To start a new year, look back at 2011-12’s biggest stories

To the Case Western Reserve University Community:

First, welcome back. It was wonderful to see so many of you fill our sidewalks again Monday.  As much as breaks represent a welcome part of the academic calendar, little compares to the energy and optimism that accompany the opening of a new semester.

One experience that comes close? The excitement involved in viewing our 2011-2012 annual report, Think Ahead.

As most of you know, the previous academic year proved stunning in several ways. From Gary Landreth’s breakthrough in Alzheimer’s research to our history-making first-year undergraduate class, you packed the calendar with landmark moments. In October we announced our capital campaign with a concert by the Goo Goo Dolls, while in May we welcomed Gmail developer and 1998 alumnus Paul Buchheit as our Commencement speaker. In between our students built a better way to patch potholes, and researchers realized downtown Cleveland is bucking urban population trends. You can learn about these stories and many more at www.case.edu/thinkahead. And, as you watch, read or listen, I hope you’re inspired to find new ways to make the rest of this school year even more memorable.

Barbara R. Snyder
President