FALL 2020
Fall 2020 Outdoor Chorus Practice
New NEH Grant p. 3
•
CL ASS Vikings pp. 6 & 7
•
Social Work Philanthropy pp. 8 & 9
Cleveland State University College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Letter from the Dean Following on the heels of the quick move to remote working and teaching in the spring 2020 semester, planning for the fall semester provided further challenges and generated many problems that needed to be solved. The quick exodus from campus in spring gave us some guidance for how to try to undertake the fall semester, and we also had the summer to work to solidify our plans. A Pandemic Response Team was formed in order to undertake the campus-wide planning process and they did an excellent job in advance planning for the fall semester. The team continues to monitor the day to day circumstances, at CSU, and in the community, in order for us to be responsive to changing conditions and new concerns. Here in CLASS, with our visual and performing arts programs, we worked very hard to find a way to allow for students in these programs to be able to have face-to-face interactions with their instructors and peers. I have said on a number of occasions that I now know more about HVAC systems than I would ever have thought possible! Conversations with the directors, chairs, and architect’s office, along with the registrar and vice-provost for academic affairs, led to some interesting adaptations. For example, we were able to continue chorale classes with masks and physical distancing both outside (as you see on the front cover) and in the Wolstein Center. Budding sculptors have had the required hands-on instruction and access to the studio and its kilns. Our film students have been able to safely borrow equipment so they can continue to learn to make films. The cooperation required for this to happen safely is now legendary and continues thanks to our faculty, staff, and students who have been diligent in following our safety guidelines. They have masked at all times, maintained physical distance, completed an online daily health assessment before coming to campus, and kept their hands and workspaces clean. CSU’s cleaning staff has done an amazing job ensuring our classrooms are sanitized between use and that hand sanitizing stations are operational, among other duties; it really does take a village. We will continue being vigilant, though as I write this, the community spread of the virus is accelerating at an alarming rate. While we don’t yet know what things will look like come January, it’s reassuring to know our Pandemic Response Team, as well as President Sands, are keeping a close eye on events and seek guidance from the CDC as well as the Ohio Department of Health. With the excellent management we’ve had this semester paying off, it is my hope that we will be able to continue to offer limited face-to-face instruction for the programs in CLASS, which involve specialized experiences that cannot be delivered remotely. As we look forward to the upcoming holiday season, I wish everyone a safe and healthy end to 2020, which has been, in so many ways, an annus horribilis. Here’s to better days ahead!
Allyson Robichaud
Interim Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
The Innerlink
v
Fall 2020
Table of Contents
4
Table of Contents ....................... 1
Keeping Up With CLASS ....................... 2
New NEH Grant for PlacePress ....................... 3
Spring 2020 CLASS Scholars ....................... 4
Poetry Center Fall 2020 Publications ....................... 5 5
CLASS Vikings ................ 6 & 7 CLASS Philanthropy ........... 8 & 9 CLASS Alumni ........... 10 & 11 Mandel Foundation ..................... 12 CLASS Alumni Updates ..................... 13
8
12
Visit us online at class.csuohio.edu Published by College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences (CLASS) 2121 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44115 216.687.3660 class.csuohio.edu
CLASS Deans Dr. Allyson Robichaud, Interim Dean Dr. Robert Shelton, Associate Dean Dr. Wendy Regoeczi, Interim Associate Dean
Staff Lesley Lang, Designer & Assistant Editor Jody Milkie, Editor
Contributors Brenda Driscoll Connie Karapelou Hilary Plum Mark Souther Valerie Temple
1
Keeping Up With CLASS
Keeping Up With New Employees Faculty Toby Bercovici, Assistant Professor of Practice Department of Theatre & Dance Reinhild Boehme, Assistant College Lecturer School of Social Work
Antonio Brown, Guest Artist
Department of Theatre & Dance
Ashley Glenn, Visiting College Lecturer
CLASS Faculty Promotion, Tenure, and Reviews College Lecturer Reviews 6th Year Reviews Mark Cole Department of History
Emilie Zickel Department of English
School of Music
9th Year Reviews
Tatiana Gracyk, Assistant College Lecturer
Brian Bailey
Department of Philosophy & Comparative Religion
School of Music
Erin Oselu, Assistant Professor of Practice School of Music
Elia Iafelice
Francesco Renna, Visiting Associate Professor Department of Economics
Promotion-Tenure Recognitions
Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Richard Sherman, Associate Professor School of Film & Media Arts
Associate Professor with Tenure
Staff
School of Social Work
Cynthia Hovland
Carolyn Kinkoph, Administrative Secretary I
Deborah Layman
Departments of History and Philosophy & Comparative Religion
School of Music
Venita Lowe, Administrative Coordinator School of Film & Media Arts
Caryl Pagel Department of English
Sarah Rutherford Department of Art & Design
CSU 2.0
Professor
Reimagining Our Future CSU announced the creation of five distinct Task Forces – one each for Academics, Administration, Diversity/Inclusion, Athletics, and Growth/Innovation – to reimagine the university’s future and put it on a path to become “CSU 2.0.”
csuohio.edu/provost/academic-task-force
Russ Borski Department of Theatre & Dance
Sonya Charles Department of Philosophy & Comparative Religion
Anup Kumar School of Communication
Retirement Staff Stephen Kabat, School of Music, Keyboard/Instrument Technician August 2020
2
v
The Innerlink
v
Fall 2020
CLASS Grant
Department of History | Center for Public History + Digital Humanities
NEW NEH GRANT FOR PLACEPRESS In August, Mark Souther and Erin Bell, Department of History, received a new National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Digital Humanities Advancement Grant to support the Center for Public History + Digital Humanities’ development of PlacePress. A new WordPress plugin for publishing location-based tours and stories. PlacePress will empower humanities scholars, educators and students, museum professionals, preservationists, and cultural resource managers to enhance their research and public engagement with digital tours. Souther and Bell will test the plugin with partners in Michigan (Wayne State University and Wayne County Parks), Pennsylvania (Slippery Rock University and Lawrence County Historical Society), and Oregon (University of Oregon Libraries). Why PlacePress? After all, there are more tour builder services, websites, and apps out there that may be easily counted. One of them is another of the Center’s products – Curatescape. Despite its utility, Curatescape poses barriers for some users because it requires a dedicated website rather than potentially just a page or
section; assumes content creators need structured metadata fields; and demands certain technical proficiencies. PlacePress will solve these issues, making it trivial to add maps and build tours using predefined blocks on any WordPress site. In contrast to other existing tour-building tools, PlacePress aspires to serve a fundamental need in a way that meshes with existing organizational websites, gives users ownership of their content and control over how it is displayed. This plugin does not impose a high cognitive load on content creation and accounts for two key imperatives of any project: affordability and sustainability. The PlacePress project grew out of the NEH-funded Curating Kisumu and Curating East Africa grants that Souther and Bell carried out with Meshack Owino between 2014 and 2019. Those initiatives produced a prototype that was the basis for a digital storytelling project in Kisumu, Kenya. The Center for Public History + Digital Humanities will share periodic updates on Twitter @wpplacepress. To learn more about the project, visit csudigitalhumanities.org.
3
CLASS Scholars | Spring 2020
Spring 2020 CLASS VALEDICTORIAN
SAMANTHA PASKERT Majors: Anthropology and Comparative Religion Minor: Native American Studies Sam graduated Summa Cum Laude earning a Bachelor of Arts. She majored in Anthropology and Comparative Religion with a minor in Native American Studies. In addition to being named the CLASS Valedictorian, she was also named as one of the two University Valedictorians. Samantha Paskert, Spring 2020 CLASS and University Valedictorian
Spring 2020 CLASS SCHOLARS KYLIE ACKERMAN
DAVID DELAAT
EMMA HAWKINS
LUKE PETERS
Majors: Criminology & Spanish Minor: Sociology
EMILY DROTAR
OLIVIA KIJAUSKAS
ABIGAIL PETREY
MARTIN BARNARD
RYAN FRANK
KEVIN LANNOCH
LEAH REINHART
Majors: Criminology & Sociology
KELSEY ALLEN
Majors: Film, TV and Interactive Media & Music
ANDREA BLISCIK
Majors: Economics & Philosophy Minor: Political Science Major: History
Major: Criminology
MONICA FURY
Major: Music Therapy
Major: Communication Minor: Sociology
ALISHA BROWN
LARINA GRAY
RACHEL BROWN
MELISSA GRIGGS
Major: Social Work
Major: Music Performance
Major: Music Therapy
Major: Economics Minor: Operations & Supply Chain Management
SARA BUNJAKU
Majors: Political Science & International Relations
EMILY HARDEN
Major: English Minor: Women’s Studies
HAYLEY BYRNES
Major: English – Integrated Language Arts
PAIGE HAREN
RENEE CALO
Major: Theatre Arts – Technical
JESSICA CRTALIC
v
The Innerlink
EMMA HARTLAUB
Major: Communication Studies Minors: Anthropology & Nonprofit Administration
Majors: Political Science & Marketing
4
Major: Journalism & Promotional Communication
v
Fall 2020
Major: English Minors: History & Women’s Studies Major: Studio Art
Majors: Communication Studies, Economics & Mathematics
RYAN MCMURRY
Major: Economics Minor: Statistics
Major: Music Therapy Major: Music Therapy
IRINA SADOVNIK
Major: Linguistics Minor: Anthropology
Major: International Relations Minors: Communication Studies & International Business
NICOLE MERLINO
KARA SCHIFANO
Majors: Journalism and Promotional Communication & Marketing
EMILY MOENICH
Majors: Economics & Mathematics Minor: Statistics
INNA NIKOLOVA
Majors: International Relations & Political Science Minor: French
BRITTANY OZANICH
Major: Theatre Arts - Technical
ALEXIS PERRY
Majors: Political Science & Criminology
Major: Music Therapy
REBECCA SULLIVAN
Majors: Political Science & English
MATTHEW SZMANIA
Majors: History & Social Studies
CIARLENE TORRESBURKHALTER
AMILIA VAZQUEZ
Majors: English – Creative Writing & Linguistics Minors: Anthropology, Asian Studies, & History
LAUREN VITAS
Major: Spanish Minors: English & Linguistics
HALLIE WARD
Major: Communication Studies Minor: Management
ANGELA WARHOLIC
Major: Theatre Arts – Technical Minor: Business
ANN YAFANARO Major: Spanish Minor: Arabic
JAMES YANG
Major: English – Creative Writing Minor: Sociology
Majors: Communication Studies & Film, TV and Interactive Media
NERION ZEKAJ
CLAUDIA VACCARO
ELENA ZHEVLAKOVA
Major: Music Therapy
Majors: Philosophy & Mathematics Major: Art – Design
CLASS Poetry Center
Department of English | Poetry Center
FALL 2020 PUBLICATIONS In October 2020, the CSU Poetry Center released three new volumes of poetry. Alen Hamza's Twice There Was a Country, which Brenda Hillman selected to win our recent competition for a first book of poetry, has been called "a brilliant debut" by Jericho Brown. It "explores Hamza's identity as a Bosnian refugee attempting, and equally resisting, to assimilate to the cultural politics of the United States," in the words of Paisley Rekdal. Shelley Feller's Dream Boat is a "linguistic triumph that is [Feller's] foray into extending the conversation that Hart Crane began in the last century," according to L. Lamar Wilson, and is "teeming with emergent queer life, post-life, and glorious, grotesque effulgence" (Tim Jones-Yelvington). Daniel Borzutzky described Lauren Shapiro's Arena as a "poignant and stunning achievement" in which "atrocity, bureaucracy, history, and spectacle merge to form a performance that we are unable to look away from." Suzanne Buffam says, "[Shapiro's] poems register a collective alarm in which private grief and global dread converge 'at the pace of adrenaline.'" An online book launch for these three titles drew viewers from around the world, and we look forward to sharing these books with readers, writers, and teachers of poetry everywhere. Special
thanks are due to Poetry Center director Caryl Pagel, who has shipped over 1,000 books from her home since the start of the pandemic. Nearing its sixtieth year, the CSU Poetry Center continues to publish three to five books a year of poetry, essays, and translations and sell our 200+ title backlist. It runs one to three annual contests (receiving 600–1000+ manuscripts a year), as well as offering open reading periods for poetry in translation, and occasionally publishing solicited book projects, most recently Cleveland-based avant-garde poet Russell Atkins's selected volume World' d Too Much. The center has launched a new digital space (exclamationsgauntlet.com) to feature commentary on poetry, poetics, innovative literature, and small press publishing, with textual, visual, and/or video content appearing weekly. While the pandemic has altered the center's formats and daily operations, it’s thrilled to have still been able to welcome the new Anisfield-Wolf Fellow in Writing and Publishing, Kamden Hilliard, who will be with us through spring 2022. The NEOMFA Writers at Work Colloquium continued to have events that included conversations with the writers Brandon Shimoda and Cyrée Jarelle Johnson.
5
CLASS Vikings Jewish Christianity: The Making of the Christianity-Judaism Divide
Out of Nowhere into Nothing
By Matt Jackson-McCabe
The ghosts—literal and figurative—that drive our deepest impulses, disturb our most precious memories, and haunt the passages of our daily lives are present in this collection of sublime meditations on the unbelievable, the coincidental, and the apparitional. Often containing reflections on the art of storytelling, Caryl Pagel’s essays blend memoir, research, and reflection, and are driven by a desire to observe connections between the visual and the invisible. The narrator of Pagel’s essays explores each enigma or encounter (a football coach’s faked death, the faces of women walking, historical accounts of hallucinations, a city’s public celebration gone wrong) as an intellectual detective ascending a labyrinthine tower of clues in pursuit of a solution to an unreachable problem: always curious, and with a sense of profound wonder.
A fresh exploration of the category Jewish Christianity, from its invention in the Enlightenment to contemporary debates For hundreds of years, historians have been asking fundamental questions about the separation of Christianity from Judaism in antiquity. Matt Jackson-McCabe argues provocatively that the concept “Jewish Christianity,” which has been central to scholarly reconstructions, represents an enduring legacy of Christian apologetics. Freethinkers of the English Enlightenment created this category as a means of isolating a distinctly Christian religion from what otherwise appeared to be the Jewish culture of Jesus and the apostles. Tracing the development of this patently modern concept of a Jewish Christianity from its origins to early twentyfirst-century scholarship, Jackson-McCabe shows how a category that began as a way to reimagine the apologetic notion of an authoritative “original Christianity” continues to cause problems in the contemporary study of Jewish and Christian antiquity. He draws on promising new approaches to Christianity and Judaism as socially constructed terms of identity to argue that historians would do better to leave the concept of Jewish Christianity behind. Overview by Yale University Press.
About the author: Matt Jackson-McCabe is a professor and chair in the Department of Philosophy and Comparative Religion at Cleveland State University. He is the author of Logos and Law in the Letter of James and editor of Jewish Christianity Reconsidered.
6
v
The Innerlink
v
Fall 2020
By Caryl Pagel
Out of Nowhere Into Nothing is a sprawling, highly associative consideration of the ways in which the observed material world recalls us to larger narrative and aesthetic truths. Interspersed with documentary-style photographs, Pagel’s first collection of prose is a radiant, obsessive investigation into the mysteries at the center of our seemingly mundane lives. Overview by Fiction Collective 2.
About the author: Caryl Pagel is a associate professor in the Department of English and the Director of the Poetry Center at Cleveland State University. She is the author of two books of poetry, Twice Told and Experiment I Should Like Tried At May Own Death.
CLASS Vikings Cleveland Orchestra Cellist Provides Positive Distraction for Children Alan Harrell, CSU professor and Cleveland Orchestra cellist, uses his musical talents to keep children educated and entertained during the COVID-19 pandemic. With a series of Facebook Live videos titled “Classical Kiddos with Alan,” Harrell teaches children the many wonders of music while weaving it into recognizable parts of children’s everyday lives. “With so many parents being at home teaching their own children school lessons, I figured these livestreams would offer parents a break from education while also opening children’s eyes to new experiences,” Harrell says. “Being in the middle of a pandemic, it became a way that I could provide positive distractions for kids.” Harrell began his project in mid-March, when Ohio’s shelter in place order first went into effect. With the CSU campus clearing out for the semester and the Cleveland Orchestra season cut short, he wanted to find a way to use his musical prowess for some sort of good. “Classical Kiddos with Alan” began as weekly 30-minute livestreams on Facebook Live and quickly gained interest from his fellow musicians. Since then, Harrell has been joined by fellow Cleveland Orchestra members: percussionist Marc Damoulakis, trombonist Shachar Israel, violinist Amy Lee and flutist Jessica Sindell. Together, they teach children about the imagery that different instruments and play-styles can provide
The Odyssey Program: Film Fundamentals Established through a generous gift from Lee and Ageleke Zapis, the Odyssey Program at the School of Film & Media Arts is an immersive three-week summer camp for students aged 13–18. Through interactive workshops, screenings, and focused activities, Odyssey campers learn storytelling, screenwriting, acting, directing, cinematography, editing, and much more as they create their original films in a fun and collaborative environment. Due to COVID-19, planning for the inaugural camp in summer 2020 called for a quick pivot to a new four-week online course teaching film fundamentals. Taught by School of Film & Media Arts part-time instructor Michael Suglio, the course took place July 13-August 7 and included engaging lessons on film analysis, story development, screenwriting, production, and postproduction. Using techniques learned throughout the course, the seventeen Odyssey campers each created an original short film and presented it in a YouTube event on the last day of the program. Special talks from an array of film and media arts professionals spiced up the lessons. Evan Miller, Executive Director of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission, screenwriting partners Alex Sherman and Alyssa Lane (Bless This Mess, People of Earth, and Upload), production coordinator Mike Wendt, and film composer Paul Francis Zegarac answered student questions about their paths and their careers. Current Cleveland State University film students served as online camp counselors leading interactive workshops, offering project assistance, and hosting activities where students had the opportunity to socialize and make lasting connections with their peers. “It’s an incredible way to connect with others who love film and the art of filmmaking just as much as you,” said 15-year-old Xavier Reichbaum, who participated in the program from his home in Mississippi. To learn more about the upcoming programs offered and for more information, visit the Odyssey Program website at csufilmodyssey.com.
In June, Harrell introduced “Sebastian the SocialDistancing Swan” to his audience. This six-part video series is released weekly as new chapters in what Harrell calls his “musical storybook.” Harrell and his orchestra-mates narrate short stories, paired with classical melodies, to portray the personalities of different animal characters as they navigate topics such as social distancing—or “swan distancing” as the first chapter says.
7
CLASS Philanthropy
School of Social Work
SARAH AND DAVID OLENIK ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND Receiving a college degree is a milestone for our students. To Sarah Olenik MSW ’16, graduating also meant giving back to her alma mater in support of student success. “The greatest success we'll know is helping others succeed and grow.” In December 2019, Sarah and her husband David established the Sarah and David Olenik Endowed Scholarship Fund. This fund will provide scholarships to students who are pursuing their Master of Social Work (MSW). Rooted in the belief that addiction interventions that facilitate an individual's recovery positively impact the individual, his/her family, and his/her community, scholarship recipients must also be pursuing their Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant (CDCA) certification. After many years of working with the underprivileged, Sarah obtained her CDCA in 2015, MSW in 2016 from Cleveland State University and is now a LISW-S and LICDC-CS. She has a passion for this population and, as a result, decided to devote her time and energy to chemical dependency, and in 2016 founded A New Day Treatment Center – a provider of supportive, caring addiction and mental health treatment. A New Day provides intensive outpatient therapy to members of the Northern Ohio community, including those in Medina, Lorain, Wayne, Holmes, Crawford, Ashland, Richland, Summit, and other surrounding counties, with four offices in Lodi, Wooster, and Bucyrus. As a result of her achievements, Sarah was celebrated as the CSU School of Social Work's 2018 Outstanding Alumna. Her husband, David, is pleased to support Sarah in her profession and in establishing the endowment. David states, "Everyone needs a hand up to achieve their dreams in life. We have been blessed, so this is our opportunity to lift up hard-working students."
8
v
The Innerlink
v
Fall 2020
There is a competitive process to receive a scholarship from the Olenik Fund. Candidates must complete an application, have a 4.0 GPA, provide a study plan to complete their MSW and CDCA certification, and prepare an essay describing their interest in pursuing their CDCA and how they plan to apply this certification to their practice upon graduation. Recipients will be selected by a committee involving Dr. Cathleen Lewandowski, Director of the School of Social Work, and Dr. Allyson Robichaud, Interim Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Renee Sarosy, the first Olenik scholarship recipient, is studying for her Master of Social Work and her licensure in chemical dependency counseling. She expressed much gratitude for this scholarship, "My current financial situation is very unpredictable and stressful as I am supporting myself through college. Receiving the Olenik Scholarship has truly been a blessing and inspiration to keep me moving forward in my educational endeavors, regardless of circumstances. Words truly cannot express my gratitude, and I am deeply honored!" Cleveland State University, the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and the School of Social Work are honored to have Sarah and David's generous charitable support. Dr. Robichaud stated: "Continued attention to the treatment for those with chemical dependency is so important for our society at large, and for the individuals and families affected. The Oleniks' gift to support the efforts of those training to work in this area is greatly appreciated."
CLASS Philanthropy
School of Social Work
KATHIE E. MOTHERAL ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) is pleased to announce the establishment of The Kathie E. Motheral Endowed Scholarship Fund for the School of Social Work. This fund will provide scholarships to undergraduate students enrolled in CLASS and majoring in Social Work. Students eligible for the scholarship must be participating in their field placement and demonstrating clarity in their career goals for working with vulnerable children and families. This endowed scholarship fund was established by Jeffrey W. Lennartz, a Cleveland State University (CSU) alumnus who received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering in 1981. Jeff generously created this scholarship to honor the memory of his late wife, Kathie Motheral, who earned her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work in 1989 from CSU. Jeff is a multi-patented chemical engineer. In addition to his degree from CSU, he holds a master's degree in Chemical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University. He has worked at leading corporations, including Goodyear Aerospace and GrafTech International Ltd. Currently, Jeff is employed by Momentive, an inventor of specialty silicones and ceramics used in everything from electronics and cosmetics to running shoes. Jeff is also a leading environmentalist and Chair of West Creek Conservancy. West Creek Conservancy's mission is to enrich people's lives in Greater Cleveland by conserving natural habitats, restoring the ecological value and sustainability of urban lands, and expanding neighborhood opportunities to experience nature. The Conservancy has helped create West Creek Reservation and save hundreds of habitats across Cuyahoga County and beyond. It was the love of nature that first drew Jeff and Kathie together. Jeff met Kathie in the middle of the woods on a walk with the Cleveland Hiking Club, another group for which he served as President. Kathie was a member of the Cleveland Hiking Club, who loved the outdoors and exploring parks. She had worked in the Dean's office at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law but left to seek her degree when she and Jeff married.
After graduating from CSU, Kathie devoted her life in compassionate social work, helping others. Kathie passed away in 2007 of Huntington's Disease. In 2019, Jeff felt he was now at a time in his life when he could give back to CSU, and creating a scholarship to honor Kathie's memory, passion, and livelihood was most fitting. "Kathie's desire to make the lives of other people better is what inspired me to create the fund. Nothing could better honor Kathie’s memory and what she cared about.� Jami S. Bell is a senior at CSU majoring in social work and the first recipient of the Motheral scholarship. As a survivor of kidney disease, she is pursuing her degree to work with those affected by this disease. She is completing her practicum at the National Kidney Foundation. Jami said, "This scholarship means the world to me since it will make my dreams of finishing my education, receiving my degree, and becoming a social worker come true. As a social worker, I will be able to profoundly impact the kidney community on a micro, mezzo, and macro-level." Cleveland State University, the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and the School of Social Work are grateful to Jeff Lennartz for his generosity in supporting our students. Dr. Allyson Robichaud, CLASS Interim Dean, stated: "Scholarships like this provide such a valuable lift for our students, allowing them the opportunity to engage fully without the constraints of financial worries."
9
CLASS Alumni
CLASS VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP
Women’s Leadership Lunch Series
Comprised of community leaders, friends of the University, and alumni of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS), the CLASS Visiting Committee serves as ambassadors to the greater community, as well as a “listening board” for Interim Dean Allyson Robichaud throughout the academic year. They willingly give their time, talents, and treasures, and we thank them for their support and service.
Golden Apple Award Winners Announced
Beginning a new three-year term (2020 to 2023) is Dr. Terrie Carter, Director of Development for the Philanthropy Institute at the Cleveland Clinic. We also highlight our returning members: Ken Kansa, Partner, Sidley Austin LLP; Scott Pohlkamp, CEO, All-American Teleradiology; and Jordan Tobin, Retired Physician. The College also gratefully acknowledges the service of three Emeriti members of the Visiting Committee whose terms have concluded as of June 30, 2020. Thank you to Andrew Kohn, a two-term member, and Marcia Moreno and Joseph Stuczynski for their three years of service.
10
v
The Innerlink
v
Fall 2020
Kicking off our Homecoming activities was the first of our Women's Leadership Lunch Series. Catherine Bosley, an award-winning veteran journalist, spoke about the Digital Everything: Forever and All to See. Catherine shared a powerful and thought-provoking message about our digital lives and the impact of our choices in cyberspace. For more information on this series, please visit csualumni.com. The Golden Apple is a recognition program sponsored by the Young Alumni Council at Cleveland State University to acknowledge the outstanding faculty and staff members who have made a difference on campus and in the community. Graduates of the past ten years have the opportunity to nominate a faculty/staff member by submitting the nominating form online. Congratulations to the following faculty and staff of the College for making a difference: Amber Allen, Department of English; Lydia Grebenyova, Department of Criminology, Anthropology & Sociology; Stephanie Hinnershitz, Department of History; Jeneen Hobby, Department of Political Science; Caryl Pagel, Department of English; Heather Russell, School of Music; Julius Simmons, School of Social Work; Donna Whyte, Department of History; and Kuzey Yilmaz, Department of Economics.
Get Your Green On Traditionally during Homecoming week, we show our Viking spirit by participating in our annual Homecoming parade and VikeFest. Unfortunately, that couldn't happen this year, but we still wanted the CSU community to don their green and white and demonstrate their CSU love. Our social media never looked so green as folks posted pictures using the hashtags #CSUGetYourGreenOn and #CSUHomecomingatHome. Thanks to all who represented CSU from wherever they were and shared their Viking pride!
Virtual Scavenger Hunt A host of alumni from across the country opted in for the Homecoming virtual scavenger hunt. Participants came to expect the unexpected during the exciting evening and scrambled around their homes to find specific items and win prizes from the CSU Alumni Association for their efforts.
50th Reunion "Gathering" Members of the Class of 1970 celebrated their 50th reunion via Zoom from the comfort of their own homes. Participants were treated to a look back on the amazing changes to campus over the past 50 years and savored a trip down memory lane.
Rebound and Post Up: A Preseason Chat with Coach Dennis Gates On the heels of a successful first year as men's basketball head coach, Dennis Gates is preparing for his second season to begin at the end of November. Coach Gates shared how he has prepared the team amid COVID-19 and his hopes for the upcoming season.
CLASS Alumni
CSU'S
Homecoming A VIRTUAL SUCCESS
This year's homecoming festivities were different from years past, but the spirit and Viking feeling were still the same. Hundreds of alumni signed up to participate in Homecoming at Home, CSU's virtual spin on the annual tradition.
STUDENT SUCCESS SUPPORT CONTINUUM Removing Financial Barriers to Attracting, Retaining, and Successfully Graduating Students CSU students can face many barriers to completing their four-year degree. Reasons for dropping out vary, but the overwhelming cause is unmet financial need. Lowincome and first-generation students, many of whom juggle work and family commitments while attending school, definitely feel the pinch. National statistics show that students who drop out of college involuntarily, even for a single semester, have only a 30% chance of returning to earn their degrees. These factors have been especially compounded by COVID-19. Cleveland State has instituted its Student Success Support Continuum designed to attract new students, maintain student momentum, and keep students enrolled until they graduate. Incoming freshmen can receive their spring semester tuition-free following completion of a successful fall semester through CSU’s 2-for-1 Tuition Promise. Contributions for the program can also be earmarked for students studying in CLASS majors. Should emergencies arise, including grocery needs, child care, or car repairs, students can apply for funds through Lift Up Vikes! so they can stay enrolled in college. CSU’s Last Mile scholarships can help students who are just one or two semesters from earning their degree get the help they need to cross the finish line if they require a financial boost. For more information on how to contribute to these funds, please contact Connie Karapelou, Director of Advancement, at 216-875-9838 or c.karapelou@csuohio.edu.
11
CLASS Alumni
JOSEPH AND FLORENCE MANDEL FAMILY FOUNDATION Provides leadership support to our composition program A leading music composition program is significant to helping students define their talent and add new voices to the musical repertoire. At Cleveland State University’s (CSU) School of Music, students have the advantage of studying with an award-winning composition faculty that guides one of the most complete programs of contemporary music study in the nation. Through the years, CSU has been grateful to the Joseph and Florence Mandel Family Foundation, which has provided philanthropic funding to advance the composition program. Most recently, the Foundation committed a multi-year grant of $170,000 which will support academic research, the Cleveland Contemporary Players (CCP) and the Music Composition Resource Center. Dr. Andrew Rindfleisch, Professor and Coordinator of Composition, Founder and Director of the CCP and the Resource Center, said “the Mandel Family Foundation has been a pillar of support to the music composition program at Cleveland State for over a decade. This unique program could never have existed in its form without their encouragement and sponsorship.” A leading composer of his generation, Dr. Rindfleisch has produced dozens of works for the concert hall, including solo, chamber, vocal, choral, wind, and orchestral music. An internationally active composer, conductor and pianist, he has been awarded many of the most prestigious honors in American culture, including the Rome Prize, the Guggenheim Fellowship, and the Aaron Copland Award. Also teaching within the
12
v
The Innerlink
v
Fall 2020
composition program, Professor Greg D’Alessio has designed the electronic and computer music facilities at CSU, which contain a wide range of significant new technology for the creation of computer and electroacoustic music. Students also benefit from classes in Composition & Music Theory with Instructor Corey K. Rubin and in Harmony with Instructor Stephen Stanziano. The Cleveland Contemporary Players is an organization dedicated to issues relevant to contemporary music and culture, championing the living creative artist, and supporting, with great commitment, American music. A vital component to the Composition curriculum at CSU, the Cleveland Contemporary Players bring into residence renowned visiting artists, Pulitzer Prize-winning composers, and virtuoso ensembles to interact with students, while also presenting free concerts to the public. Through the CCP, CSU student composers receive a unique opportunity to hear their works performed by resident guest artists, to participate in master-classes, to attend lectures, to receive private lessons from the visiting composers, and to have their works recorded. Residencies of acclaimed artists in contemporary music occur up to eight times per academic year,
CLASS Alumni Updates making the composition program at CSU one of the most active in the United States. The CSU Music Composition Resource Center was launched with a gift from the Joseph and Florence Mandel Family Foundation, designed by Dr. Rindfleisch and opened in 2005. The Center is housed in a large, spacious studio in the School of Music and serves as a one-of-a kind professional development center for use by undergraduate and graduate students studying music composition at CSU. Emphasizing career development, the Music Composition Resource Center remains an unprecedented aspect to composition studies at Cleveland State University and is one of the only such Centers in the country. Composition students are provided with a state-of-the-art digital photocopy machine, multiple binding machines and supplies, multiple CD recording units, unlimited blank CDs, unlimited mailing envelopes, computers with notation software programs, and all the supplies necessary to assist them in the pursuit of a career as a composer. The Music Composition Resource Center aids student in all the following areas: professional production of musical scores and recordings; application to fellowships, grant foundations, graduate schools, and summer festivals; sending work to performers and ensembles; professional networking opportunities. Dr. Allyson Robichaud, CLASS Interim Dean, notes the importance of philanthropic support in allowing students to pursue their studies and develop as musicians and composers: “Support from the Joseph and Florence Mandel Family Foundation for the Cleveland Contemporary Players and the Music Composition Resource Center provides amazing opportunities for our composition students and our talented faculty. Providing the space and resources to develop not only creative skills and talent but also the acumen of being a professional composer nurtures this art form and helps to insure its future wellbeing. Furthermore, the communities inside and outside of CSU get to share in this largesse via free concerts.� Cleveland State University, the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and the School of Music are grateful to the Joseph and Florence Mandel Family Foundation for their generosity in support of our students and demonstrating the importance of composition in our society.
CLASS Alumni Updates Joseph Marinucci ('80 BA Political Science) was named a 2020 notable immigrant leader in Crain's Cleveland Business. Joe is the president and chief executive officer for the Downtown Cleveland Alliance. Patrick Duhaney ('06 BA Sociology) was named Virginia Beach's new city manager. Marcia Moreno ('07 MA Applied Communication Theory & Methodology) was named a 2020 notable immigrant leader in Crain's Cleveland Business. Marcia is the president and chief executive officer of AmMore Consulting, LLC. Myesha Crowe ('10 BSW Social Work, '14 MSW Social Work) was named executive director of the Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance after a six-month stint as the interim director. The Peacemakers Alliance, which is a subsidiary of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland since 2016, works to reduce youth and gang violence in the city. Chanell Elston ('11 BA Criminology, '15 MSW Social Work) was selected to replace councilperson-at-large Marty Gelfand on the South Euclid City Council. Omar Kurdi ('13 BA International Relations) was named a 2020 notable immigrant leader in Crain's Cleveland Business. Omar is the chief executive officer for Friend for Life Rehabilitation Services. Blake Anthony Johnson ('15 MMus Music) has been appointed chief executive officer of the Chicago Sinfonietta. Jeffrey Nau ('15 BA Anthropology) created a business, Dracan Works, LLC., while earning his degree at CSU. Jeffrey researched how video game technology and virtual reality could be used for history and art education and visualize digital models of artifacts and artwork. Using that experience, he developed a virtual reality museum with 3-D scanned artifacts creating a VR Museum.
13
Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage
PAID
Cleveland, OH Permit No. 500
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences 2121 Euclid Avenue, RT 1822 Cleveland, OH 44115-2214
GIVING OPPORTUNITIES Consider CLASS for your End of Year Giving
CSU’s Giving Day
Your gift to CLASS scholarships or annual fund plays a critical role in supporting our bright and diverse student body. CSU depends on alumni and friends' generosity to enhance our scholarship, research, and engaged learning opportunities. The more donors who come together with a gift of any size, the more students we can support.
Save the date for the 8th annual Giving Day! This 24-hour virtual event celebrates our alumni and friends and the collective impact of philanthropy on every area of Cleveland State. Participants can make a gift, share content and events on social media, and win prizes throughout the day. Last year, CLASS donors raised over $5,000 in support of student scholarships and our annual fund!
Please consider making a year-end donation now at supportcsu.org/give-today. Your giving is instrumental in all the fantastic things we do at this university, and today, we hope you consider making a CLASS gift. Thank you!
DONATE TO CLASS: Contact Constance Karapelou, Director of Advancement, at 216-875-9838 or c.karapelou@csuohio.edu.
Wednesday, February 16, 2021
Please help us spread the word, sign up to be an Ambassador, and join us online on February 16. Learn more at csugivingday.com.
ANNUAL