reunion brunch for 1969 graduates and our first-ever Viking Harvest picnic. On a sunny Saturday afternoon, hundreds of alumni families returned to campus for games, food, face-painting, hay rides and more. It was a wonderful event and I so enjoyed sharing in your CSU memories.

Our alumni ­­— 140,000 strong — are the foundation upon which CSU has evolved into a nationally recognized urban research institution. Let’s continue to take CSU and our students Forward Together.

Harlan M. Sands, J.D., M.B.A.
President, Cleveland State University