A Message from the President

This December, I was privileged to preside over our first Cleveland State University commencement ceremony during our time together.  As I shook the hands of some 1,200 beaming graduates walking across the Wolstein Center stage to receive their diplomas, I reflected on the incredible opportunity to serve as president of one of the nation’s top universities.

I am truly honored and humbled by this opportunity, and eager to partner with you, our alumni and friends, to ensure continued success and advancement for our students, our University and Northeast Ohio. The more I discover about Cleveland, the more excited I am about CSU’s role as an urban research university in a dynamic urban setting.

CSU is — and always will be — about putting students first. Ensuring that students graduate with the knowledge and skills needed for successful careers right here in Northeast Ohio is one of our top priorities. Each year, more and more bright, talented students select CSU as their school of choice. And each year, some 4,000 students earn undergraduate degrees; 80 percent of them choose to remain in Northeast Ohio to pursue their careers, raise their families, and give back to the community.

Our graduates are CSU’s greatest success story and the engine for Northeast Ohio’s future growth. Our Viking network of 126,000-plus alumni provides a strong foundation for this great University to build upon. The many accomplishments of our CSU alumni speak to the value of a CSU education and the importance of CSU to this community.

I have had the opportunity to meet so many of you over the past few months at the openings of our School of Film & Media Arts and Dan T. Moore MakerSpace, the C|M|LAW Hall of Fame induction, Distinguished Alumni and Homecoming events, and alumni receptions in Detroit, Dallas, and Houston. You can read more about these events in this issue of Cleveland State.

On behalf of our entire family, thank you for your overwhelming support and for making us feel at home so quickly. I look forward to working alongside each of you as we take CSU and our students Forward Together.

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