Homecoming is a chance to renew school spirit and reconnect with the values of Case Western Reserve University. This year, panels held Thursday, Oct. 8, reflect CWRU’s response to current events and the innovative spirit of the university.
In May 2020, The Alumni Association of Case Western Reserve University launched “Spartans Step Up,” a webcast series focusing on CWRU’s approach to various aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic. All installments are available to homecoming guests. A new episode in the series will air live at 2 p.m. ET Thursday, Oct. 8 titled “Recruiting and Admitting Students During a Pandemic.”
In June and September, Case Western Reserve University hosted Days of Dialogue, opportunities to share ideas and hear diverse perspectives on national and societal issues of equity, inclusion and racism. Campus community members are invited to continue the conversation by joining this year’s Diversity Think Forum, titled “From Pain to Progress: The State of Racial Justice in the U.S. in the Aftermath of the George Floyd Killing.”
The CWRU Veale Institute for Entrepreneurship is the university’s hub for entrepreneurial activity. In addition to a weekly speaker series featuring entrepreneurs from around the world who share their career advice, the institute, in partnership with the Office of Post-Graduate Planning and Experiential Education, created the Remote Entrepreneurship Program where alumni entrepreneurs offer short-term, remote internships to CWRU students who may have lost opportunities due to COVID-19—the program continues this fall. Five alumni entrepreneurs join us at 5 p.m. ET Thursday, Oct. 8, in a lightning round Q&A followed by an opportunity to chat with them in breakout rooms: “Leadership Discussion with Young Alumni Entrepreneurs.”
Traditionally held at the Health Education Campus, an interprofessional forum brings together the schools of dental medicine, medicine and nursing in a session about issues current and relevant to health care providers. This year, join health care leaders as they discuss “Successfully Aging.”
See full listings of all events below. Register at case.edu/homecoming.
Spartans Step Up: “Recruiting and Admitting Students During a Pandemic”
Thursday, 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. EDT | Virtual
The Alumni Association of Case Western Reserve University continues Spartans Step Up, a series of webcasts focusing on CWRU’s approach to the COVID-19 pandemic. The eighth installment debuts at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT, Thursday, Oct.8. “Recruiting and Admitting Students During a Pandemic” focuses on how COVID-19 has affected the higher education admission process, as well as potential students and their families, and what lessons have been learned from these extraordinary circumstances.
Rick Bischoff, vice president for enrollment management at Case Western Reserve University, will moderate an expert panel featuring Case Western Reserve’s Dean of Undergraduate Admission Bob McCullough (CWR ‘96, MGT ‘03) and Director of Undergraduate Admission Chrystal Russell.
Diversity Think Forum
Thursday, 4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. EDT | Virtual
“From Pain to Progress: The State of Racial Justice in the U.S. in the Aftermath of the George Floyd Killing”
Moderated by Robert L. Solomon, Esq., vice president of the Case Western Reserve University Office for Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunity and featuring panelists:
- Frank Whitfield, MBA (MGT ’19), mayor of Elyria, Ohio, and former CEO of the Lorain County Urban League;
- Ayesha Bell Hardaway, co-director of the CWRU Social Justice Institute and assistant professor, CWRU School of Law;
- Alexandria Johnson Boone, MSODA (MGT ‘81), chair and founder of Women of Color Foundation, president and CEO of Gap Communications Group, and a member of the CWRU Office for Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunity Visiting Committee; and
- Trina Evans, executive vice president and director of Corporate Center for KeyCorp.
Sponsored by the CWRU Office for Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunity and CWRU Corporate Relations
Leadership Discussion with Young Alumni Entrepreneurs
Thursday, 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. EDT | Virtual
A spotlight event of young alumni entrepreneurs who will share their leadership advice, professional development, and successes and challenges on their journeys to company founders. After the Q&A, participants are invited to mix and mingle with them in breakout rooms. This event is open to all alumni, students, faculty/staff and friends of CWRU, and is in partnership with the CWRU Veale Institute for Entrepreneurship.
This event will be moderated by Michael Goldberg, executive director of the Veale Institute for Entrepreneurship, and Jay Sangani (CWR’21), BA candidate, natural sciences and economics and MSM candidate in health care management, and will feature:
- John Knific (CWR ‘09), co-founder and COO of Wisr )and founder emeritus of DecisionDesk;
- Ashwini Batchu (CWR ‘11), founder and CEO of MCSquared Health;
- Felipe Gomez del Campo (CWR ‘16), founder and CEO of FGC Plasma Solutions;
- Ali Briggs (CWR ’11), CEO and co-founder of LifeWeb360 and founder emeritus of The Front Door; and
- Sandra Oh Lin (CWR ’97), founder and CEO of KiwiCo.
“Successfully Aging” | Interprofessional Forum
Saturday, 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. EDT | Virtual
Join us for an engaging conversation on the topic of successfully aging hosted by your Health Sciences Alumni Board Presidents. Continuing education credit will be available for all schools.
Featured speakers will include Jonathan Haines for the School of Medicine, Suparna Mahalaha (DEN ‘01) for the School of Dental Medicine and Mary Dolansky for the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing.
Haines will share his research into genetic protective factors and trying to understand the biology of Alzheimer’s and finding a new treatment.
Mahalaha will discuss the current challenges and opportunities of the oral health needs of seniors. She will share the future of a Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine program LifeLong Smiles.
Dolansky will share her work on the age-friendly health care being introduced nationally at CVS Minute Clinics, with an emphasis on quality and safety for older adults.