Forward Thinking: Winter 2024

Winter 2024, Forward Thinking, Case Western Reserve University

From the board chair

To our alumni and friends:

Growing Case Western Reserve鈥檚 research was a top priority when we searched for the university鈥檚 next leader three years ago. As you can tell from the cover of this magazine, President Eric W. Kaler is moving rapidly to realize that goal.

Even better, our graduates are enthusiastically embracing his proposal for a new Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building (ISEB).

Leaders of the Case Alumni Association, for example, were so impressed by the concept that they pledged $5 million, the largest single gift in the organization鈥檚 nearly 140-year history.

Engineering alumnus Roger Susi and his wife, Kayoko, later committed $25 million to the project. A biomedical engineering major himself, Susi brings firsthand knowledge how combining disciplines can lead to better solutions.

You can learn more about the ISEB and its other early supporters.

This issue also features new professorship and scholarship commitments鈥攁s well as a professor鈥檚 inspiring example. Paul Tesar (CWR 鈥�03) was already highly accomplished when he considered returning to the university as a junior faculty member. But to build on those breakthroughs, he鈥檇 quickly need new funding. Enter: the Mt. Sinai Health Foundation鈥檚 scholars program, designed specifically to support early-career researchers.

Thirteen years later, Tesar is internationally renowned for discoveries related to multiple sclerosis and similar diseases. He鈥檚 received national and local awards for mentoring students. And now he鈥檚 among the leaders of a new Mt. Sinai-supported program鈥攖his one aimed at attracting exceptional mid- career faculty to campus.

A single gift helped start all that progress. Just imagine the impact yours could have.

Fred DiSanto headshot

Fred DiSanto
Chair, Board of Trustees
Case Western Reserve University

 


Features

Embracing interdisciplinarity (cover story)
Alumni and friends give generously to groundbreaking new research facility, the biggest Case Quad project in university history

Generosity multiplied
Alumni gifts for professorships doubled, thanks to anonymous donor

Scholarship and Student Experience

Investing in mental health
A university partnership with community leaders will launch $60 million institute for mental health and well-being

A 鈥榪uest for an education鈥�
Scholarship for immigrant students honors CWRU alumnus

Research

A new era of scholars
Mt. Sinai Foundation鈥檚 latest grant aims to bring more medical researchers to CWRU鈥攁nd more treatments to patients

Working toward a CURE
Family honors loved one鈥檚 fight against rare cancer with gift for progressive research

Professorships

International impact
Alumnus and wife establish position to advance the work of CWRU's Immigration Law Clinic

A commitment to cultural understanding
New bioethics professorship honors late alumna鈥檚 work across medicine and human rights

Giving highlights

Turning dreams into reality
Alumnus names engineering program as sole beneficiary of his estate

Lasting legacy
Gift from alumna and husband funds innovative cancer research and renovate the historic Mather Memorial Building

A gift for today鈥攁nd tomorrow
Tax-smart giving allows donor to see impact during his lifetime

Transforming tragedy
Law alumna鈥檚 positive approach inspires husband鈥檚 scholarship gift

Paving the way for the next generation
Undergraduate Class of 1973 gives back for student scholarships

Training for the future
Impactful gift for law students helps alumna remember her parents

Cooking up a solution
Anonymous gift fuels state-of-the-art teaching kitchen

鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to wait鈥�
Endowed fellowship allows young alumni to pay it forward

From advisors to ambassadors
After serving as a voice for families of students, parents establish fund to recruit and retain exceptional nursing faculty