Legacy of Leadership
It’s no surprise that student success has been at the heart of Ronald M. Berkman’s presidency. The son of a working-class family who juggled jobs with his classes and studying and saw higher education as a means to a better life, he strongly identified with CSU students from the start.
“I’m one of them,” says Dr. Berkman of CSU’s 17,000-plus student body. “I understand the challenges they face because I faced them myself. The proudest days of my presidency are commencement – shaking the hands of graduates as they walk across stage, seeing the joy on their faces and knowing that CSU helped them achieve their dream of a college degree.”
Providing vision and leadership to help students graduate in a timely manner with the knowledge and skills needed for career success and raising scholarship funds to support students on their educational journey have been top priorities throughout his presidency. And he’s succeeded admirably.
Now, after nine years at CSU’s helm, he will retire June 1.
“The opportunity to lead CSU is, without question, the most rewarding experience of my 40-plus-year academic career,” he says. “It has been an honor to serve as president during an amazing period of progress.”
Bernie Moreno, chair of CSU’s Board of Trustees, says, “It’s hard to overstate the impact Ron has had on CSU. He has led the transformation of the University across every dimension, from his focus on student success, to the many innovative community partnerships he’s created, to the remaking of the campus and his extraordinary success attracting philanthropy. CSU has never occupied a better position than it does today and is poised to reach even greater heights, thanks to his outstanding leadership.”
Faculty, staff, students and the community saluted and thanked Dr. Berkman for his service at an on-campus reception in April. The event included a tribute video, proclamations from the city and county, a key to the city, the unveiling of his presidential portrait and the naming of the Main Classroom Building as Ronald Berkman Hall.
The president, whose passion for cities and expertise in urban affairs helped attract him to Cleveland and CSU, will continue to reside in the area. Following a one-year sabbatical, he will return to the University as a faculty member.
“I could not be more proud of all we have accomplished together during my tenure,” he says. “Without CSU, a huge percentage of young people in this area would not have access to higher education and would not experience its transformative power.
“I came to CSU to support the continued growth and evolution of this University –— increasing its academic quality and reputation, building up research and philanthropy, growing and modernizing the physical campus, and creating partnerships to boost the city and the region,” he adds. “I believe we have succeeded and that the University is positioned to continue the progress we have collectively achieved.”
Legacy of Leadership: Accomplishments
President Ronald M. Berkman has led initiatives to attract, retain and graduate students, expand the campus, enhance partnerships, increase philanthropy, boost research and much more. Here are just some of his accomplishments.
Student Success
Affordability CSU implemented a number of initiatives that have reduced the cost of earning an undergraduate degree by more than $3,350 annually.
Multi-term registration CSU is the first state university in Ohio to offer multi-term registration, enabling students to plan and schedule courses for fall, spring and summer terms at the same time and ensuring access to required courses.
Adjusted tuition band CSU expanded its tuition band, enabling students to take up to 18 credit hours per semester without incurring additional charges.
Recruitment 2016 saw the largest freshman class with 1,926 first-year students and increases in GPA and ACT scores.
Graduation Rates increased 60 percent.
Campus Transformation
Student housing 1,000 students now live on campus.
Center for Innovation in Medical Professions The new CIMP building houses the Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED)/CSU Partnership for Urban Health, which is training primary care physicians to serve urban areas.
Donald E. Washkewicz Hall A 100,000-square-foot addition to the Washkewicz College of Engineering provides students and faculty with state-of-the-art labs, learning spaces and classrooms.
School of Film & Media Arts CSU is the first university in Ohio to have a stand-alone film and interactive media school to uniquely prepare students for careers in this growing field. The school will further the development of Cleveland as a center of media production.
Jack, Joseph & Morton Mandel Honors College The honors program was elevated to College status, thanks to support from the Mandel Foundation and the Mandel Supporting Foundations. Renamed in honor of Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel, the College became CSU’s ninth and moved into renovated space in the Main Classroom Building.
Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion A gift from Medical Mutual enabled CSU to become the first and only Horizon League school with indoor tennis facilities on campus.
Other buildings The Student Center and Julka Hall, home of the College of Education and Human Services and School of Nursing, were started during President Michael Schwartz’s tenure and completed under Dr. Berkman.
Philanthropy
ENGAGE: The Campaign for Cleveland State University CSU’s first campaign raised $114 million, surpassing its $100 million goal two years ahead of schedule, providing funds for scholarships and initiatives that promote student success.
Fundraising The University’s endowment has doubled; Dr. Berkman personally raised over $60 million.
Ahuja gift A $10 million gift from alumnus Monte Ahuja and his wife Usha was the largest in CSU history to that point, naming the business college the Monte Ahuja College of Business.
Washkewicz gift A $10 million gift from alumnus Don Washkewicz and his wife Pam, with a matching $10 million gift from the Parker Hannifin Foundation, is the largest in CSU history, naming the Washkewicz College of Engineering.
Partnerships
Playhouse Square The original vision for the theatre program’s move into Playhouse Square was expanded into a CSU Arts Campus for theatre, dance, art and The Galleries @ CSU.
Northeast Ohio Medical University CSU joined forces with NEOMED to create a dual-campus medical program for training primary care physicians to serve the health care needs of inner city populations.
Cleveland Metropolitan School District CSU established an “education park” that encompasses three CMSD schools on the CSU campus: Campus International School, Campus International High School and MC2STEM High School.
Parker Hannifin One of CSU’s strongest partnerships supports a Human Motion and Control Laboratory where researchers are advancing prosthetics and orthotics, numerous other labs, equipment and technology, an endowed professorship, scholarships, campus buildings and more.
Other collaborations Ongoing and enhanced relationships with University Hospitals, Cleveland Clinic and MetroHealth hospitals; St. Vincent Charity Hospital behavioral health initiative addressing the opioid crisis; several Internet Of Things (IOT) initiatives.
Career Timeline
1973
Bachelor’s degree in political science from William Paterson College; full scholarship to Princeton University
1977
Ph.D. in political science from Princeton; begins teaching career at Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School. Later faculty positions include Brooklyn College (part of the City University of New York – CUNY – system) and the CUNY Graduate Center, and visiting professorships at the University of California, Berkeley, New York University, and the University of Puerto Rico.
1990-1997
CUNY as University Dean for Urban Affairs; University Dean for Academic Affairs; Founding Dean of the School of Public Affairs at CUNY’s Baruch College.
1997-2005
Florida International University as Dean, College of Urban and Public Affairs; Executive Dean, College of Health and Urban Affairs; Provost, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
2009-2018
President of Cleveland State University
Also in This Issue...
Gateway to Engineering
CSU’s spectacular new northern gateway to campus, Donald E. Washkewicz Hall, provides enhanced educational and research opportunities for engineering students and faculty.
Ready to Lead
Harlan M. Sands, vice dean and chief financial officer of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, has been selected as the seventh president of Cleveland State University following a national search.
50 Years and Still Going Strong
Andrew Gross, professor of marketing and international business, has been a CSU faculty member since 1968. As he prepares to retire in June, he shares some reflections on his career.
A Message from the President
Outgoing President Ronald M. Berkman reflects on nine years of growth — new labs, film/media school, urban health programs — and thanks the CSU community for driving the university’s transformation.
Graduate Programs Among Nation’s Best
U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 Best Graduate Schools guide features more than a dozen CSU programs, highlighting the University’s continued national rise.
Athletics
Four new members have been inducted into the CSU Athletics Hall of Fame — Sarah Galon, Christine Kohler Myeroff, Kristen Obush and Jake Scott.
The Internet of Things Collaborative
The Internet of Things (IoT) Collaborative between CSU and Case Western Reserve University has moved from planning to full launch with $1.75 million in funding from the Cleveland Foundation.
Law Explores New Frontiers
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law has launched several groundbreaking initiatives, including a Space Law Center and a Cybersecurity Center that takes a rare multidisciplinary approach integrating law, technology and business management.
Festival Filled with AHA! Moments
Books, theater, music, art, dance and ideas will again be celebrated during the Arts and Humanities Alive! (AHA!) Festival sponsored by CSU and Playhouse Square.
Personal Growth Through Service Learning
Since 2007, Viking Expeditions (VE) has been helping CSU graduate and undergraduate students broaden their worldview through local, national and international service opportunities.
Faculty Highlights
CSU faculty across arts, sciences, engineering, education, and health are advancing research, teaching innovation, and community engagement — driving excellence across dozens of departments.
Partners in Scientific Progress
For close to a half-century, Cleveland State University and Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute have partnered to enhance medical and science education while helping to advance discovery in numerous disciplines. The Joint Doctoral Program Pa
Scholarships Make Dreams Come True
CSU’s annual Scholarship Luncheon brought together more than 400 individuals who have made personal gifts, as well as representatives of businesses and organizations that have supported scholarships, and the grateful students who received them.
Embrace Your Voice
Enlightened, entertained, informed, inspired and empowered. That’s how 300-plus participants felt following CSU’s fourth-annual Women’s Leadership Symposium, “Embrace Your Voice.”
Summit Advances Alumni Engagement
More than 100 representatives of some 40 organizations shared best practices, ideas and professional perspectives at the first-ever Northeast Ohio Summit on Alumni Engagement.
CSU on the Road
Passport Cleveland alumni tours in Northeast Ohio, plus engaging CSU2U events and alumni meet‑ups in FL, AZ — connecting Vikings through travel, learning, and connection.
CSU Salutes Outstanding Alumni
Graduates who are impacting their communities, the world and Cleveland State University in unique and creative ways were honored at the second-annual Alumni Recognition Awards. The event also saluted CSU’s third class of Fascinating Alumni.
Share the Love Month!
The Summer of 1967 was known as the Summer of Love. But at CSU, February 2018 was Share the Love month with special events to bring Vikings together. We’ll be sharing the love again next February!
Class Notes – Summer 2018
Gateway to Engineering
CSU’s spectacular new northern gateway to campus, Donald E. Washkewicz Hall, provides enhanced educational and research opportunities for engineering students and faculty.
50 Years and Still Going Strong
Andrew Gross, professor of marketing and international business, has been a CSU faculty member since 1968. As he prepares to retire in June, he shares some reflections on his career.
Graduate Programs Among Nation’s Best
U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 Best Graduate Schools guide features more than a dozen CSU programs, highlighting the University’s continued national rise.
The Internet of Things Collaborative
The Internet of Things (IoT) Collaborative between CSU and Case Western Reserve University has moved from planning to full launch with $1.75 million in funding from the Cleveland Foundation.
Festival Filled with AHA! Moments
Books, theater, music, art, dance and ideas will again be celebrated during the Arts and Humanities Alive! (AHA!) Festival sponsored by CSU and Playhouse Square.
Faculty Highlights
CSU faculty across arts, sciences, engineering, education, and health are advancing research, teaching innovation, and community engagement — driving excellence across dozens of departments.
Scholarships Make Dreams Come True
CSU’s annual Scholarship Luncheon brought together more than 400 individuals who have made personal gifts, as well as representatives of businesses and organizations that have supported scholarships, and the grateful students who received them.
Summit Advances Alumni Engagement
More than 100 representatives of some 40 organizations shared best practices, ideas and professional perspectives at the first-ever Northeast Ohio Summit on Alumni Engagement.
CSU Salutes Outstanding Alumni
Graduates who are impacting their communities, the world and Cleveland State University in unique and creative ways were honored at the second-annual Alumni Recognition Awards. The event also saluted CSU’s third class of Fascinating Alumni.
Class Notes – Summer 2018
Ready to Lead
Harlan M. Sands, vice dean and chief financial officer of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, has been selected as the seventh president of Cleveland State University following a national search.
A Message from the President
Outgoing President Ronald M. Berkman reflects on nine years of growth — new labs, film/media school, urban health programs — and thanks the CSU community for driving the university’s transformation.
Athletics
Four new members have been inducted into the CSU Athletics Hall of Fame — Sarah Galon, Christine Kohler Myeroff, Kristen Obush and Jake Scott.
Law Explores New Frontiers
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law has launched several groundbreaking initiatives, including a Space Law Center and a Cybersecurity Center that takes a rare multidisciplinary approach integrating law, technology and business management.
Personal Growth Through Service Learning
Since 2007, Viking Expeditions (VE) has been helping CSU graduate and undergraduate students broaden their worldview through local, national and international service opportunities.
Partners in Scientific Progress
For close to a half-century, Cleveland State University and Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute have partnered to enhance medical and science education while helping to advance discovery in numerous disciplines. The Joint Doctoral Program Pa
Embrace Your Voice
Enlightened, entertained, informed, inspired and empowered. That’s how 300-plus participants felt following CSU’s fourth-annual Women’s Leadership Symposium, “Embrace Your Voice.”
CSU on the Road
Passport Cleveland alumni tours in Northeast Ohio, plus engaging CSU2U events and alumni meet‑ups in FL, AZ — connecting Vikings through travel, learning, and connection.
Share the Love Month!
The Summer of 1967 was known as the Summer of Love. But at CSU, February 2018 was Share the Love month with special events to bring Vikings together. We’ll be sharing the love again next February!
Gateway to Engineering
CSU’s spectacular new northern gateway to campus, Donald E. Washkewicz Hall, provides enhanced educational and research opportunities for engineering students and faculty.
A Message from the President
Outgoing President Ronald M. Berkman reflects on nine years of growth — new labs, film/media school, urban health programs — and thanks the CSU community for driving the university’s transformation.
The Internet of Things Collaborative
The Internet of Things (IoT) Collaborative between CSU and Case Western Reserve University has moved from planning to full launch with $1.75 million in funding from the Cleveland Foundation.
Personal Growth Through Service Learning
Since 2007, Viking Expeditions (VE) has been helping CSU graduate and undergraduate students broaden their worldview through local, national and international service opportunities.
Scholarships Make Dreams Come True
CSU’s annual Scholarship Luncheon brought together more than 400 individuals who have made personal gifts, as well as representatives of businesses and organizations that have supported scholarships, and the grateful students who received them.
CSU on the Road
Passport Cleveland alumni tours in Northeast Ohio, plus engaging CSU2U events and alumni meet‑ups in FL, AZ — connecting Vikings through travel, learning, and connection.
Class Notes – Summer 2018
Ready to Lead
Harlan M. Sands, vice dean and chief financial officer of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, has been selected as the seventh president of Cleveland State University following a national search.
Graduate Programs Among Nation’s Best
U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 Best Graduate Schools guide features more than a dozen CSU programs, highlighting the University’s continued national rise.
Law Explores New Frontiers
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law has launched several groundbreaking initiatives, including a Space Law Center and a Cybersecurity Center that takes a rare multidisciplinary approach integrating law, technology and business management.
Faculty Highlights
CSU faculty across arts, sciences, engineering, education, and health are advancing research, teaching innovation, and community engagement — driving excellence across dozens of departments.
Embrace Your Voice
Enlightened, entertained, informed, inspired and empowered. That’s how 300-plus participants felt following CSU’s fourth-annual Women’s Leadership Symposium, “Embrace Your Voice.”
CSU Salutes Outstanding Alumni
Graduates who are impacting their communities, the world and Cleveland State University in unique and creative ways were honored at the second-annual Alumni Recognition Awards. The event also saluted CSU’s third class of Fascinating Alumni.
50 Years and Still Going Strong
Andrew Gross, professor of marketing and international business, has been a CSU faculty member since 1968. As he prepares to retire in June, he shares some reflections on his career.
Athletics
Four new members have been inducted into the CSU Athletics Hall of Fame — Sarah Galon, Christine Kohler Myeroff, Kristen Obush and Jake Scott.
Festival Filled with AHA! Moments
Books, theater, music, art, dance and ideas will again be celebrated during the Arts and Humanities Alive! (AHA!) Festival sponsored by CSU and Playhouse Square.
Partners in Scientific Progress
For close to a half-century, Cleveland State University and Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute have partnered to enhance medical and science education while helping to advance discovery in numerous disciplines. The Joint Doctoral Program Pa
Summit Advances Alumni Engagement
More than 100 representatives of some 40 organizations shared best practices, ideas and professional perspectives at the first-ever Northeast Ohio Summit on Alumni Engagement.
Share the Love Month!
The Summer of 1967 was known as the Summer of Love. But at CSU, February 2018 was Share the Love month with special events to bring Vikings together. We’ll be sharing the love again next February!